AN Oblate of Mary Immaculate priest assigned to Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines is commemorating a tense Holy Week after he recently confirmed threats against his life. Father Eduardo Vasquez Jr., parish priest of Datu Piang town, where majority of the residents are Muslims, told UCA News March 30 he has become more cautious [...]
THE Church is urging better flood preparedness as residents of typhoon-ravaged villages rebuild beside a river, despite the risks. “Where else would we go?” said resident Antonio Rampola Sr. “We don’t think of the next flood or warnings about Marikina being on an earthquake fault because we will be paralyzed by fear,” the 69-year-old retired [...]
THE country’s Bishops Conference made a “crucial call to conversion” this week for the faithful to turn away from “worldly allurements” that would only lead to poverty, graft and corruption, including electoral fraud. In its Lenten message, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the Holy Week is an opportunity for the faithful to [...]
A CATHOLIC bishop called on the faithful to spend the Holy Week in a climate of reflection and penance, asking for God’s forgiveness, instead of relaxation and pleasure. Boac Bishop Rey Evangelista said Lent is the time to lead one’s self: mind, spirit and heart, to the contemplation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. “Holy [...]
MUSLIM leaders in the Philippines have expressed support for continuing interfaith dialogue to achieve peace in the country. Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason, vice chairman of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines, said the recent International Workshop of Faith-Based Groups and Civil Society in Manila should lead to “an understanding of one another.” Amina Rasul, lead [...]
FILIPINOS prefer to travel to and from one of the destinations in the country’s 7,107 islands and flying has become a hands down favorite. Holy Week is one of the peak seasons in local travel as Filipinos, mostly Christians, go home to their provinces. At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, nearly 30,000 passengers will be [...]
A PARISH has opened two soup kitchens in Karawang district, West Java, after the area was hit by severe floods when the Citarum river burst its banks. Christ the King Church in the district formed a special team of young people a few hours after the flood hit the district on March 19, parish priest [...]
CHURCH leaders in the eastern archdiocese of Lahore have urged Catholics to bring good news to “terrorized citizens” in their Easter messages as Pakistan copes with a range of catastrophes. Holy Week this year is set against a backdrop of the “war against terror” and suicide bombings. Workers at several Catholic institutes have died and [...]
ITALIAN bishops stressed the importance of cooperating with secular authorities investigating child abuse claims and expressed their support for victims of attacks by priests. In a statement issued at the end of the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) assembly, under way since last week, the bishops refuted claims they opposed working with police and investigators. “They [...]
IN a move that brings a national debate home to Southwest Florida Catholic churches, Bishop Frank Dewane (pictured) has reminded priests that only men should have their feet washed during a pre-Easter ceremony. Many Catholic priests in Southwest Florida have customarily washed the feet of male and female parishioners on the Thursday before Easter in [...]
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