By CBCP News December 6, 2023 Manila, Philippines A Catholic bishop in the northern Palawan diocese of Taytay has thrown his support to a civilian-led Christmas caravan in the West Philippine Sea. Bishop Broderick Pabillo described the three-day initiative starting on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, as “laudable”. “It is a peaceful way to support our military officers and our fisherfolks as they defend our territorial waters,” Pabillo said. “The convoy will bring gifts and good cheers to them as a way of showing support for them. It is a peaceful activity within our own territorial waters,” he said. The National Security Council (NSC) earlier authorized the caravan being organized by the Atin Ito Coalition, allowing them to pass through the general vicinity of Ayungin Shoal. The agency, however, did not allow the convoy of at least 40 boats to reach the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty old navy ship that serves as the nation’s military outpost. The bishop thanked all the people who supported the initiative “by sending them their gifts”. “May this activity bring good cheers to all,” Pabillo said. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent 1st Reading – Isaiah 25:6-10A The Lord of hosts will cause all the peoples on this mountain to feast on fatness, to feast on wine, a fatness full of marrow, a purified wine. And he will cast down violently, on this mountain, the face of the chains, with which all peoples had been bound, and the net, with which all nations had been covered. He will violently cast down death forever. And the Lord God will take away the tears from every face, and he will take away the disgrace of his people from the entire earth. For the Lord has spoken it. And they will say in that day: “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord! We have endured for him. We will exult and rejoice in his salvation.” For the hand of the Lord will rest upon this mountain.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6 R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose;Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. He has led me on the paths of justice,for his own name’s sake.For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death,I will fear no evils, for you are with me.With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;And I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.   Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;blessed are those prepared to meet him.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – Matthew 15:29-37 At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear

Authorities at the scene of the explosion at Mindanao State University in Marawi, Dec. 3, 2023. PHOTO FROM LANAO DEL SUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT By Roy Lagarde December 4, 2023 Manila, Philippines Pope Francis has conveyed his closeness to the victims of a deadly bombing at a Mass in southern Philippines on Sunday that claimed at least four lives and injured dozens others. “I wish to assure my prayer for the victims of the attack…,” the pope sad following his weekly recitation of the Angelus prayer on Sunday. “I am close to the families and the people of Mindanao, who have already suffered so much,” he said. The attack was carried out in the Marawi State University gymnasium, where the Mass was being celebrated for the first Sunday of Advent. In the Catholic Church, Advent is the four-week liturgical season that precedes Christmas. In a separate message to Bishop Edwin de la Peña of the Prelature of Marawi, the pope said he was “deeply saddened” by the “injuries and loss of lives caused by the bombing”. The pontiff, who visited the Philippines in 2015, also appealed to “Christ the prince of peace (to) grant to all the strength to turn from violence and overcome every evil with good.” Marawi was besieged by the Islamic State-influenced Maute group in 2017, which left the city in rubble. The country’s Catholic bishops have immediately condemned the violence and demanded justice for the victims. “Such violence should not only be denounced; it should also be renounced as a way of seeking redress by every peace-loving Filipino,” said Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the bishops’ conference. “…We reaffirm our relenting commitment to peace and our repudiation of violence,” he added. Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, the archbishop emeritus of Cotabato and a prominent Mindanao peace advocate, described the attack as “a crime that literally cries out to heaven.” “The massacre is the most terrible and most damnable terroristic crime against innocent worshippers on a Christian holy day,” said Quevedo. The cardinal, who is also a member of the Council of Leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), also joined in appealing to authorities “to ferret out the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring to justice”. “For the victims and for their grieving families, my deep personal condolences and prayers. Let peace begin in our hearts,” he said. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo presides over Mass on the last day of the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Dec. 3, 2023. JAY MANGUSSAD/CBCP NEWS By CBCP News December 3, 2023 Cebu City A Catholic bishop has used a gathering of the church’s social communicators to call for the exercise of ‘prudence’ in social media posts. Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo of Cebu emphasized that the Church “must be present” in cyberspace, “but our presence has to be a witness to Christ”. “My dear brothers and sisters, especially those in the social communication ministry, I exhort you to develop the virtue of prudence in posting and browsing through the virtual world,” Labajo said. “Please don’t put a dichotomy between your public image as social communication ministry in-charge and your private and personal accounts online,” he said. The bishop made the call during Sunday Mass for the last day of the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Manila University in Mandaue City. In his homily, he lamented church media workers whose personal social media posts contradict what they post on their parish’s social media platforms. “Ang ganda at wholesome ng post mo sa Facebook ng parish niyo as social communication in-charge tapos sa personal account mo grabe ang pagmumura mo or malaswa,” Labajo said. “Whatever it is, whether private or public accounts online, you strive to be a witness of Christ,” he said. The CSMS is an annual gathering organized by YouthPinoy, a group of “online missionaries”. This year, the event was in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Cebu through its CADCOM or the Cebu Archdiocesan Digital Communications Ministry. Saying that “the devil is very clever and also uses the internet,” he emphasized the need for effective use of social media for evangelization. “So we need you brothers and sisters… evangelize our people through social media,” Labajo said. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

December 3, 2023 Manila, Philippines It happened in the morning of the first Sunday of Advent, 3 December 2023. A group of Catholics was gathered together for the Eucharist to mark the beginning of a new liturgical season and to light the candle for the first Sunday of Advent. The perpetrators had chosen that very occasion to detonate a bomb, instantly killing three of our Catholic faithful and wounding ten others in the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City. Surely, the killers who precipitated such a horrendous act of violence have their loved ones too. What would it take to get them to see in the families of their victims their own families? Such violence should not only be denounced; it should also be renounced as a way of seeking redress by every peace-loving Filipino. We have just celebrated “Red Wednesday” last November 29, to remember our fellow Christians who, for sheer love of their faith, have suffered from violence and persecution around the world. The casualties in this morning’s bombing are now counted among them. We take comfort in the thought that they have participated in the passion of Christ, that their blood has been poured out as a libation like the blood of Christ. They professed their faith at that last Mass that they attended, especially in the “communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” Through the same Eucharist which we celebrated with them on this Day of the Lord, we have united ourselves with them by the same faith that we profess, and in the same grace of baptism through which we participate in the life-giving death of Christ. We hope that the statement issued by the Mindanao State University can still touch the consciences of the perpetrators. It says, “Violence has no place in a civilized society, and it is particularly abhorrent in an institution of higher learning like MSU, a bulwark of peace, harmony, solidarity, reverence for life and humanity. This attack is an assault on our core values and our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive community for all.” We could not agree more. With them we reaffirm our unrelenting commitment to peace and our repudiation of violence. We pray for the eternal repose of those who have died, and for the healing of those who have been injured. We unite ourselves spiritually with their families and draw strength and consolation from our faith in Christ who will “restore all things to himself, making peace by the blood of his cross…” (Col. 1:20) +Pablo Virgilio S. David Bishop of Kalookan CBCP President DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should

Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit leads the participants of the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMA) in a moment of prayer and silence for the victims of a powerful blast during Mass at the Mindanao State University’s gymnasium in Marawi City on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. JAY MANGUSSAD/CBCP NEWS By CBCP News December 3, 2023 Cebu City A Catholic bishop led a moment of silence at a gathering of Catholic communicators for the victims of an explosion that ripped through a congregation attending Mass at a southern Philippine university on Sunday. At least four people were killed and nine were injured after an explosion rocked the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City where the victims were attending Mass. Speaking during the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Mandaue City, Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit condemned the violence and requested a moment of prayer for the people killed. “Let us offer a moment of silence and prayer for them,” said Maralit, who heads the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications, in the middle of his talk. The MSU, in a statement, described the incident as “senseless and horrific” and assured support and assistance to those affected by the tragedy. The university also suspended classes until further notice and has deployed additional security personnel to safeguard the campus. “Our immediate priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all constituents, particularly our Christian community,” the university said. “We are aware of the heightened sensitivities and concerns that arise from such a tragic event, and we want to assure everyone that we are taking every measure possible to protect our students, faculty, and staff,” it added. The MSU also said it is working closely with the local authorities to investigate the incident “and bring the perpetrators to justice”. “We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy. We will not be deterred by this act of violence, and we will continue to work towards building a more peaceful and just MSU community,” it said. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones delivers his keynote address during the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit at the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu in Mandaue City, Dec. 2, 2023. JAY MANGUSSAD By CBCP News December 2, 2023 Manila, Philippines Feeling frustrated and discouraged by low likes, shares or views? A Catholic bishop has warned the church’s media ministry workers against being “obsessed” with what he called as the “followers” system on social media. Speaking at the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) on Saturday, Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones of Cebu said that number doesn’t matter “as long as you encourage them to find strength in their faith”. “In the Catholic online community, this does not matter as long as you encourage them to find strength in their faith. You have served your purpose,” Billones said in his keynote address. “Even if far less but your followers are led to Christ, this is better than a million followers led away from the Lord,” he said. Nearly 400 participants are attending the two-day summit, which started today at the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu in Mandaue City, with a quarter of them joined virtually. The event brought together social communication ministry workers and Catholic media practitioners from different dioceses, congregations, and church organizations. While the digital media platform can be “bastardized or weaponized”, the bishop said that it also offers a good opportunity for evangelization and transformation. “We admit its limitations and vulnerabilities, but we cannot deny its potentials and its possibilities,” according to him. A Catholic media evangelizer, he added, must also learn “the art of bridge-building”. “There are souls longing to be reached out, too. There are thirsty minds needing enlightenment and there are hearts yearning for meaningful connections not cat fishing or relating to an avatar. We can make a difference,” he said. CSMS is an initiative of YouthPinoy, a group of young “online missionaries, in collaboration with the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), and Areopagus Communications. This year’s Catholic Social Media Summit is hosted by the Archdiocese of Cebu through its Cebu Archdiocesan Digital Communications Ministry. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

Fr. Antonio Labiao, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines. By CBCP News November 30, 2023 Manila, Philippines The social advocacy arm of the Catholic Church called on the Marcos administration to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) to improve the country’s human rights record. Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao said the government has “a crucial role to play in ensuring that the nation upholds its international obligations and protects the rights of its citizens”. “Rejoining the ICC would send a strong message that the government is serious about accountability and justice for all,” Labiao said. “The Philippine government has a responsibility to its citizens to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights,” he said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr earlier disclosed that proposals for the nation’s rejoining the ICC are “under study”. The president made the statement amid calls for the country to allow ICC prosecutors to probe former president Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war that killed thousands of people. The Philippines signed the Rome Statute in 2011 but it pulled out in 2018 during Duterte’s presidency after the ICC announced the launch of a preliminary investigation on the drug killings. The Rome Statute created the ICC as a special type of international institution – a court of justice. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

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Feast of St Andrew, Apostle 1st Reading – Romans 10:9-18 Brothers and sisters: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us? Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 11 R.  The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.or:R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect,refreshing the soul;The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,giving wisdom to the simple. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.or:R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The precepts of the LORD are right,rejoicing the heart;The command of the LORD is clear,enlightening the eye. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.or:R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The fear of the LORD is pure,enduring forever;The ordinances of the LORD are true,all of them just. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.or:R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. They are more precious than gold,than a heap of purest gold;Sweeter also than syrupor honey from the comb. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.or:R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.   Alleluia – Matthew 4:19 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Come follow me, says the Lord,and I will make you fishers of men.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – Matthew 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.