Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter 1st Reading – ACTS 22:30; 23:6-11 But on the next day, meaning to know more diligently for what cause Paul was accused by the Jews, the commander loosed him, and commanded the priests to come together, and all the Sanhedrin: and bringing forth Paul, he set him before them. And Paul knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out before the Sanhedrin: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel? The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.or:R. Alleluia. Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,it is you who hold fast my lot. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.or:R. Alleluia. I bless the LORD who counsels me;even in the night, my heart exhorts me.I set the LORD ever before me;with him, at my right hand, I shall not be disturbed. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.or:R. Alleluia. Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,my body, too, abides in confidence;Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.or:R. Alleluia. You will show me the path to life,fullness of joys in your presence,the delights at your right hand forever. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.or:R. Alleluia.   Alleluia – John 17:21 R. Alleluia, alleluia.May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you,that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – John 17:20-26 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me; That they all may be one, as you, Father, in me, and I in

Bishop Ruperto Santos, the newly appointed bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo. FILE PHOTO By CBCP News May 24, 2023 Manila, Philippines Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Francisco De Leon from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Antipolo, and appointed Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga as his successor. De Leon turned 75 in June 11 last year, the age when canon law requires bishops to submit their resignation to the pope. He had headed the diocese since 2016. He first served the diocese as auxiliary bishop from 2007 until November 2015 when he was appointed as its coadjutor bishop. In September 2016, he assumed the leadership of the diocese, succeeding retired Bishop Gabriel Reyes. The changes were publicized in Manila on Wednesday, May 24, by Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines. Born in San Rafael, a town in Bulacan province, Santos was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Manila in 1983. The 65-year-old also received a licentiate in history from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1990. Prior to becoming bishop of Balanga in April 2010, he had been serving as Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, Italy. Within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, he is the vice chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI), which he previously headed for many years. At present, Santos is also the CBCP’s bishop-promoter of the Stella Maris-Philippines. No date has yet ben set for the installation of Santos as the fifth bishop of Antipolo, home of the newly declared International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. 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.  

DIOCESE OF NOVALICHES By CBCP News May 24, 2023 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Novaliches on Wednesday launched its policy of providing protection to children and vulnerable adults involved in Church activities of any kind. Speaking during the launch, Bishop Roberto Gaa spoke about the need of stakeholders to come on board and support the Church in creating a safe environment for children in parishes. He said the policy document reflects the Church’s desire for care towards children and vulnerable populations. “It is something that is long awaited, it is something that we need,” Gaa said. The policy, according to him, has been the product of years of work and study in at least 10 parishes of the diocese. “Now we draw up the policies so that it can be replicated, and it can be echoed in other forums,” the bishop said. While most dioceses in the country already have their own Office of Safeguarding, Gaa said that Novaliches is the third diocese that had launched a policy so far. “But our hope really is for us to come up with an operational institution or structure to really care for the children and vulnerable adults, to protect them, to prevent any harm and to continue to care for those who have been harmed,” he said. Fr. Antonio Labiao, the diocese’s vicar general, revealed that protection of minors and vulnerable adults is now part of the core values of the diocese. He said the diocese has also come up with specific pastoral goals for the next three years concerning protection of children. “Safeguarding is not only a project but our mission as a diocese,” Labiao said. “Creating a safe environment for everyone, especially children and vulnerable adults is the heart of what we are doing as a Church.” The priest said that part of the pastoral goal is to have a “safeguarding team” in each of the diocese’s 73 parishes. The purpose of the policy, he explained, is to provide a managing strategy to prevent child abuse and to protect children and vulnerable adults in the parishes. The document will also provide parishes and partners with clear guidelines in case of a suspected child abuse. 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 Seventh Week of Easter 1st Reading – ACTS 20:28-38 At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus: Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. I have not coveted any man’s silver, gold, or apparel. You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. I have shown you all things that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive.’ And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with them all. And there was much weeping among them all; and falling on the neck of Paul, they kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 68:29-30, 33-35A, 35BC-36AB R.(33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. Show forth, O God, your power,the power, O God, with which you took our part;For your temple in Jerusalemlet the kings bring you gifts. R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,chant praise to the Lordwho rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:“Confess the power of God!” R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. Over Israel is his majesty;his power is in the skies.Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;he gives power and strength to his people. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia.   Allelluia – SEE John 17:17B, 17A R. Alleluia, alleluia.Your word, O Lord, is truth;consecrate us in the truth.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – John 17:11B-19 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: Holy Father, keep them in your name whom you have given me; that they may be one, as we also are. While I was with them, I kept them in your name. Those whom you gave me have I kept; and none of them is lost, except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. And now I come to you; and these things I speak in the

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter 1st Reading – ACTS 20:17-27 And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, Paul summoned the ancients of the church. And when they came to him, and were together, he said to them: You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. Serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and temptations which befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews, How I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have preached it to you, and taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to Jews and Gentiles penance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, being bound in the spirit, I go to Jerusalem: not knowing the things which shall befall me there: except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. But I fear none of these things, neither do I count my life more precious than myself, so that I may consummate my course and the ministry of the word which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that all you, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 68:10-11, 20-21 R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;you restored the land when it languished;Your flock settled in it;in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. Blessed day by day be the Lord,who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.God is a saving God for us;the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia.   Alleluia – John 14:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia. I will ask the fatherand he will give you another Advocateto be with you always. R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – John 17:1-11A These things Jesus spoke, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said: Father, the hour has come, glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. As you have given him power over all flesh, that he may give eternal life to all whom you have given him. Now this is eternal life: That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have glorified you on the earth; I have finished the work which you gave me to do. And now glorify me, O Father, with yourself, with the glory which I had, before the world was,

A screenshot from CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David’s video message for this year’s Laudato Si Week celebration. CARITAS PHILIPPINES By CBCP News May 22, 2023 Manila, Philippines The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has joined calls for “a more serious action” against the climate crisis”. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP President, issued the call in his video message for the annual Laudato Si’ Week from May 21 to 28, with the theme “Hope for the Earth, Hope for Humanity”. “Please let us be one in declaring a state of climate emergency,” David said. The bishop stressed the need for an active and immediate step to counter the climate problem that has been affecting “our beautiful but endangered earth — our common home”. He invited Catholic communities around the country to participate in the week-long global event that will mark the eighth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on creation care. In the encyclical, the pope seeks to engage all people in dialogue about human-nature relationship. “Our hope is that Catholics in all the six continents of the world will learn to walk not just with fellow Catholics but with every fellow human being in this world,” David said. “And our objective is to bring the whole human family together— and that includes all fellow Christians from other traditions and denominations and all fellow believers from other faith communities— to protect the earth, our common home,” he added. The CBCP head also asked dioceses to promote the community screenings of the Laudato Si film, “The Letter“, in parishes, schools and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). The film, which can be downloaded for free, tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders to discuss the encyclical with Pope Francis. “And make it a point of departure for our group discussion in our organizations and institutions in environmental advocacy,” David 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.  

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter 1st Reading – ACTS 19:1-8 And it came to pass, while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the interior of the country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. And he said to them: Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? But they said to him: We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John’s baptism. Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance, saying: That they should believe in him who was to come after him, that is to say, in Jesus. Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and arguing persuasively concerning the kingdom of God.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 68:2-3AB, 4-5ACD, 6-7AB R.(33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. God arises; his enemies are scattered,and those who hate him flee before him.As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;as wax melts before the fire. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. But the just rejoice and exult before God;they are glad and rejoice.Sing to God, chant praise to his name;whose name is the LORD. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia. The father of orphans and the defender of widowsis God in his holy dwelling.God gives a home to the forsaken;he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.or:R. Alleluia.   Alleluia – Colossians 3:1 R. Alleluia, alleluia.If then you were raised with Christ,seek what is above,where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – John 16:29-33 The disciples said to Jesus: Now you are speaking plainly, and not in proverbs. Now we know that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. By this we believe that you came forth from God. Jesus answered them: Do you now believe? Behold, the hour comes, and it has now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world. Today's Readings Homilies Love Offering:

The Ascension of the Lord 1st Reading – ACTS 1:1-11 In the first book I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach, Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard me by my mouth. For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall, in a few days, be baptized with the Holy Spirit. When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father has put in his own power. But you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the world.” And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. Who also said: You men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. All you peoples, clap your hands,shout to God with cries of gladness,For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,is the great king over all the earth. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.Sing praise to God, sing praise;sing praise to our king, sing praise. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. For king of all the earth is God;sing hymns of praise.God reigns over the nations,God sits upon his holy throne. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.   2nd Reading – Ephesians 1:17-23 Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of his

A 2009 file photo of the Vatican’s St Anne’s Gate. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS CC BY-SA 3.0 By Shannon Mullen, Courtney Mares Catholic News Agency May 19, 2023 ROME— An unidentified man is in custody after driving a car at high speed through a gate at the Vatican Thursday, the Holy See press office said. A guard stationed at the Santa Anna entrance fired his weapon in the direction of the vehicle’s front tires, hitting the left front fender, but the vehicle proceeded onto the Vatican grounds until the driver got out at the San Damaso Courtyard, the main courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, the press office said. There the man was blocked and placed under arrest by the Gendarmerie Corps, the press office said. The incident happened after 8 p.m. at one of the main entrances to Vatican City by car. It is located north of St. Peter’s Square and next to the Swiss Guard barracks. The press office said the man initially approached the entrance in his vehicle and was turned away because he lacked the proper authorization. “Regardless of the indications provided to him by the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which prevented him from entering the State without the relative authorizations, he temporarily left the entrance and, after having maneuvered, returned at high speed, forcing the two control gates, of the Swiss Guard and of the Gendarmerie of the Vatican City State,” the press office said. “The man, aged about 40, was immediately subjected to a visit by the doctors of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, who found a serious state of psychophysical alteration,” the statement said. “Currently the person is in a prison cell in the new premises of the Gendarmerie Barracks, at the disposal of the Judicial Authority,” the statement added. 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.  

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter 1st Reading – ACTS 18:9-18 One night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.” He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him to the tribunal, saying, “This man is inducing people to worship God contrary to the law.” When Paul was about to reply, Gallio spoke to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or malicious fraud, I should with reason hear the complaint of you Jews; but since it is a question of arguments over doctrine and titles and your own law, see to it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of such matters.” And he drove them away from the tribunal. They all seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official, and beat him in full view of the tribunal. But none of this was of concern to Gallio. Paul remained for quite some time, and after saying farewell to the brothers he sailed for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had shaved his head because he had taken a vow.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (8a) God is king of all the earth.or:R. Alleluia. All you peoples, clap your hands,shout to God with cries of gladness,For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,is the great king over all the earth. R. God is king of all the earth.or:R. Alleluia. He brings people under us;nations under our feet.He chooses for us our inheritance,the glory of Jacob, whom he loves. R. God is king of all the earth.or:R. Alleluia. God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.Sing praise to God, sing praise;sing praise to our king, sing praise. R. God is king of all the earth.or:R. Alleluia.   Alleluia – SEE Luke 24:46, 26 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,and so enter into his glory.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – John 16:20-23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you