Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi. PHOTO FROM DIOCESE OF LEGAZPI By CBCP News December 11, 2023 Manila, Philippines Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi has declared 2024 as the “Year of Participation,” with the aim of “deepening the engagement of the laity in our diocese’s life and ministry. In a pastoral letter issued Dec. 10, the second Sunday of Advent, he specifically highlighted three aspects of participation: in the mystery of God, in the liturgy, and in mission. These facets, as the bishop expressed, “apply to our individual and diocesan journey in faith and ministry.” Explaining the first aspect, he said the faithful’s participation “begins with responding to God’s call to communion, a grace we experience and respond to, starting with our baptism.” On the other hand, he emphasized that “active” participation in the liturgy, especially during the Sunday Eucharist, is vital. “It strengthens our faith and embodies the Church’s desire for the laity’s full, conscious, and active involvement in liturgical celebrations,” Baylon expressed. Regarding participation in the mission, the bishop stressed the Christian’s calling to evangelize. “This includes embracing our identity and mission as laypersons, actively involved in proclaiming the Gospel and serving the Church,” he said. To make the celebration meaningful, the bishop tasked the Diocesan Council of the Laity to take the lead in promoting participation through “guidance, involvement and commitment”. Baylon encouraged the clergy “to promote inclusive pastoral decision-making and transparency”, while lay leaders are called “to actively participate in parish activities and decision-making processes”. He also pushed for the empowerment of families, youth, and the poor, encouraging their active participation in ministry, “not just recipients of it”. “Encourage couples to strengthen Church’s family ministries, guide the youth in faith and leadership, and support the poor towards empowerment and active church participation,” the bishop said. “Encourage the laity to contribute time, talent, and resources to the Church’s mission, fostering a spirit of generosity and commitment to the Church’s growth and societal transformation,” he also 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.  

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 1st Reading – Zechariah 2:14-17 Sing praise and rejoice, daughter of Zion. For behold, I approach, and I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord. And many nations will be joined to the Lord in that day, and they will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And the Lord will possess his portion, Judah, in the sanctified land, and still he will single out Jerusalem. Let all flesh be silent before the face of the Lord: for he has arisen from his holy dwelling place. Or Revelation 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB A God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars. And being with child, she cried out while giving birth, and she was suffering in order to give birth. And another sign was seen in heaven. And behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail drew down a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, who was about to give birth, so that, when she had brought forth, he might devour her son. And she brought forth a male child, who was soon to rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God. And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying: “Now have arrived salvation and virtue and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ.   Responsorial Psalm – Judith 13:18BCDE, 19 R. You are the highest honor of our race. Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,above all the women on earth;and blessed be the LORD God,the creator of heaven and earth. R. You are the highest honor of our race. Your deed of hope will never be forgottenby those who tell of the might of God. R. You are the highest honor of our race.   Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;From you rose the sun of justice, Christ our Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – Luke 1:26-38 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” blessed are you among women. But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what

A file photo of Pope Francis with coadjutor bishop-elect Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado of Rarotonga. VATICAN MEDIA By CBCP News December 9, 2023 Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado of the Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP) as new coadjutor bishop of far-off Rarotonga diocese in the Cook Islands. Getalado has been serving as a MSP missionary to the Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti, the capital island nation of Tuvalu. His appointment was made public in the Vatican at 12 noon, 7:00 p.m. in the Philippines, on Dec. 8, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. As coadjutor bishop, Getalado will eventually succeed Bishop Paul Patrick Donoghue, who is turning 75 in January next year, the mandatory retirement age for bishops. Born in 1959, the bishop-elect hails from Muntinlupa City. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Zoology at the Far Eastern University in Manila 1979 before he joined the MSP. After his philosophical and theological studies at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, he was ordained to the priesthood on August 4, 1988. After his ordination, he was sent to the Diocese of Daru-Kiunga in Papua New Guinea, where he served for 11 years. Following that, he was transferred to the Diocese of Auckland in New Zealand, where he served from 2000 to 2003. From 2003 to 2004, he went back to the Philippines and served as the parochial vicar of the Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Mandaluyong City. Between 2005 and 2014, he was assigned to the Diocese of Bougainville, an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. Since 2014, he has been serving as the Ecclesiastical Superior of the Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti. The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. It comprises 15 islands whose total land area is 236.7 square kilometres. Established as a diocese in 1966, Rarotonga has a population of around 14,000, with approximately 17 percent being Catholics. It is also served by four priests and 20 catechists. Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti and the Diocese of Rarotonga belong to a conference of bishops called the Episcopal Conferences of the Pacific or CEPAC. Both also fall under the Dicastery for Evangelization, specifically the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle serving as its pro-prefect. 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.  

Philadelphia Auxiliary bishops-elect Keith Chylinski (left), Efren Esmilla, and Christopher Cooke. ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA By CBCP News December 9, 2023 Manila, Philippines Pope Francis on Friday appointed appointed three new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including a priest of Filipino descent. Fr. Efren Esmilla, who was born in Laguna province’s Nagcarlan town, joins priests Keith Chylinski and Christopher Cooke as auxiliary bishops to serve the archdiocese’s approximately 1.5 million Catholics. The thee will join Archbishop Nelson Perez and Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre, who has served in that capacity since 2010. In a press conference, the bishop-elect said he was “greatly humbled and honored” by the appointment. “I ask all of the clergy, men and women religious, and lay faithful our beloved local Church to pray for me while knowing that I will pray for all of you so that I can see how to serve you best,” Esmilla said. “My great hope is that our beloved Archdiocese of Philadelphia will continue to grow spiritually and to grow in the number of souls as we all strive to be better missionary disciples for Jesus Christ in the world around us,” he said. Archbishop Perez said the new bishops “are men of deep faith, great humility, broad pastoral as well as administrative experience, and zealous hearts that on fire to serve as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ”. “I’ve known all of them for many years and have witnessed the transformational impact of their priestly ministry on a diverse array of people everywhere they have served,” he said. Before immigrating to the US, Esmilla completed a college degree at San Beda University in Manila in 1984. The 61-year old took his priestly formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where he also earned a master of divinity in 1992. On May 15, 1993, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Philadelphia archdiocese by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. He previously served as parochial vicar at St. John Chrysostom in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, and at the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Philadelphia. He also served as assistant director of pastoral formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Since 2021, he has served as the pastor of St. James in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. According to the parish’s website, Esmilla has also been the chaplain to the Filipino Apostolate and the spiritual director to the Legion of Mary. Esmilla is the fourth Filipino to be named bishop in the US. The others are Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City, Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro Aclan of Los Angeles, and Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Celino of El Paso-Texas. 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

File photo of Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro. By CBCP News December 7, 2023 Manila, Philippines The pain from the deadly blast that claimed four lives during a Mass in a southern Philippine city will not derail the Church’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful coexistence in Mindanao, a Catholic archbishop said. Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro, co-president of Pax Christi – Pilipinas, said that religious leaders remain committed to “continuing dialogue” and “working for peace and development in Mindanao.” Pax Christi Pilipinas is a member organization of Pax Christi International, a global Catholic peace movement working for peace, respect for human rights. The explosion occurred as Catholics were gathered for the first Sunday of Advent Mass on Dec. 3 at the gymnasium of the Marawi State University (MSU) in Marawi City. The attack also took place as the region observes the Mindanao Week of Peace. “We express our condolence and shared grief with the victims and families of those affected by the bombing,” Ledesma said. But he said the ‘most heartening’ thing for him was that many Maranao students immediately took measures to help victims and protect their Christian schoolmates from any further harm. “May this gesture of solidarity not only affirm the spirit of MSU as an inclusive institution for higher learning but also symbolize the ongoing aspirations for the tri-people of Mindanao in coming home through solidarity and harmony,” he added. Confreres of Franciscan Fr. Benigno Flores, who was presiding over the Mass “on that atrocious morning”, described the attack as “an act of terrorism done in the most inhumane way, devoid of respect for the sacred and the holy”. “This violent incident was nothing but an act of selfishness and cruelty that must be condemned in the strictest sense of the world,” the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) said in a statement. However, the congregation urged everyone, regardless of faith, to consciously strive for a culture of peace and harmony “despite dialogue setbacks and frustrations in dialogue”. “The path toward genuine interreligious dialogue, universal fraternity, and solidarity is difficult and full of challenges. Yet, we draw our hope and strength from our all powerful, most compassionate, and merciful God, who showed us the way of genuine brotherhood through his Son, Jesus Christ,” it said. The Franciscans also urged the authorities to use peaceful means “to counteract the forces of evil and violence” and “to hold responsible and accountable those who perpetrated these acts of terrorism”. 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.  

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1st Reading – Genesis 3:9-15, 20 After Adam, had eaten of the tree, the Lord God called him, and said to him: Where are you? And he said: I heard your voice in paradise; and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself. He said to him, “Then who told you that you were naked, if you have not eaten of the tree from which I instructed you that you should not eat?” And Adam said, “The woman, whom you gave to me as a companion, gave to me from the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “Why have you done this?” And she responded, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed among all living things, even the wild beasts of the earth. Upon your breast shall you travel, and the ground shall you eat, all the days of your life. I will put enmities between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring. She will crush your head, and you will lie in wait for her heel.” And Adam called the name of his wife Eve: because she was the mother of all the living.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4 R.  Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. Sing to the LORD a new song,because he has done wonderful thingsHis right hand has brought him salvation,and his arm is holy. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. The Lord has made known his salvation:he has revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.He has remembered his mercy his truth toward the house of Israel. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.   2nd Reading – Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Brothers and sisters:Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ: As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.   Alleluia – SEE Luke 1:28

Maximiliano Pavillaux walks in the mud to reach the parish for confirmation on Nov. 11, 2023. / The child receives the recognition of Pope Francis from Bishop Mauricio Landra, the auxiliary bishop of Mercedes-Luján, Argentina. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PAVILLAUX FAMILY VIA CNA By Julieta Villar Catholic News Agency December 7, 2023 An Argentine boy recently made the special effort to walk 11 kilometers (about seven miles) on muddy roads to receive the sacrament of confirmation, and the news reached Pope Francis, who sent him a blessing. Maximiliano Pavillaux, 11, has been living along with his parents and four siblings in the rural area around Suipacha, a small town in Buenos Aires province, since December 2022. Throughout the year, the boy has been preparing to receive the sacrament of confirmation, which was scheduled for Nov. 11. To help him prepare, week after week, his catechist, Eva, sent the study materials to his house. However, as the date for the sacrament approached, worsening weather conditions threatened his being confirmed. The night before confirmation, and in the midst of incessant rain, Carola and Rolando, Maximiliano’s parents, began to worry because the family vehicles were not going to be able to make it to town on the muddy country roads, and the tractor they use to work the fields had broken down that same week. There was an alternative, but the parents thought the child wouldn’t accept it: walk seven miles in the mud. However, to their surprise, Maxi said yes. The boy and his parents left at 7 a.m. so they could reach the church in time for the ceremony that would begin at 10:30 a.m. “Our boots sank in the mud, we slid,” Maximiliano recalled, speaking with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. On the way, the father joked with the little boy: “When you grow up, you’re going to have a good story to tell.” But they didn’t expect his story to reach so many people. Upon arriving at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Suipacha, Eva, his catechist, was waiting for him in tears: “She was very happy,” the newly confirmed said. The priest who offered the Mass mentioned the little boy’s feat as an example to follow, and many came up later to congratulate him. After the ceremony, “we came away relieved. I was ‘on cloud nine’ all week,” the boy’s mother confessed. “We didn’t regret anything, we were happy.” But the impact did not end there. In recent days, Maximiliano’s story reached the ears of Pope Francis, who sent him his apostolic blessing and a gift from Rome. The framed apostolic blessing and the gifts of the Holy Father were given to Maxi at last Sunday’s Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Mauricio Landra, the auxiliary bishop of Mercedes-Luján, who made a special trip to Suipacha to place the recognition from the pope in the boy’s hands. “I can’t stop crying,” Maxi’s mother told ACI Prensa, highlighting the warmth of the Suipacha community, which came to

Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (ECSC), speaks during the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Mandaue City on Dec. 3, 2023. JAY MANGUSSAD/CBCP NEWS By CBCP News December 7, 2023 Manila, Philippines A Catholic bishop has announced a plan to organize Catholic online influencers, vloggers, and other social media personalities as ‘a community of faith’. Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit , chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (ECSC), said the aim is to strengthen collaboration among digital missionaries. “And maybe to encourage and inspire each other, and to help in amplifying the message,” said Maralit, who is also the bishop of Boac. “We are coming into this as a community of faith, a community of God, and a community of charity,” he said. He made the statement during the 12th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) held at the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu in the city of Mandaue on December 2 to 3. In a separate press briefing, the bishop also said they aim to establish a kind of code of ethics for Catholic social media content producers. The current practice, according to him, seems to follow a “you do yours, I do mine” mentality. “So what do we bring here? My suggestion is to put up a Catholic social media network,” he added. Maralit was among the speakers of the CSMS that was attended by more than 350 participants. Organized by YouthPinoy, a group of “online missionaries,” in partnership with the Cebu Archdiocesan Digital Communications (Cadcom), this year’s summit theme was “Hybrid: Create, Collab and Commune”. 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 6, 2023 Manila, Philippines 1. The family is the basic cell of the ecclesial community of missionary disciples. Just as the family is the seedbed of vocations to the lay apostolate, to priestly ministry, and to consecrated life, synodality begins in the family. The domestic Church is where the virtues that help us listen, pray, discern, and forgive are developed and acquired. Starting from our homes, we build communities of faith that walk humbly with the poor, overcome prejudice and exclusion, live in interfaith dialogue and harmony, and care for our common home. It is where we first become responsible citizens and Christians: in the one family of God, we are to love one another, forgive one another and bear each other’s burdens. The family is the starting point of healing. The family is the cradle of synodality, where we first learn to stand on our feet and walk, to walk together and stand for what is right. The first step in synodality, therefore, is to strengthen the family bond: promoting its growth in the faith, making it the center and subject of parish programs, providing safe opportunities for the young to heal, to grow, to volunteer and to serve. 2. The formation in synodality that starts in the family and flourishes in Church and in society would (1) include the fundamentals of walking together, listening to one another, engaging in dialogue, discernment; (2) be founded on and sustained by personal and pastoral conversion in the Holy Spirit; (3) awaken and inspire participation in our common mission; (4) foster the discernment and sharing of authentic charisms. The family is the cradle of community life. 3. For us, the Church is a refuge, a sanctuary, a helper and a light in moments of darkness. The Church is a mother: nurturing, forgiving and embracing. The Church is a family: our second home where we feel valued (pinahahalagahan). There is a sense of spiritual fraternity and solidarity in the parish and BEC: We are like a broken family, but we respect, love and support each other as brothers and sisters (damayán), especially “the least, the lost and the last”. 4. The pandemic brought untold suffering to our people, and the lockdowns meant more opportunities for domestic violence and abuse. Some lost faith as others lost loved ones. Nevertheless, “family is life”. Our families remained our principal source of support, acceptance and encouragement. We courageously continued our charities and our ministries even as we took the chance to be together while working from home and attending classes and Masses online. We tried to mend relationships, enjoyed each other’s company, and prayed together. We experienced God’s presence in our families and in our BECs/GKKs. “The Church is in the home, the home becomes the Church”. 5. The dynamism of the Church’s synodal journey is fueled by women’s active presence and involvement in the Church’s mission. In the Church’s administration, be it financial or pastoral, women play a significant role. We sadly note, however, that

Memorial of St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 1st Reading – Isaiah 26:1-6 In that day, this canticle will be sung in the land of Judah. Within it will be set the city of our strength: Zion, a savior, a wall with a bulwark. Open the gates, and let the just people who guard the truth enter. The old error has gone away. You will serve peace: peace, for we have hoped in you. You have trusted in the Lord for all eternity, in the Lord God almighty forever. For he will bend down those living in the heights. He will bring low the lofty city. He will lower it, even to the ground. He will tear it down, even to the dust. The foot will tread it down: the feet of the poor, the steps of the indigent.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27A R.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. Give praise to Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.It is good to confide in the Lord,rather than to have confidence in man.It is good to trust in the Lord,rather than to trust in princes. R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. Open ye to me the gates of justice:I will go into them, and give praise to the Lord.This gate is the LORD’s;the just shall enter it.I will give thanks to you, for you have answered meand have been my savior. R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. O Lord, save me:O Lord, give good success.Blessed be he that comes in the name Lord.We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.The Lord is God, and he has shone upon us. R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.   Alleluia – Isaiah 55:6 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Seek the LORD while he may be found;call him while he is near.R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Jesus said to his disciples:Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Everyone therefore that hears my words, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. And everyone that hears my words, and does them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it collapsed and was completely ruined.” Today's Readings Homilies