Fr. Lucio Rosaroso tells faithful to allow themselves become instruments of the Holy Spirit in evangelizing the world.

MANILA, May 18, 2013—As the Church celebrates the solemnity of Pentecost Sunday, a Catholic priest called on the faithful to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in building the kingdom of God. 

Rev. Fr. Lucio Rosaroso, also a police superintendent in the Philippine National Police, urged the laity to continuously help the Church in strengthening man’s relationship with God through evangelization and catechesis aided by the Holy Spirit. 

“The lay has a role in building the kingdom of God,” he said in his talk during the Katolikong Pinoy recollection held at the San Carlos Seminary. “The Holy Spirit is empowering the lay. Let us all continue in building His kingdom.” 

He added that entering the religious life is not the only way to serve the Lord as lay people also have the capability to live a devout life through their own simple means. 

According to Rosaroso, every person is called by God to help in the mission of evangelization. However, His will varies for each and every person who will partake in the accomplishment of this earthly mission. 

“All of us are called to the holiness of life. All of us are called to a loving and intimate relationship with God. However, the will of God for every person varies,” he said. 

He also expressed gratitude over the Church initiatives spearheaded by lay people, noting that it helps priests in accomplishing their task of guiding humans toward a spiritual and moral life. 

“There is power in the lay—the spirit is moving, the spirit is acting. Hindi lahat ng gawain ay sa pari lamang,” the priest added. 

Strengthened by the Holy Spirit 

During times of despair and trouble, he noted that the Holy Spirit provides the needed inspiration that would push humans to endure the challenges and hardships they are facing. 

“Ang Banal na Espirirto ang siyang nagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa akin. Sa panahon ng pighati, binigyan niya ako ng katiwasayan. Sa panahon ng kalungkutan sa buhay, nagbigay siya ng tuwa,” Rosaroso said. 

“Ang tuwa na binibigay ng Espiritu Santo ay hindi nakadepende sa external circumstances. Ito po ay nakikiisa kay Kristo—magunaw man ang mundo, ito ay mananatili sa atin. Ito ang klase ng tuwa na si Kristo lang ang nagbibigay,” he added. 

The Holy Spirit also strengthens those who are spiritually challenged by providing them the needed encouragement to hold firmly to their faith and to overcome all forms of temptation, he noted. 

“Ang mga kasamaan po ay maiiwasan sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap sa mga banal na sakramentong siyang tunay na magbibigay sa atin ng tunay na grasya at lakas ng loob upang talunin ang paggawa ng masasama,” Rosaroso said. 

In every trying situation, Rosaroso said that it is through the intervention of the Holy Spirit that a person may overcome the looming sadness brought by the problems and complexities of day-to-day living. 

“Sa mga hamon na ibinabato sa atin ng Panginoon, dapat lamang ay i-focus natin ang lahat sa tamang concern. Naniniwala akong may paraan ang Diyos para maresolba ang mga problemang kinakaharap natin,” he said.  (Jennifer M. Orillaza)

National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida, Sao Paolo, Brazil. (www.wikipedia.org)

QUEZON City, May 17, 2013—Pilgrims from the Cubao-Philippines official delegation are set to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Aparecida as part of their Missionary Week for the World Youth Day (WYD) pre-proper celebration. 

Together with the Augustinians of the Assumption, the pilgrims will visit the Basilica on July 20, 2013, three days before the WYD proper celebration on July 23-28 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

A prominent Roman Catholic Latin-rite Basilica located in Aparecida, Brazil, the Church is dedicated to the Our Lady of Aparecida (a variant of the Immaculate Conception), the principal Patroness of Brazil. 

Officially called in Portuguese with the title “Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida,” roughly translated as Our Lady of Conception Who Appeared, the Our Lady of Aparecida, since 2011 has become the greatest Marian pilgrimage center in the world, ranking above Mexico’s Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Lourdes in France. 

Currently, the official delegation of Cubao diocese is consists of 38 youth leaders from the dioceses of Cubao, Pasig, and Parañaque. (Jandel Posion with reports from John Florence Granado)

Themed “Youth. Life. Celebration. Rio,” the event was held last May 11 at the Sto. Niño de Praga Parish. 

Almost 500 young people in the diocese joined the series of activities that involved street dancing competition and different types of games during the whole-day sports fest. 

In his homily, Fr. Roland Alcones, parish priest of the host parish, affirmed the youth in their energy, vibrancy and participation in the Church. 

He also encouraged them to be socially involved particularly in issues concerning the youth and community. 

Aside from providing the youth with a venue for fellowship and social growth, the event was also intended to be a platform for the diocesan send-off of the delegates for the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this coming July. 

The event’s activities include a street dancing competition that showcased the Mardi Gras, and the ‘minute to win it’ challenges that grouped participants to 15 players each. 

The Vicariate of Our Lady of Aranzazu was hailed champion of the street dance competition.  The Vicariate of Immaculate Conception bagged 1^st runner-up while the Vicariate of Our Lady of Light got the 2^nd runner-up. 

Special awards were given to Gannia Tabid for Brazilian Beauty, San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish for Early Bird and the Vicariate of San Ildefonso de Toledo for the Best in Street Dance during the parade. 

The next diocesan youth sports fest in 2014 will be hosted by the St. Clement Parish in Angono, Rizal. (Jandel Posion)

“Congratulations to all youth volunteers! May they remain firm in their faith, faithful to their ideals and courageous in their witness before others and in the world,” Chairman of Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) Bishop Joel Baylon said. 

Baylon, who is also the Bishop of the Diocese of Legazpi, expressed joy that thousands of young people volunteered for the May 13 polls “in the name of life, truth and Christian love.” 

Energy, dynamism, enthusiasm of youth 

ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta echoed the bishop’s sentiments by talking about young people’s unique contribution to the unfolding electoral drama – one that is still ongoing at the PPCRV command center in Pope Pius XII Catholic Center along United Nations Avenue in Manila where a good number of the volunteers are young people. 

“This is the young people’s gift to the communities – their youthfulness, their energy, their dynamism, their enthusiasm. With young people they can make difficult things light,” Garganta added. 

Garganta also talked about seeing “the anticipation and the joy on the faces of the many young people he encountered in the many voting areas”, particularly in his diocese, Antipolo. 

Many youth volunteers in this election come from the different youth ministries and Federation of National Youth Organizations member organizations in the different parishes and schools. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]

Msgr. Joselito Asis, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the consecration, which shall be renewed every year will help in the personal conversion of every individual. 

“We will do this annually which will be celebrated on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on June 8. The consecration to the Blessed Virgin is one of the calls of the Church here in the Philippines in celebration with the Year of Faith that we want to be intensified,” Asis said in a press conference held at the CBCP building in Intramuros today. 

Asis believes that renewing and intensifying the faith through Mary will bring back those who are un-churched and non-believers to the faith. 

Meanwhile, Digos Bishop Guillermo Afable stressed that the National Consecration is not just for Catholics but is opened to other religions as well. 

“There will be unification of all Filipino people no matter what religion they come from. The consecration to the Virgin Mary is not just for us Catholics because it is not only for us but for the whole Filipino nation,” Afable said. 

The bishop, who heads the national consecration event, also explained that there are two kinds of consecration, the individual consecration and the consecration of other people through an individual. 

“You can consecrate yourself and at the same time, you can also consecrate another person or other people who may not want to consecrate themselves like saying, ‘I am doing this for them’. Because we will also include them as they are also children of God,” the bishop added. 

The simultaneous consecration will be attended by bishops, clergies, religious and the laity around the country that will start with a Marian procession, followed by a catechesis and praying of the rosary. 

“Rosary will be broadcasted nationwide through our media partners and aired in different dialects like Bicolano, Tagalog and Cebuano. After the praying of the rosary, the mass will be celebrated. Then the consecration will follow and there will be ringing of Church bells all over the Philippines,” Afable furthered. (Jandel Posion)

The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) together with their international partners quizzed MGB’s decision to allow the Siana Mines operation to continue in Surigao del Norte despite historical reports of mine flooding and underground fire. 

“The group is also wary of the silence of the government agency pertaining to recent reports of land instability in mines since April,” the group said in a press statement. 

Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of ATM said, this is appalling that the government has been very careless in its issuances to mining companies. 

“Unfortunately, as in the earlier years of mines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and MGB seem to have forgotten their role to ensure that the environment is secure in balancing this destructive and exploitative industry,” Garganera added. 

In a research done by ATM members, it was found out that the Siana Mines of Red5 Limited located in Surigao del Norte was an abandoned mine previously operated by Surigao Consolidated Mining Co., Inc. which was opened in the 40’s. 

It was closed during World War II and was re-opened in 1946, producing 4,800 kilograms of gold and 8,000 kilograms of silver but was closed down again due to mine flooding and underground fire. 

In 2002, the abandoned mine site was not rehabilitated until Red5 Limited secured a mining permit and was granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate in April 20009 despite a prior scheduled Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan expected  in late May of 2009. 

A Social and Environmental Assessment Specialist and member of the London Working Group in the country said Red5 should certainly not have been allowed to reopen and use the old tailings facility. 

“MGB should know better than that before permitting the reopening without rehabilitating the old facilities,” Dr. Robert Goodland added.

Goodland emphasized the need of a transparent emergency action plan is essential. 

“There must be an immediate halt in all milling operations, an immediate alert on local authorities and downstream communities of the big risks and encourage them to get out of the way of any breach that looks likely to happen at any time, and immediately get MGB to conduct an onsite safety/risk assessment to prevent damage and reduce risks to some semblance of acceptability,” Goodland added. 

He stressed that the major lesson to be learned from this risky episode is that old tailings facilities must have safety assessments before new mining is permitted. 

“Furthermore, to guarantee adequate mine closure and restoration, escrow bonds must be created and updated annually before a mining corporation is permitted to abandon a mine site,” Goodland furthered. 

ATM received reports that geotechnical experts representing different parties of Red5 have individually concluded that there is an unquantifiable risk in returning the tailings dam to operating status. 

Meanwhile, Garganera pointed out the mine should be immediately closed down and rehabilitated especially at this time when people are actually facing different threats and risks both natural and man-made. 

“This situation seriously merits a response from the MGB. Consequently, the review of all mining projects in the country should start. Lastly, we urge the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at the regional and provincial levels to immediately conduct parallel investigations on this continuing event so that we can safely determine if there are risks that face the communities in CARAGA region composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands,” Garganera furthered. 

The mining project comprises both open pit and an underground mine which as originally designed, delivers a minimum of 849,000 ounces of gold production at a cash cost of sub US$400.00 per ounce over a ten-year life. (Jandel Posion)

“Consecration is one way [to address them], it’s not the only thing, but it’s part of it,” said Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ after his talk on the meaning of consecration last May 4 at the San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe. 

Fr. Arevalo admitted Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who initially pushed for the initiative of the June 8 national consecration, specifically had the so-called death bills in mind as one of the more pressing intentions of the consecration.  

The Jesuit theologian also described the Philippines’ context as in dire need of the consecration which includes “so many evils entering our country underground, and even funded [ones].” 

‘God’s power will invade us’

One of the country’s leading Mariologists, Arevalo also talked about how tapping into the consecration’s potential for grace is ultimately linked to collective and individual decisions. 

“That’s the meaning of human freedom. It’s up to us if God’s power will invade us. It’s there. It’s all around us. But you have to turn it on. That’s the way we release this power into society,” he explained. 

Aside from anti-life legislation pending in the 16^th Congress, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ catechetical primer on the consecration makes mention of the unresolved territorial dispute over Sabah, continuing violence in Mindanao, as well as social injustice and poverty. 

On June 8, all bishops and priests will make a simultaneous act of national consecration at exactly 10 a.m. in all cathedrals, chapels, shrines and parishes. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]

Suspended priests Fr. Ed Panlilio has already conceded defeat to incumbent Lilia Pineda as Pampanga governor while Fr. Leo Casas is losing badly in Masbate gubernatorial race. 

Panlilio had 125, 407 votes as of 3 pm Thursday while Pineda got 505, 248 votes, according to partial unofficial tally of the Comelec representing 74.37 percent of the Pampanga election returns (ER). 

This is the third time that Pineda defeated Panlilio. 

Casas, meanwhile, only had 24,003 votes compared to incumbent governor Dayan Lanete with 126, 994, and Tony Kho, who garnered 105, 758 votes based on the 82.4 percent of the Masbate ER. 

Although the total and final votes have not yet been transmitted, it would be impossible to surmount the lead of their rivals. 

But Panlilio said he will file a complaint against Pineda for alleged vote buying in the province. 

Church law states that priests are not allowed to run in the elections or accepting an office that includes the exercise of civil power. (CBCPNews)

MANILA, May 16, 2013—The Liturgical Commission of Manila archdiocese is holding a Congress on Liturgical Renewal as part of its activities for the Year of Faith at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on May 18. 

Close to 13,000 participants are expected to attend the day-long summit themed “Faith Celebrated and Lived.” 

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will give two talks, one in the morning at 8 a.m. and another in the afternoon at 2:30 p.m. on the topic “Major themes of Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy).”   

Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop-emeritus of Manila will preside the morning Mass and the commissioning of lay liturgical ministers—Extraordinary Ministers for Holy Communion, Lectors and Commentators, Altar Servers, Greeters and Collectors and members of the Music Ministry and the Mother Butler’s Guild.

Other speakers include Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr. who will speak on “Faith and Liturgy” and Fr. Genaro O. Diwa, head of Manila Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission and Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy, on “Walking Through Vatican II.”

Participants to the Congress are recommended by their parish priests, rectors, and chaplains and should pre-register with the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission.  (CBCPNews)

At a press conference last May 12, ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta stressed the importance of continuing formation of young people about electoral duties and how it should not stop with the May 13 polls.

The Episcopal Commission on Youth marked a respite in its Kabataang Bayani runs with A Candle for HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections), a prayer on the eve of the elections, last May 12 at Our Lady of the Abandoned parish in Marikina City.

During his homily at A Candle for HOPE Eucharistic celebration, CBCP Media Office director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III lauded Kabataang Bayani as a program that “minumulat ang isipan ng mga bata sa isang napakaimportanteng misyon – ang pag-Christianize ng politics (opens the eyes of the youth to a most important mission – the Christianizing of politics).”

“As Christians, nakikialam [tayo], hindi lamang sa sarili kung hindi sa buong sambayanan,” Msgr. Quitorio added, explaining why good Catholics necessarily have to be involved citizens.

This is precisely one of the objectives of Kabataang Bayani, which aims to “provide a venue for Filipino youth to become more aware of the country’s socio-political scene and make them realize their vital role in transforming the situation.”

Designed a few elections before, the program is the Youth Commission’s “concrete response to the need to form our young people in social awareness and involvement, and as a particular tool to aid the youth ministries in this important component,” as described in one of its modules.

Kabataang Bayani: Youth for HOPE has had runs for the Department of Social Welfare and Development – NCR, the Archdiocese of Jaro in Ilo-ilo, which was attended by 100 youth; another one in the Diocese of Bangued, which had 70 participants.

The most recent ones were held for the Diocese of Malolos and the Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo, Manila.         [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]