(19 March 2021 – 26 June 2022)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thirty-five years after Pope Saint John Paul II blessed us with his Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio on the role of the Christian family in the modern world (22 November 1981), Pope Francis gifted us with his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia on love in the family (19 March 2016). The Holy Father noted that “This Exhortation is especially timely in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. First, because it represents an invitation to Christian families to value the gifts of marriage and the family, and to persevere in a love strengthened by the virtues of generosity, commitment, fidelity and patience. Second, because it seeks to encourage everyone to be a sign of mercy and closeness wherever family life remains imperfect or lacks peace and joy” (n. 5).

Since then, the Family and Life Apostolate/Ministry in the Philippines has sought to implement the recommendations of the Synods on the Family and the teachings of Familiaris Consortio and Amoris Laetitia. Even during the pandemic lockdown of 2020, the Family and Life Apostolate continued in creative ways and responded to the new challenges.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, the Holy Father has called for a Year of Amoris Laetitia Family (19 March 2021-26 June 2022). We perceive with joy that the goals and proposals of the Year of Amoris Laetitia Family are in harmony with the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines’ agenda for the Family promulgated 30 years ago.

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“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23)

RMP Statement on Red Tagging and AMLC freezing of bank account

We, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), a national organization,            inter-congregational and inter-diocesan in character, of women and men religious, priests and laypeople, and a mission partner of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) has been at the forefront of serving rural poor communities in the country for 51 years. We have been living out our mission to collectively witness and act as Christ’s disciples with the rural poor, specifically with the poor farmers, agricultural workers, indigenous peoples and fisherfolks.

We deplore the Philippine government’s decision to freeze our bank accounts. This persistent harassment sprang from continuous barrage of malicious allegations that there is “probable cause” that RMP is involved in “terrorism financing”. It can be recalled that the government’s Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) ordered a 20-day freeze on RMP accounts with the Bank of Philippine Islands. In a resolution dated Dec. 26, 2019, the AMLC also ordered the bank to submit details of related bank accounts and proposed the filing of a petition before the Court of Appeals to extend the freeze order to six months. Moreover, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 37 on October 7, 2020 issued an Asset Preservation Order against several bank accounts of the RMP over case violation of the Terrorism and Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

We vehemently deny any involvement in any form of financing terrorist persons and/or organizations. We reiterate our position that donations and funding received by RMP are used to implement projects and programs to help the poor by providing the rural communities the help and services they deserve and that the government refuses to provide.

These series of attacks against RMP and its members are inevitably connected to our work with the poor, marginalized, and oppressed sectors in society. What is evidently clear is that under the newly signed Anti-Terrorism Law (ATL), helping the poor and living out concretely our faith imperative and following the church mandate to build the Church of the Poor will put our liberty and life at risk. This is verified by the wave of harassment and threats RMP members have experienced over the past years. Relentless red-tagging of church workers by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has become a prelude to illegal arrests and sometimes murder. Over the past years, a number of RMP members were charged with various crimes including perjury, arson, kidnapping, robbery, and frustrated murder. Hence, we categorically proclaim that the ATL is inimical to democracy and in its most extreme can lead to warrantless arrests, detention without charges, torture, enforced disappearance and extra-judicial killings.

As we start to commemorate the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in this season of Lent, we also remember the climate of persecution Jesus experienced at the hands of the religious and political ruling elite of his time. The same climate of persecution and fear persists in our time today. But now, more than ever, the RMP will continue to fearlessly live out its commitment to be servant-leaders with the poor farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers, and Indigenous Peoples so that all may truly experience God’s compassion and mercy in the here and now.

Lastly, we call on church people especially the religious congregations, networks and our mission partners who have been with us in defending the rights of the crucified poor and to continue in standing up with RMP. We need to add more voices so as to continue our prophetic task of journeying with the rural poor towards emancipation and the attainment of life with dignity, justice, and peace.

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March 10, 2021

Dear Brother and Sisters,

Whether under the dead of night or in broad daylight, there is no peace with the unleashing of murderous “kill, kill, kill” commands from the Duterte administration.

March 7, 2021 has been called “Bloody Sunday.” This is because in the early hours of a day when most families rest, the serving of a series of questionable warrants led to nine deaths and many arrests in various parts of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas. This particular police operation went after activists. Homes and offices were raided. Initial fact-finding reports are bearing out that the victims of these raids were extra-judicially killed or planted with fabricated evidence and arrested.

Similar attacks on activists have occurred in weeks and months past, notably the Tumandok massacre of December 30, 2020 and Operation Sauron on Negros island. And yet, Bloody Sunday feels ominous and particularly disturbing, because it feels like a possible opening to more killings, if we do not stand up to denounce these human rights violations.

Those extra-judicially killed on March 7, 2021 include four indigenous peoples, two urban poor community activists, a labor organizer, and two peasant sector activists. They are all people who have shared their lives and energy with their communities, without the assurances of safety or luxury, and are without insurance of all sorts.

Rappler: Families blocked from claiming bodies of ‘Bloody Sunday’ victims – lawyer

We are now joining with those helping to gathering funds for the immediate expenses for the victims of Bloody Sunday. These include:

• Funeraria, Autopsy, and Burial
• Documentation Processes
• Legal Assistance
• Logistics
• Support for the families

As we encourage you to share what you can, we are pooling resources that will be released for the above expenses. We hope that you will give generously, as the need is great.

1. The Promotion of Church People’s Response is encouraging Church donors to send monies through the KASIMBAYAN BPI account. Upon deposit, please send a scan or photo of your deposit slip to pcprnatl2016@gmail.com or through private message to Norma Dollaga at Facebook. Should you prefer to send by GCash this can be done through Patricia Mungcal. KASIMBAYAN will issue a receipt for your donation.

• BPI KASIMBAYAN West Avenue Branch, Quezon Ave, Quezon City 3051 118 501
• GCash Patricia Mungcal : 0915 118 7393

2. Should you be interested to support a particular victim, or should you have programs for particular ministries (for instance for Indigenous Peoples or Urban Poor) we can also honor these requests, or we can connect you with the team leaders of a particular advocacy support group

The challenges before us are significant. We truly pray that you will be moved to solidarity at this difficult time. We can assure you, that your kind donations will be much appreciated. Thank you for your continued support for our advocacy.

Sincerely,

By Roy Lagarde
March 4, 2021

Manila, Philippines

Pope Francis has granted a jubilee year with the inherent plenary indulgence for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

The pope made the decision in a decree issued on Feb. 25 to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

The document signed by the head of Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, said the celebration, which officially starts on April 4, would be an opportunity to increase the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

The faithful can receive plenary indulgence when they make a devotional pilgrimage to one of the designated “Jubilee Churches” until April 22, 2022.

The country’s 85 dioceses has listed about 537 pilgrimage churches for the quincentennial celebration of the evangelization of Asia’s bastion of Christianity.

Still, when the faithful make the pilgrimage, they have to meet the usual conditions of going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the pope.

Pilgrims are also asked to pray “for the fidelity of the Filipino people to their Christian calling, for the increase of priestly and religious vocations and for the defense of the family, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the profession of faith, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary”.

An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, which have already been forgiven.

Amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, the gift of plenary indulgence is also extended to the sick, the elderly, and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave their homes.

They too can obtain the plenary indulgence if they are detached from any sin and have the intentions of fulfilling the three usual conditions as soon as possible— “they join themselves spiritually to the celebrations, offering their prayers and sufferings, or the inconvenience of one’s own life to the merciful God through Mary.”

The Apostolic Penitentiary asked priests to pastorally facilitate the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and the administration of holy communion to the sick with a willing and generous spirit.

Pope Francis will lead the Filipino community in Italy in celebrating the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines, a Filipino priest based in Rome said.

Scalabrinian Fr. Ricky Gente of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome said the celebration will be highlighted with a Mass to be officiated by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:00 a.m. (5:00 p.m. in the Philippines) on March 14.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the pope’s vicar of Rome, will also be present in the event.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, a limited number of people will be allowed to attend the Mass physically inside the basilica.

The celebration, he said, will be livestreamed from the Vatican to reach Filipinos in different parts of the world.

The Mass can also be watched live on the 500YOC’s official website and Facebook page and other social media platforms of the CBCP Media Office including the CBCP News, Visita Iglesia, Saint Pedro Calungsod, and CBCP Online Radio.

“Join us in Rome to pray, praise and thank God for his gift of the Christian faith,” Gente said.

After the Mass, the pope will lead the traditional recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at midday.

“You can also receive blessings from the pope after mass in Vatican Square where he will lead the Angelus prayer at noon,” Gente added.

In the Philippines, most dioceses will launch the year-long commemoration on April 4, Easter Sunday.

The celebration comes after a nine-year preparation, with each year carrying a specific theme that reflects the pastoral priorities of the church in the country.

The bishops have chosen, “Missio ad Gentes”, as the theme of the pastoral year 2021.

“Gifted to Give”, taken from Matthew’s Gospel (10:9), is the theme for the celebration.

Italy hosts the largest population of overseas Filipino workers in Western Europe.

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The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas strongly condemns the killing of 9 labor leaders in the Calabarzon region last Sunday, March 7, 2021. The blood of these fellow Filipinos are literally crying for justice as they are wiped-off from the floor tiles of their homes.

We call on our people to continue to stand for due process and the rights of all for a fair and just trial.

We call on peace-loving Filipinos to make strong statements of condemnation against these brutal and organized atrocities.

We call on our lawmakers and magistrates to do justice and show to the world that we are still ruled by laws and not by men.

For the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas Board,

March 1, 2021 

To: All Laiko Members: National Lay Organizations & Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity 
Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Ite Ad Joseph! 

The Holy Father, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter Patris Corde in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church and declared a “Year of St. Joseph” starting December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. 

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, upon the request of Ambassador Howard Dee, approved that a National Consecration to St. Joseph be celebrated in the Philippines on May 1, 2021 and appointed the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate-LAIKO to organize the event. 

In our 1st organizational meeting last February 1, 2021, it was agreed upon that the book “Consecration to St. Joseph” by Fr. Donald Calloway will be used as one of the materials for the spiritual preparation of those who would join the National Consecration and that this book should be made available to the different Dioceses and National Lay Organizations. 

The commercial selling price of this book Php 360. We are offering these books to your DCL and NLO Communities at the amount of Php 250.00 which your group may sell at Php. 300.00 in order to recoup the cost and handling. 

These books will soon be available. But we need your help to distribute them to your lay members in order for them to prepare spiritually and make the event truly meaningful. 

Can we ask you to assist us by sending your reservations/orders ahead so we can properly allocate these limited number of books. We will also appreciate if you can financially assist Laiko by paying in advance your orders. Attached is a Reservation Form. Send them to our Laiko Secretariat as soon as possible. 

Warmest regards in the spirit of St. Joseph! 

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