Church

Tributes have been paid to a longtime environment advocate who dedicated many years of her life to the cause.

The Caritas Philippines extended its sincere condolences to the family of former environment secretary Gina Lopez, who succumbed to brain cancer on Monday morning. She was 65.

Social media users also flooded Facebook and Twitter with the news of Lopez’s death, who was strongly supported by many bishops and church groups for her strong anti-mining stand.

BATANES -- A Catholic bishop has asked everyone to join him in prayer for the suffering victims of the twin earthquakes that struck the islands in the northern Philippines on Saturday.

Bishop Danilo Ulep of Batanes sent his prayers and condolences to the people of the prelature, after eight people were killed and hundreds evacuated in the aftermath of the tremor.

All casualties were due to damaged houses in Itbayat island, dozens others were injured, properties were damaged, including the historic Itbayat Church.

The Jolo cathedral was reopened Tuesday, nearly six months after the twin bomb attacks that killed 20 people and scores injured.

Hundreds of people gathered for the reconsecration of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, which also marked the feast of their patroness, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Mass was led by Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, along with retired Cardinal Orlando Quevedo and several other bishops and priests.

The Church’s migrants ministry has backed the creation of a separate executive department to handle concerns of Filipino migrant workers.

The bishops’ Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People said that such move would address bottlenecks in delivery of services for overseas Filipino workers.

“With this, the welfare and wellbeing of our OFWs will be specifically attended,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, ECMI chairman.

The term of the newly-elected chairmen of the CBCP Episcopal Commissions, Committees and Offices will be from December 1, 2019 to November 30, 2021.

Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities:

Bp. Jose A. Cabantan

Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate:

Bp. Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS

Episcopal Office on Bioethics:

Bp. Ricardo L. Baccay

Episcopal Commission on Canon Law:

Bp. Jacinto A. Jose

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reelected Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao as its president. 


The vote gives Archbishop Valle, 67, his second and last term to lead the conference, during their plenary assembly in Manila on Saturday.


His reelection would also make him more visible face of the church as it gears for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.


Archbishop Valles was first elected CBCP head in July 2017, succeeding Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan. 

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will elect a new set of leaders when it gathers Saturday for the three-day biannual plenary assembly.

Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP Secretary General, said the bishops will elect a president, vice president, 9 regional representatives and 29 commission and committee chairs.

Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao and Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, current president and vice president respectively, are both in their first terms in office.

Newly ordained and installed Bishop Cosme Damian Almedilla celebrated his first Mass in Butuan Tuesday announcing himself as both a father and servant in the diocese.

The around two-hour service at St. Joseph Cathedral was the first and among the celebrations to get Almedilla acquainted with his new flock.

More than 3,000 gathered at the cathedral to meet the man who will serve as the third bishop of the diocese in the southern region of Mindanao.

MANILA — A bishop on Saturday appealed to the faithful to refrain from using water to celebrate the feast of St. John the Baptist on Monday, June 24 as the country is experiencing a water supply shortage.

“It is very advisable and within a very good cause that we refrain from dousing/playing with water as celebrate the feast of St. John the Baptist,” Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos said in a text message.

He instead urged the public to save water and use it only for their daily needs.

Pope Francis has tapped Fr. Jose Rapadas to lead the Diocese of Iligan in southern Philippines.

The bishop-elect is just 46, the youngest Filipino bishop serving in and outside the country today.

The appointment was announced in Rome at 12 noon (6:00 p.m. Manila time) on Thursday.

Rapadas will replace Bishop Elenito Galido who died on Dec. 5, 2017. Since then, Bishop Severo Caermare of Dipolog has been overseeing the diocese as apostolic administrator.