Church

MANILA (PNA) -- Pope Francis will not be attending the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) to be held in Cebu City in January 2016.This was revealed by Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in a press conference on Monday at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila.However, the Lingayen-Dagupan prelate said that the Holy Father is expected to send his representative to the religious event early next year. He will not be attending.

MANILA (PNA) -- Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas has been reelected president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).A total of 82 out of the 95 active bishops attending the CBCP plenary assembly in Manila voted in favor of Villegas to continue his position.The Catholic prelate said that he is accepting his reelection to head the conference. I accepted the reelection. I know many are praying for me. May awa ang Diyos,” he said.Also reelected were Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao as vice president, Palo Archbishop John Du as CBCP treasurer, and Fr.

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The Board of Consulters’ of the Diocese of Kidapawan (DCK) has filled in the posts leftby Father Rogelio Jake” Nim DCK who died on June 23 due to cardiac arrest. Monsignor Carlito Garcia, Diocesan Administrator, said Fr. Gerardo Jerry” Tacdoro, DCK was designated as the officer-in-charge of Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary while Father Hepolito Pol” Paracha, DCK was namedas acting Social Action director of the diocese.

MANILA (PNA) -- Catholic Church officials are offering prayers for the 45 people who perished in a sea mishap off Ormoc City on Thursday.At the same time, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the Public Affairs Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that an investigation should be conducted on the incident. I pray for the victims. A full investigation should be done,” he said.The Catholic prelate added, This is another sad incident of poor supervision. There is still no proper closure in other sea tragedies in the past.”Fr.

KIDAPAWAN CITY — When he was still alive,Father Rogelio Jake” Nim dreamed ofestablishing a home for the elderly priests of the Diocesan Clergy of Kidapawan (DCK) as his legacy for the retired priests, hiselder brother said.In his eulogy,Reynando Toto Nim, elder brother of the late diocesan clergy, recalled that during the family reunion last year, Fr. Jake told his family that he wanted to build a home for the elderly priests so those who have served and retired will have a place called home. Fr.

MANILA – Same sex marriage will likely be on the agenda of the Philippine bishops after the US Supreme Court’s affirmation of gay couples’ right to marry.The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the court’s ruling will not go unheeded,” saying it will revisit the gay marriage debate but according to the Gospel teachings.

Summary of Laudato Si, Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Environment by and//www.focus.org/authors/kevin-cotter.html Kevin Cotter | and//www.focus.org/assets/images/blog/post-image/laudate-si-705.jpg Pope Francis’ EncyclicalLaudato Siis a worldwide wake up call to help humanity understand the destruction that man is rendering to the environment and his fellow man.

VATICAN ( and//www.catholicnewsagency.com/ CNA/EWTN News ) - One of the most challenging scientific questions Pope Francis faces in his new encyclical on creation is that of climate change, which a source close to the document says the Pope addresses in a balanced perspective without taking sides. The great novelty which emerges from the encyclical is that it comes from a shepherd who’s thinking of all those who are his,” a source familiar the encyclical has said.