Church

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis on presided over a candlelight vigil for the Synod on the Family, calling on the Synod Fathers to listen to families, including the Holy Family, over the course of their deliberations. The family is a place of discernment, where we learn to recognize God’s plan for our lives and to embrace it with trust,” the Pope said.

MANILA -- Having trouble with long-distance relationships? Take a moment and remember your marriage vows and children.A Catholic bishop gave this advice to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are finding it difficult to keep their marriages alive and thriving.As head of the Church’s migrants ministry, the prelate is aware that working in a foreign land can be very lonely and makes some OFWs vulnerable to temptation.Returning home Remember always your marital vows to your husbands and wives,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, who chairs the CBCP Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.

PHILADELPHIA – Pope Francis urged the hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families to serve and care for each other as freely as God loves the human family. The pope called upon the faithful to embrace signs that the Holy Spirit can work through everyone. He referred to the readings in the multilingual Mass — from the Book of Numbers and the Gospel of Mark — in which members of the faith community questioned the work of those not part of their group and for prophesying in the name of God.

Full text of Pope Francis’s homily for the Mass Sept. 26 at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia This morning I learned something about the history of this beautiful Cathedraland the story behind its high walls and windows. I would like to think, though, that the history of the Church in this city and state is really a story not about building walls, but about breaking them down.

WASHINGTON
D.C., – In his lengthy speech to the U.S. Congress on Thursday,
Pope Francis said the family is being threatened today like never before, and
praised American figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King,
Jr., for their tireless efforts to defend freedom and values.
The Pope also boldly condemned the death
penalty and the arms trade, calling for their global abolition.

MINDANAO -Indigenous children and teachers on the Philippine island of Mindanao are bearing the brunt of conflict and rights abuses, advocates said in a letter addressed to Pope Francis.The letter, signed by children and teachers at indigenous schools in Mindanao, appealed to Pope Francis to hear and give attention to the plight of marginalized indigenous people. Help us protect the indigenous schools, communities and people in Mindanao. Impart us your apostolic blessing, read the letter, which was delivered to the Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines in Manila on Sept.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The
Diocese Clergy of Kidapawan (DCK)has warned parishioners against groups of
individuals asking for donations using the name of the diocese.

Monsignor Carlito
Garcia, diocesan administrator, told DXND Radyo Bida that the diocese has not
authorized anyone or any group to solicit in the name of the Catholic Church
for any Church related activities.

Oratio Imperata Ad
Petendam Pluviam

God our loving Father, Maker of all
Creation,

look kindly on us Your Children in
this Earth

You have given us as our home, as we
plead You

to shorten the life of El Niño now
threatening our country

with prolonged drought, extreme
weather, and low water supply.

O merciful God forgive us our
ecological sins

that have contributed to this adverse
phenomenon

MANILA (PNA) -- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has clarified that the church’s teaching on indissolubility and unity of marriage stays despite the recent modifications in the trial of marriage cases. The teaching about the indissolubility and unity of marriage remains.

MANILA (PNA) -- Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said the primary purpose of the prayer service that was attended Monday evening by the top contenders for the presidency in the May 2016 polls is to reflect on servant leadership.” It was organized by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) as part of pastoral care, not only of voters but also of potential candidates,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.The prayer service was attended by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Mar