Church

VATICAN — Pope Francis has made a donation to the World Food Programme as the organization works to feed 270 million people this year amid rising hunger caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus infection levels have been rising in Latin America and Africa at a moment when food stocks in some parts of the world are already low, leaving more people vulnerable to food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme website.

COTABATO CITY - Social distancing has been strictly observed during today's mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. 

The Archdiocese of Zamboanga’s new auxiliary bishop will be welcomed to his new ministry at a special ceremony.

Bishop-elect Moises Cuevas will be consecrated at the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 9:00 a.m. on August 24.

The ordination will be led by Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz of Zamboanga with Archbishop Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz and Bishop Julius Tonel of Ipil as co-consecrators.

At 46, Cuevas is the youngest prelate in the Philippines and the fourth auxiliary bishop of the southern Philippine archdiocese.

COTABATO CITY - The Archdiocese of Cotabato and the dioceses of Kidapawan and Marbel have resumed public masses at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City today, June 7, 2020. 

Below are the infographics of mass schedules and protocols at the St. Anthony parish (Koronadal Cathedral) and Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Grace cathedral in Kidapawan City.

For the first time, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has cancelled its plenary assembly that was planned for next month in Manila.

The decision was announced by the CBCP Secretariat on Friday, citing as reason “the present health condition caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The government has earlier banned mass gatherings due to the coronavirus crisis.

Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP Secretary General, said that the bishops’ annual retreat, which usually precedes the July assembly, will be also moved to January next year.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The Diocese of Kidapawan on Thursday released guidelines in attending masses during the "new normal" masses across the diocese.

Below is the info-graphics from the diocese released by Fr. Desiderio Balatero Jr, DCK, parish priest of Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Graces Cathedral.

Regular mass schedules have resume this month. 

MANILA - The buck stops at the government’s doors to stop discrimination against returning overseas Filipino workers due to coronavirus scare, a church official said.

Scalabrinian Fr. Resty Ogsimer, executive secretary of the bishops’ migrants ministry, lamented that OFWs are “stigmatized” by some public officials themselves.

“So part of the solution is to refrain from demonizing them,” Ogsimer said in virtual media forum Wednesday.

The head of the Catholic bishops’ leadership asked church leaders to take lead in showing “calmness” and “cooperation” with the government as the nation grapples with coronavirus.

Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the episcopal conference, stressed the need for understanding and “open communication” with authorities whatever concerns the Church.

The archbishop made the statement after the government’s guidelines on the conduct of religious services triggered mixed reactions even from within the Church.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As countries continue to reel from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis offered prayers for the men and women who have been unable to work.

"In these days, many people have lost their jobs, were not rehired or work off the books. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours who are suffering from this lack of work," the pope said May 11 at the start of his Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

MANILA - After nearly two months in lockdown, calls are mounting for the government to allow church services while keeping all the necessary precautions.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of Manila, said that “religious services are also essential services” during this time of coronavirus pandemic.

“So when the decision makers consider the essential services to be allowed, they should also consider the opening of the churches and its services as important,” Pabillo said.