OMI Philippine province statement on Jolo bombings
Church • 23:26 PM Tue Jan 29, 2019
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By:
OMI Philippines
The Oblates of Mary
Immaculate, Philippine Province are in deep grief and sorrow with the bombing
of the Jolo Cathedral. We have lost brothers,
sisters, and friends. We are one with
their families in this difficult time – for they were also a family to us. Our grief is even greater as the bombing
happened at a time when the Holy Mass is being celebrated at the Our Lady of
Mount Carmel Cathedral.Indeed, they
have died as martyrs witnessing to their Christian faith as they braved to stay
in Jolo despite constant intimidation and risks.
Our sympathy also extends to the
men in uniform whose lives were sacrificed in their duty to protect the
community.
We condemn in the strongest
possible terms this treacherous, inhumane, and evil act of violence against the
people of Jolo, especially to the Christian community. Such barbaric deed has no place in a
civilized society where sacredness of life and human dignity is respected.
We therefore implore all
concerned authorities to do their utmost duty to bring immediate justice to
victims, their families, and the entire community of Jolo who are deeply
afflicted by this atrocity.
Over the past decades, our people
- Christians, Muslims, and Lumads - have been striving to work together to
bring forth harmony, peace, and progress to this land. It is
our hope that this tragic incident may not be a source of division, but rather
a strong reason to build-up a community that is centered on the values of
peace, dialogue, friendship, love, and solidarity that transcends religion,
culture, or belief.
FR. CHARLIE INZON, OMI
Provincial Superior
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Cotabato City
29 January 2019