Look back at History: Bishop Mylo endorses Catholic Social Media Summit

PASIG City, September 1, 2014—The bishop heading the Church’s social communications commission endorses the upcoming Catholic Social Media Summit v3 (CSMSv3) which YouthPinoy (YP), a band of young online missionaries is organizing in response to Pope Francis’ call for “authentic encounters”.

Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media (ECSCMM) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Bishop Mylo Vergara on left (Photo: CBCP News)

In a letter dated August 30, Saturday Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media (ECSCMM) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara followed the lead of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan in giving his blessing to what is expected to become this year’s biggest and much-awaited gathering of Catholic social media users and enthusiasts on September 13-14, 2014 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center, Provincial Capitol grounds in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Quoting the Holy Father’s recent World Communications Day message to people involved in social communications, Vergara, who also heads the diocese of Pasig, noted, “A culture of encounter needs a listening ear and an understanding heart that listens to different cultures and traditions.”

According to the bishop, every individual needs “to love and be loved”.

This fact, said he, explains why the “world of media is called to tenderness”.

“The digital highway is teeming with people who are hurting, men and women looking for salvation or hope,” shared Vergara.

Appealing to young people, he stressed, “We can encounter the risen Lord in every nook and corner of the social media. Every face and network account that comes across our own become the very face of Jesus who longs to love us and whom we can love in return.”

Registration for the event is P800, inclusive of a kit, ID, and meals. A registration of P1,200 per head will include accommodations. For more information, contact Esteve Mata at 0916-2783807; Sher Cuison at 0921-4746638 or through email, catholicsocialmediasummit@gmail.com. For more information, visitwww.catholicsocialmediasummit.com or www.youthpinoy.com

The CSMS v3.0 is the flagship event of YouthPinoy, a group of online missionaries under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Media Office and the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth. (Raymond A. Sebastián)

Media accreditation schedule for the Papal Visit announced

On behalf of the Committees preparing for the Papal visit, I would like to thank you all for coming to this press conference and assisting us in this announcement to the Public the official Itinerary of the Holy Father Pope Francis in his first historic visit to our country. 

Our panelists will give messages on the official announcement but more details will emerge in the coming days in the subsequent briefings of press conferences with resource persons for various different venues and other aspects of the preparations.  The press conference will be announced through the Media Committee.

May I also invite the public to log on to our official papal website, www.papalvisit.ph.  From there we can get the latest news and update regarding the preparations for the papal visit, also information regarding the Holy Father, some background information regarding the places where the Holy Father would go specially Tacloban and Palo, and his activities leading to his historic trip in the Philippines this coming January 2015.

For all our partners in media, and this is very important, I would like to inform you that media accreditation will official start on November 17, 2014, online only, and on November 24, 2014 at the Papal Visit General Headquarters at the Knights of Columbus Building on General Luna St., Intramuros.  Again, just log on to our website.   The application period will last until December 8, 2014.  Thank you.

Abp. Soc: Our official joy begins

Statement of CBCP President

Abp. Socrates Villegas

On the Announcement of the Final Itinerary of the Papal Visit

Today our official joy begins. We have had this secret joy in our hearts since the first news of a visit by the Holy Father Pope Francis came out. But today we announce it to you and to the world. Pope Francis is bringing the joy of the Gospel personally, to us, on the five special days in January that we have officially announced.

The days leading up to January 15 will be busy if not frenzied for people in the Church and in Government who are tasked with preparing for the events. There will be great interest and curiosity about the who, the what, the how, and the why of the visit. There will be an appetite for the minutiae, the littlest and even the most trivial things: what the Pope will eat, what he will drink, etc. But as, we, the bishops said in our pastoral letter last July, the visit of Pope Francis “carries a message of pastoral love, mercy and compassion” and it is through the understanding and living out of this message that the grace of joy will flow.

I invite you all, my fellow Filipinos, to extend a hearty and warm welcome to our Pope. But most importantly let us open our hearts to the message he will bring and, even now, extend the love, mercy, compassion and kindness that he practices to one another, that he may find in our country a blessed, kind, and grateful people. Let us all work and act together to make his visit a moment of grace for us and our country.

When Pope Francis comes, he will show us the face of God. When the Pope sees us Filipinos, may he see the living God in us.

November 14, 2014

Abp. John Du: Pope Francis' decision to go to the Archdiocese of Palo was unexpected, yet very much welcome

MESSAGE OF ARCHBISHOP JOHN DU ON THE PASTORAL VISIT OF THE HOLY FATHER TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PALO

 

 

May Almighty God be praised!  The news confirming the Holy Father's coming in January fills us with gratitude to God who has given us this very special favor.  The decision of Pope Francis to come to the Philippines, and especially to visit the Archdiocese of Palo to show solidarity with the victims of the Yolanda catastrophe was very unexpected, but is also very much welcome.  Let us all pray that this pastoral visit of the Supreme Shepherd of the Universal Church may bring hope and encouragement, unity and peace to all so that we may rise from the destruction unleashed by  the fury of Yolanda to a better and brighter tomorrow.

 

We are trying our best to prepare for this great event and are very thankful for the help and support of our leaders in the Church and in Government, and of many groups and individuals. Manila expects millions of pilgrims. We, too in Leyte are expecting hundreds of thousands to join us.  We are preparing for them as well. Let us prepare for this together, without bickering and without undermining each other's participation. The Philippines is now united in praying fervently for Pope Francis; let us also contribute our own good will and efforts, in ensuring that the apostolic visit of the Roman Pontiff may not be marred by any untoward incident and that it may truly be a time of grace for our country and for everyone. 

 

Many dioceses in the Visayas suffered much especially due to the Bohol earthquake and the Super Typhoon Yolanda.  As we suffered together so should we also rejoice together, for in faith we understand that the Lord, in his mercy and compassion, does not only try us and test our faith; He also continues to provide us with good things, through Christ Our Lord. 

Cardinal Tagle: Pope Francis' visit, a blessing to the poor

Message of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on the press briefing held at the Arzobispado de Manila last Nov. 14, 2014

Today the Vatican released the program of His Holiness Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to the Philippines on January 15-19, 2015.  We cannot contain our joy. We want the whole Filipino nation to know of this good news.

The pastoral visit of Pope Francis will surely bring much blessing to all of us, especially to the poor, the survivors of calamities both natural and human-caused, and the victims of different types of injustice. The concern and solidarity of Jesus the Good Shepherd will be palpable in the person and presence of Pope Francis. With him let us share Jesus’ love to all.

The Pope’s visit also calls us to personal and social responsibility. As disciples of Jesus Christ driven by the Holy Spirit, we will be challenged to reach out with love to the neglected and abandoned, to help heal the wounds inflicted on children, women and families, to respect neighbors who differ from us, to form the youth in responsible freedom, to value life and creation, and to imbue our culture and society with mercy and compassion. With him let us spread the Gospel of hope with joy.

Our excitement needs to be purified and strengthened by constantly listening to the Word of God, by frequently participating in the Eucharist, by sincerely repenting of our sins, and by habitually doing acts of justice and love. With Pope Francis’ pastoral visit, God’s mercy and compassion will embrace all Filipinos!

+ Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle

Archbishop of Manila

14 November 2014

San Jose Seminary 85th Alumni Homecoming slated this Nov. 20 - 21, 2014

The San Jose Seminary Class of 1991 invites all alumni of the San Jose Seminary to the 85th Alumni Homecoming on November 20 - 21, 2014 at the San Jose Seminary in the Ateneo de Manila University Compound, Quezon City.

Dubbed with the theme "Josefino, Bayani at Banal: Liwanag at Anino sa Buhay ng Josefino,"  this annual event serves as an opportune time to strengthen the fellowship and brotherhood among the seminary alumni and a grace to inspire, nourish, and sustain them in the ministry.

For further information, please contact the 85th Alumni Homecoming Secretariat at 426 - 6091 or 09273673282.  We look forward to your return to your once and forever home.  Hail San Jose!