To be sent to proclaim God’s mercy is dangerous – Card. Barbarin

BAGAC, Bataan, January 20, 2017 – “When Jesus sends us on a mission, it would be difficult and dangerous,” warned Papal envoy Philippe Xavier Ignace Cardinal Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, France in the last day of the 4th World Apostolic Congress of Mercy held here in Las Casas de Acuzar, Bagac, Bataan.

Cardinal Barbarin underscored the necessity of the living the Divine Mercy: “The Divine Mercy is the essential nucleus of our faith; it is so important in divine work.”

“God’s mercy is reflected in mankind’s history, as God said, ‘I saw the misery of my people,’ it is impossible for him not to come to us,” explained the Cardinal.

 He explained in five points of God’s mercy:

First, God loves us with all his heart.  In the story of the prodigal son, he is like the father, looking and waiting for his son.”

Second, mercy is the world of Christ.

Third, mercy is the anger of God who is “slow to anger”.

“God becomes angry at us because we need it,” explained Cardinal Barbarin.

Fourth, God’s great love is without limits. “It is like an overflowing fountain of love flowing to the world.”

Fifth, God will remain faithful to us.

Cardinal Barbarin likened the Church to a hospital.  Like the story of the good Samaritan, we are called to take care of those who are sick, the suffering, the poor, those in despair, or those dependent on alcohol.

“The Church is the mercy of God because the mercy of God is in Jesus and we are the Body of Christ,” explained the Cardinal.

Being sent on mission, the Cardinal warned that it’s not easy.

Quoting from Matthew, “I’m sending you as lambs among wolves”, the Cardinal narrated instances whenever Christians were sent on a mission, martyrs were produced.

Nevertheless, he assures us of Jesus’ abiding presence: “I shall be with you until the end of time.” (Matt. 28, 20)

The Cardinal warned, “Jesus wants to save every human being, even those we don’t like.”

He enumerated personages in the bible whom people did not like – Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, the Canaanite woman, and the woman caught in adultery, among others.

“In the story of the adulterous woman for instance, the Pharisees didn’t like her.  But Jesus said, ‘Those without sin cast the first sto
ne.’ When they left, Jesus turned to the woman and asked, ‘Where are your accusers?’ And the woman replied, ‘No one, Lord.’ Aside from showing mercy to the woman, Jesus was also looking for the others, but they left.  He also wanted to forgive them.  Jesus wants to forgive without limits,” explained the Cardinal.

“Today, to be merciful is to contemplate the mercy of God, to imitate Jesus because he is within us, and to keep his work in the world.  So, you need not be discouraged before this great challenge,” assured the Cardinal.  (Fr. Lito Jopson / CBCP ECSC Media)

The Church has drug rehab even before Duterte – Bishop Oliveros

MARILAO, Bulacan, January 19, 2017 –  In the Holy Eucharist celebrated on the fourth day of the Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy or WACOM4, Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros in his homily said, “Even before Duterte became president, we already have a rehabilitation center for drug addicts.”

“Mercy in action” is this day's theme for the worldwide event here in the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan, with participants estimated at 7,000.

The foreign and local delegates were exposed to fifteen charitable institutions of the Diocese of Malolos, catering to persons of all ages, from abandoned children to the elderly. These are: Galilee Home and Dumagats in Dona Remedios Trinidad; Nazareth Home for Street Children, Hospicio San Juan de Dios for Women and Bahay ni San Martin in Bustos; Bethelehem House of Bread in Batluag; Sto. Nino Bethany House Orphanage, Bahay Pangarap, Ephesus House, and Tahanan ni Mother Rita in Guiginto; Tahanang Mapagpala and Emmaus House of Apostolate in Malolos City; Lingap Bata Center and Bahay Kalinga in Sta Maria; and Hospicio San Juan de Dios for Men in Bocaue.

Galilee Home

The Diocese of Malolos founded the Galilee Home in Dona Remedios Trinidad, a drug rehabilitation center in the 80s.

Malolos Vicar General Msgr. Bartolome Santos, Jr. reported that the home is for the wayward who wish to be freed from the vice and come to God’s fold.

“We ask whether they want to change so they can stay in the home or not.  Then they start going back to the Lord.  They go to mass everyday; they exchange in sharing and productivity.  We insure that they will be able to organize their lives.”

Msgr. Bartolome explained that there are many people helping them – doctors, psychiatrists, priests and other volunteers.  “We do everything we can.  We make them feel the presence of God.”

Msgr. Sabino Vengco, who himself is the founder of Kadiwa sa Pagkapari Foundation that extends help to retired and elderly priests, said, “The value of life is the main reason why we act; not only to restore social order but to heed Christ’s command that life should flourish.”

“Our mission for the wayward is not punishment but new life.  This is the life of the gospel of Jesus.  What makes life worth living is that we take care of others.” (Fr. Lito Jopson / CBCP ECSC Media)

Witness to the poor; be a poor Church - Abp. Tirona

MARILAO, Bulacan, January 19, 2017 – Careres Archbishop Rolando Tirona dwelt on “Witnessing to the mercy of God as church of and for the poor.”

Speaking before some estimated 7,000 faithful, both coming from local and foreign delegates of the Divine Mercy devotees in the Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao, Bulacan, Bishop Tirona explained how we can give witness as a church of the poor.

Witnessing

“Our vocation is to be witnesses of God’s mercy,” said Archbishop Tirona.

“We witness to the fidelity of God to his people. Aside from ‘mercy’, the other definition of “hesed” is enduring fidelity.”

According to the Archbishop, Jesus commissioned his disciples to be witnesses.

“Christian witnessing is not a series of sporadic actions like giving donations.  It is a way of life formed by inspiration and commitment.”

He also distinguished between being a reporter and a witness.

“A reporter is emotionally distant from an event.  The witness cannot be but in the event, caught in the event, and transformed by the event.  ”

Second, a witness is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

“Like a mystic, which is not just someone who experiences extrabodily phenomena; a witness is captured and taken hold by the Holy Spirit.”

“Witnessing is ‘now’ witnessing.  The Kingdom of God is at hand.  We are to witness the power of God.”

Another point mentioned by the Archbishop is witnessing as a community or a church action.

“Jesus gathered the disciples as a community.  He said, ‘The Spirit will come upon you and you will proclaim the Good News of salvation.’ Koinonia is Christian unity.”

Church of the poor

Bishop Tirona stressed on the meaning of the “church of the poor.”

“The Church is “Church of the poor” where the poor are welcome and not rejected; they actively participate ... the Church of the poor means the poor can contribute to the enrichment of the gospel in our lives.”

To be a Church of the poor, Archbishop Tirona suggests three things:  intimacy with Jesus, embracing his cross, sacrifice and love; the second is immersion in the life of the Church as the ‘Body of Christ’ through  sacraments, the food of Christian life;  and involvement in people’s lives especially the poor by actively engaging in corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

“Witnessing is sharing in God’s blessings even in the midst of personal suffering and pain.  Live with joy the gift of life,” concluded the Archbishop.  (FR. LITO JOPSON, CBCP ECSC MEDIA)

No limit to the Divine Mercy - Bishop Bacani

STO. TOMAS, BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES, January 18, 2017 - NOVALICHES BISHOP EMERITUS Teodoro Bacani, Jr.animated the faithful on the third day of pilgrimage of the Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy held today at the St. Pius National Shrine and Parish, in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Philippines.

Addressing a crowd of about 7,000 participants both local and foreign delegates and visiting pilgrims, the bishop’s reflections focused on remembering and celebrating God’s mercy as a forgiven and forgiving community.

Remembering

“It’s very sad when we can no longer remember ... more than half of our lives are lost.  So we celebrate anniversaries to remember.  Remember the Exodus; this day, celebrate as a memorial of a perpetual institution"

"The Eucharist, this is the new covenant in my blood; do this is memory of me,” the bishop explained.

Bishop Ted invited the faithful to deepen their knowledge of Jesus:  “Do we remember who he is?  The Scriptures, the book of God’s remembering, is the book God wants us to remember his deeds.”

Bishop Ted enunciated Jesus raising the dignity of the poor; “Zaccheus, the Samaritan woman, the thief on the cross who asked to be remembered.  Pope Francis would embrace the poorest of the poor because this man (Jesus) would not drive them away.  Jesus raised their dignity.”

Jesus also raised a community where love is the standard.

“The love shown to the needy is shown to God himself and is necessary for our salvation,” the bishop explained.

“The church is a sacrament of the intimate union of God and the unity of all mankind; the instrument of this union and the unity is God’s will for all mankind.”

“Jesus is the reign of God in person, for he did what was pleasing to the Father.  He looks for the glorification of mankind.”

“A new heaven and a new earth, wala nang basura (no more trash).  There will not be any sickness.  The last enemy is death.  We will all live and God will be all in all.”

“This is the summary of the Christ event; Christ reveals the mercy of the Father.  For Jesus is the face of the mercy of the Father.  He who sees Jesus, sees the Father.  Jesus is the human face of the Father.”

“We have come to know the same God as agape.  It is not eros, love that seeks to possess, but love given to the most unworthy; it is given to the max.  Of his fullness, we have all received grace for grace (patung-patong na biyaya).”

Celebration

Bishop Ted reminded the faithful to celebrate.  How? In songs and dances.

“We celebrate bread; celebrate by giving life to the fullest.”

“Celebrate to be reconciled to one another.  We want to celebrate the mercy of God. It is by his mercy we breathe.  Every breath is a grace; every companion is a grace.  The world we live is a grace.”

The bishop exhorted the faithful, “Even as we proclaim the mercy of God, let us be bold to uphold the rights of human beings, even the most miserable.”

“As we proclaim life, let us reject merciless ways done even to drug addicts.”

The bishop lamented the faithful’s silence on the merciless killings going on in the country.

He recalled the concern of a priest: "If they were sinners and they were killed in their sleep, they would not have time to repent.  They would be condemned, not to jail, but to eternal life.”

“If the Filipino people keep quiet as in the time of Hitler, how can this be?”

The bishop noted Divine Providence in holding of a congress on mercy in the midst of killings.

“No one is deprived of life without due process.  Every person is innocent until proven guilty.  The Lord in his mercy knocks.  He says, ‘If anyone opens to me, I will eat with him.’ Jesus is a bringer of grace.  Today, in the Philippines, we also get knocks of “tukhang” (katok at pakiusap), but the one knocking is not a bringer of grace, but of death.  What kind of police do we have who cannot even catch the killers of 4,000?"

“Jesus is merciful. He said, ‘I am meek and humble of heart.’  Let us be merciful as Jesus was merciful.”

Bishop Ted concluded with the words of Pope Francis, “There is no limit to the Divine Mercy offered to everyone.” (Fr. Lito Jopson / CBCP ECSC Media)

Be a messenger of mercy – Abp. Sinaga

Manila, PHILIPPINES, January 17, 2017 - Medan Archbishop Anicetus Bongsu Sinaga, OFMCap. urged all Catholics to be missionaries of mercy to the poor and the suffering of the world.

 He called on everyone to proclaim mercy and forgiveness, conforming hearts to Jesus’ merciful heart.

"Jesus said, 'The best of me is my mercy.  Strive to mold your heart according to my heart and that burns ardently as a victim of love,'” quoted the bishop.

He called on everyone to proclaim mercy to all humanity in word, deed, and prayer.

“Without discrimination, distinction of color, ideology, let us try to internationalize and universalize love for one another.  Let us make a word of hatred, but a word of love,” said the Archbishop.

He called for an end to oppression, terrorism committed even in the name of religion, and injustice.

“Let this be a time for new reverence for life, the quickening of the struggle for justice for the celebration for life, testified the bishop, "I am grateful to be a messenger of mercy.”  (Fr. Lito Jopson/ CBCP ECSC Media)

Divine Mercy rays affect the health - Fr. Seraphim

Manila, PHILIPPINES, January 17, 2017 - Fr. Seraphim Michalencko of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary shared his reflections on the church as servant and witness of God’s mercy.

Speaking before a huge crowd of delegates representing some 60 countries, Fr. Seraphim reflected on the rays that emanated from Jesus’ heart that enrich the church.

According to Michalencko, the rays also affect the health of the body.

“It is an act of faith; everything that we need for our right to life, for a good death, and salvation in terms of health and well being in every aspect of life.”

“The white rays symbolize the life-giving oxygen to the body while the red one gives life to the soul,”  explained Fr. Seraphim.

"The sacraments of baptism, reconciliation and anointing of the sick are symbolized by the white rays while the Holy Eucharist is symbolized by the red rays, giving the life to the soul."

According to Fr. Seraphim, the rays represent the coming forth of mother church.  "As we venerate the image we allow the image to work in us."

Fr. Seraphoim attested that the rays affect the health of the body. "We are healing the very core of our life."

Fr. Seraphim acknowledged that the devotion to the Divine Mercy started from the grassroots and not top down.  “It is the believers that constitute the church; the ordained priesthood is a mission and service to charity to the body of Christ that is, by baptism constituted in Christ’s priesthood."

The devotion calls for the removal of sin and calling down grace.  “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

"We are fulfilling his will and sanctifying the whole world.  It is a universal prayer."

He also gave his insights on the final days. Quoting Jesus' revelation to St. Faustina, "You are going to prepare the world for my final coming,” he explained, "We participate in bringing that fulfillment."

"Jesus will come not to forgive sins but to fill up and take to himself those who have completely dedicated themselves to him."

He uttered his prayer according to St. John: "Father, I pray that they may all be one as I in you and you in me."  He concluded, "That is the goal of salvation, our eternal life with the Godhead."  (Fr. Lito Jopson, CBCP ECSC Media)

Quevedo: mercy is linked with communion

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 17 January 2017 - Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo stresses on communion as the deepest vocation of the Church in the second day of the Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM4) held here in the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines.

In a country beset by violence and poverty, he underscored the need for communion as the abiding love of God in us.

“God abides in those who confess that Jesus abides in God with the love God has for us.  We see three persons of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  We understand that God abides in us, not just the Spirit or Jesus, but the Triune God,” the Cardinal explained.

“The Triune God also dwells in us.  You are not just in the flesh; you are in the Spirit.  Christ is in you; the spirit of Jesus dwells in you; the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies.”

The Cardinal reminds the faithful that God’s Person is holy and we are the temples and that we live and be guided by the Spirit.

“Do not gratify the flesh as simply carnal desire, impurity, infidelity, the enumeration of the desires of the flesh, ideologies, dissensions and factions, conflicts, and quarrels,” clarified the Cardinal.

He explained the signs of living in the Spirit: "If you live by the Spirit, you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control."

“Virtue stands in the middle; it is self-controlled.  On how I live by the Spirit, I have to examine myself, ‘Do I love as I should?  Do I love God above all else and love my neighbor as myself?  And who is my neighbor?  He is the one next door.  Remember the good Samaritan. He is that person who killed a member of the family; who speaks against you; one you never heard of but in need of something in the world.”

The Cardinal reminds Catholics of their role as bearers of the Good News of salvation.  “Do not go around wearing funeral faces.  Ask, ‘Am I kind and generous to the poor, needy, and marginalized?  Am I gentle and faithful?  Do I make peace with others and find out whether or not I am living by the Spirit?’  Acknowledge the Spirit working in us as St. Paul says, “as you received the Lord, live life in Jesus.”

The Church as the image of communion and mercy

Cardinal Quevedo also reminded the faithful on their role as members of the body of Christ.

“In the body of Christ, the greatest gift is love.  Because of love we build up together one body.  When one suffers, everyone suffers.  Can we be indifferent to the plight of Christians leaving homes, with churches being burnt, and those being killed around the world?” challenged the Cardinal.

Another image of communion is our unity with Jesus as described in St. John’s gospel in the 15th chapter: “I am the vine; you are branches.  Apart from me you can do nothing.”

“I give you a new commandment: love one another.  You should love one another.  By this, everyone will know you are my disciples.”

Acts 2 and 4 described the life of the early Christian communities.  “They sold their possessions and distributed according to the needs of others.  They broke bread and ate their food with generous hearts.  Day by day the Lord added to their number.  As all was held in common, there were no needy among them.”
"The Church is called on a mission: We are called to love and mercy because of our communion with Jesus flowing from his love and mercy.  We are called to demonstrate this mission in love and serve by going out to the poor.”

“We are called to build communion with one another.  We do not stop building communion with one another in the wider society; to reconcile relationships broken by crime and drugs.  How important this task is!  We have to get rid of biases,” concluded Cardinal Quevedo.  (FR. LITO JOPSON, CBCP ECSC)