CBCP AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 27, 2020, VOL.Monitor 24, NOS. 18 & 19 [email protected] PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE Church pushes back 500 Pope names US Years of Christianity archbishop as celebration new nuncio to the By Roy Lagarde Philippines THE quincentennial celebration of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines will be extended for another year due to the pandemic, a church official said. The scheduled culmination of the celebration in April 2021 will now be the launch of a yearlong celebration that will end in April 2022. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, acting president of bishops’ conference, said Pope Francis and Archbishop Charles John Brown in the Vatican in December, 2018. the decision to move the VATICAN MEDIA dates of the historic event POPE Francis on Sept. 28 envoy to Asia’s most was due to the health crisis. Catholic bishops arrive for a Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Jan. 27, 2018. PHOTO BY ROY LAGARDE “Due to the crisis caused has chosen Archbishop predominantly Christian by the Covid-19 pandemic, 31, 1521. Clergy set on Aug. 4 to 6, The preparation kicked Charles John Brown to be nation. it was necessary to change On Sept. 12, the Diocese 2021 has been cancelled. off in 2013, with each year his next ambassador to the Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the schedule of our of Maasin began a 200-day Instead of a retreat, the dedicated to a specific theme Philippines. the apostolic administrator celebration of the 500 years countdown to the 500th bishops’ Commission on the related to the faith and new The 60-year-old American of Manila, assured Brown of of Christianity,” David said. anniversary of the 1521 Clergy decided to organize evangelization. diplomat will move to Manila the archdiocese’s support on “So it is now going to be a Eucharistic celebration on a series of conferences on The final year of the from Albania, where he has his new mission. whole year celebration until their island. the Church’s history in the celebration in 2021 is devoted served as apostolic nuncio “We are happy to welcome 2022,” he added. The Church will also Philippines. to the commemoration of since 2017. him and we pray that he will The bishops agreed that commemorate the First “Each (CBCP) Commission the “Missio ad Gentes,” or Archbishop Brown have fruitful work here in the the kick-off will be on April Baptism on April 14, 2021, an will also have adjustments mission to the nations. will succeed Archbishop country,” Pabillo told Radio 17, an Easter Sunday, to event that will be spearheaded of their plans due to the In September 2019, the Gabriele Caccia, who is now Veritas. commemorate the First Easter by the Archdiocese of Cebu. crisis that we are going bishops released the official the Vatican’s Permanent Bishop Ruperto Santos Sunday Mass in the country. Originally set in April through,” he said. theme and logo for the fifth Observer to the United of Balanga said Brown’s The National Historical 2021, the bishops also The Church is currently centenary of Christianity Nations in New York. appointment is “a welcome Commission of the moved the International observing the Year of in the Philippines, dubbed The country has been relief and comfort for us in Philippines has earlier Mission Congress (IMC) and Ecumenism, Interreligious “500YOC”. without a nuncio after this troubling time” of the affirmed that the site for the 2nd National Mission Dialogue and Indigenous “Gifted to Give,” taken Archbishop Caccia ended his coronavirus pandemic. the historic Mass was held Congress to April 2022. Peoples, which is part of a from Matthew’s Gospel tour of duty in the Philippines “We welcome our new on Limasawa Island in Bishop David said that 9-year preparation for the (10:8), is the theme of the in December 2019. Apostolic Nuncio with Southern Leyte on March the National Retreat for the 2021 Jubilee. celebration. The appointment comes our obedience. We give as the country will mark our cooperation and avail next year the 500 years of ourselves for services,” he Forget not lessons from martial law — bishops Christian faith’s arrival in the said. country. For his part, Bishop CHURCH leaders have urged people The country’s bishops have Roberto Gaa of Novaliches not to forget the lessons of martial welcomed the appointment noted the significance of the law and never let its “horrors” happen of Archbishop Brown as the nuncio for the church in the again. pope’s new Nuncio / A7 Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga made this call as the nation marked the 48th anniversary of the military rule Gov’t orders closure of cemeteries by late strongman Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 21. from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 “We have to learn from martial law and live its lessons, and should never let it happen again,” Santos said. “We have to value, defend and promote our freedom.” Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Manila archdiocese echoed Santos’ call, saying that many Filipinos have not learned their lessons from martial law. “I think we have not learned our lessons. People are not vigilant and are not courageous enough to speak out,” Pabillo said. “They allow themselves to “I personally experienced harassment atrocities that happened during the be bullied.” and danger during this period… dark times of the dictatorship. Retired Bishop Arturo Bastes of However, many Filipinos seem to “There are political leaders, Sorsogon recalled that as priest and have a short memory of the horrors of who are self-serving, using their head of social action in the Surigao Martial Law,” he said. position to enrich, and to prolong Filipinos visit relatives’ graves at the Parañaque Public Cemetery on Nov. 1, 2019. diocese, he was among those who Santos also lamented that there are their power,” said Santos. (CBCP PHOTO BY MICHAEL DALOGDOG suffered the “horrors” of martial law. politicians who opt to replicate the News) ALL cemeteries and during the period before Oct. columbaria in the Philippines 29 and after Nov. 4. Pope to Philippine Catholic schools: Form authentic witnesses to Christ will be closed from Oct. 29 “This means we can to Nov. 4 as a precautionary visit before and after the POPE Francis called on the world”. ministry. modalities to address the measure against coronavirus, cemeteries are closed but Philippine Catholic educators The pope’s words were Amidst the current needs of the students. Malacañang said on Sept. 18. the capacity is 30 percent,” to hone their students not contained in his message challenges, he said that But the CEAP, the prelate Presidential spokesperson Roque said. just to become outstanding for this year’s Catholic continued efforts are exerted said, “will not cower in fear Harry Roque said the The Archdiocese of Manila learners but also as authentic Educational Association so that Catholic schools but rather will stand firm decision was made to avoid has earlier urged the faithful witnesses of faith. of the Philippines (CEAP) “become catalysts of change”. in being steward not only to crowding during All Saints to schedule the blessing The pope said that Catholic Congress. “This is who we are. This is the learners but also to other and All Souls Day. of the tombs of their dear education must not only The annual event, albeit what God wants us to be,” Fr. schools”. “The rationale is to prevent departed ahead of the annual teach critical thinking, but held virtually this time Dizon said. “CEAP will be here to serve gatherings that we are used to observance of All Saints and also encourages “formation because of the coronavirus For his part, Bishop Roberto as wind beneath the wind during Undas,” Roque said in All Souls Day. in Christian doctrine and crisis, opened on September Mallari of the Episcopal of member schools as they a press briefing. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, morality”. 21 and will continue until Commission on Catechesis struggle for survival amidst He instead encouraged the apostolic administrator of Doing so, he said, would September 25. and Catholic Education said the pandemic,” Bishop public to visit their departed the archdiocese, said priests lead to formation of men Fr. Elmer Dizon, CEAP that the educational sector is Mallari said. loved ones on or after the are always available to bless and women “who are ready President, stressed that as the one of the most challenged CEAP is an association of said dates. the tombs and to celebrate to take society’s heavier pandemic continues, they will today. more than 1,500 Catholic He clarified that cemeteries Masses for the dead ahead responsibilities and to remain vigilant in responding He said every school has schools nationwide. (CBCP will be opened but only with a of the annual observance. witness to the true faith to to issues detrimental to their to come up with learning News) limited capacity of 30 percent (CBCP News) A2 WORLD NEWS AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 27, 2020, VOL. 24, NOS. 18 & 19 CBCP Monitor Vatican Briefing Cardinal Pell to return to Pope Francis blesses bell that will ring out in defense of unborn Pope Francis blessed a large bell Wednesday that Rome this week Polish Catholics hope will ring out in the defence of ROME— Cardinal George Pell is set to 2019. new financial policies approved by Pope unborn life. “May its ring awaken the consciences of return to Rome on Tuesday, his first The news of Pell’s return to Rome Francis in 2014. legislators and all people of good will in Poland and time back in the Vatican since 2017, comes just days after the dramatic The alleged attempt to hide the loans the whole world,” Pope Francis said Sept.