Jaro Veritas is the News Dispatch Site of the Archdiocese of Jaro and is maintained by the JACSC – Media Office

Please click here to be directed back to the Archdiocese of Jaro [www.jaroarchdiocese.org] main page.

CBCP Pastoral Letter on the Era of New Evangelization

LIVE CHRIST, SHARE CHRIST:  Looking Forward to Our Five Hundredth

Go and make disciples… (Mt. 28:19)

 

We look forward with gratitude and joy to March 16, 2021, the fifth centenary of the coming of Christianity to our beloved land. We remember with thanksgiving the first Mass celebrated in Limasawa Island on Easter Sunday March 31 that same blessed year. We remember the baptism of Rajah Humabon who was given his Christian name Carlos and his wife Hara Amihan who was baptized Juana in 1521. Our eyes gaze on the Santo Niño de Cebu, the oldest religious icon in the Philippines, gift of Ferdinand Magellan to the first Filipino Catholics that same year. Indeed the year 2021 will be a year of great jubilee for the Church in the Philippines.

We shall therefore embark on a nine-year spiritual journey that will culminate with the great jubilee of 2021. It is a grace-filled event of blessings for the Church starting October 21, 2012 until March 16, 2021.

How opportune indeed that on October 21 this year, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI will add another Filipino to the canon of saints of the Church, our very own Visayan proto-martyr Pedro Calungsod who gave his life for the faith on the morning of April 2, 1672 in Guam.

The canonization of Pedro Calungsod will take place under the brilliant light of the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the twentieth year of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the declaration of the Year of Faith from October 11, 2012 until November 24, 2013 by the Holy Father. The XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops with the theme “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith” will take place in Rome from October 7 to 28 this year.
FAITH AND EVANGELIZATION

All these events happening this year are bound together by the themes of “faith” and “evangelization”.  Evangelization indicates proclamation, transmission and witnessing to the Gospel given to humanity by our Lord Jesus Christ and the opening up of people’s lives, society, culture and history to the Person of Jesus Christ and to His living community, the Church.

This “New Evangelization” is primarily addressed to those who have drifted from the Faith and from the Church in traditionally Catholic countries, especially in the West.

What we are being called to do by this task of “New Evangelization” in Asia is to consider anew “the new methods and means for transmitting the Good News” more effectively to our people. We are challenged anew to foster in the Church in our country a renewed commitment and enthusiasm in living out the Gospel in all the diverse areas of our lives, in “real-life practice”, challenged anew to become more and more authentic witnesses of our faith, especially to our Asian neighbors as a fruit of our intensified intimacy with the Lord.
WHAT WILL THIS ERA OF NEW EVANGELIZATION FOR THE PHILIPPINES CONSIST OF? 

The task stands on four pillars:

First, fostering and fulfilling the “missio ad gentes”, as a special vocation of the Church in our country, effectively involving our laypeople, our “Christifideles” brothers and sisters; our priests and seminarians; men and women in consecrated life. 

Secondly, “bringing Good News to the poor.” Again and again, Filipino Catholics coming together to discern priorities, have seen that the Church here must become genuinely “a Church for and with the poor.”

Thirdly, reaching out to those among us whose faith-life has been largely eroded and even lost due to the surrounding confusion, moral relativism, doubt, agnosticism; reaching out to those who have drifted from the Faith and the Church, and have joined other religious sects.

Lastly, awakening or reawakening in faith, forming and animating in Christian life our young people and youth sector groups, in both urban and rural settings;

A nine-year journey for the New Evangelization has already been charted climaxing with the Jubilee Year 2021: Integral Faith Formation (2013); the Laity (2014); the Poor (2015); the Eucharist and of the Family (2016); the Parish as a Communion of Communities (2017); the Clergy and Religious (2018); the Youth (2019); Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue (2020); Missio ad gentes (2021).  These are the nine pastoral priorities of the Church in the Philippines.

In the time before us, we will focus on these dimensions of faith, evangelization and discipleship, one by one. And it is most propitious that as we received the faith 500 years ago, so with the Year 2021we envision to become a truly sending Church.

In the face of a secularism which in some parts of our present world has itself become a kind of a “dominant religion”, in the face of the reality of billions who live in our time and who have not truly encountered Jesus Christ nor heard of His Gospel, how challenged we are, how challenged we must be, to enter into the endeavor of the “New Evangelization”! We for whom Jesus has been and is truly the Way, the Truth and the Life, — how can we not want and long and share Him with brothers and sisters around us who are yet to know and love Him, who are yet to receive the fullness of Life for which we have all been created, and without which their hearts will be ever restless – until they find Jesus and His heart which awaits them?

May our Lady, Mary Mother of Our Lord, lead us all in our longing and labors to bring her son Jesus Christ into our time and our world, our Emmanuel – our God who remains with us now and yet whose coming again in glory we await.

Maranatha, AMEN.

For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines:

 

+ JOSE S. PALMA, D.D.

Archbishop of Cebu President

July 9, 2012

 

http://youtu.be/ZDiQQDQbs_E

Archbishop Lagdameo’s Christmas 2011 and New Year 2012 Message

Archbishop Lagdameo's Christmas 2011 and New Year 2012 Message

Archbishop JOSE SEROFIA PALMA (Cebu) received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican

 

Archbishop José Serofia Palma from Cebu (the Philippines) received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI during a moving ceremony in the Vatican.

Other two Asian archbishops also received the pallium: Sergio Lasam Utleg, from Tuguegarao (Philippines), and Thaddeus Cho Hwan-Kil, archbishop of Daegu (Korea).

The pallium is a garment used by archbishops as a sign of communion with the Pope.

CBCP Team Position on HB 4244

From
the CBCP Secretariat.  For Press Release.

The  Position of the CBCP team on the study of the HB 4244 as  proposed by Malacañan  is summarized as follows:

1. The  HB 4244 has good provisions (building hospitals, maternal and children’s health  care, rights of the poor, education, etc.); however these are interwoven –  packaged with – the bad provisions.  By  the term bad provisions is meant,
   first, those portions of the bill which will promote and legalize  contraceptives as means of population control (contraceptive pills, and gadgets  which have abortifacient effects, sterilization procedures, etc.) these are  widely acknowledged as having serious adverse consequences on human health and  lives, especially those of the mothers, mothers-to-be and of the new human  lives that are formed at fertilization.  Second, deemed bad provisions
   also are those that seek to establish a mindset and a value-system that are  secularist, materialistic, individualistic and hedonistic in the guise of  development and modernity, but which in effect are hostile to human life, the  family and religion.  The bill abuses the  meanings of “rights”, “choice”, “freedom” and “responsible parenthood” even as
   these trample on the religious and moral exercise of conscience.  Since bad  provisions are present in HB 4244, the Bishops reject the bill in its entirety.
2. The  Philippines does not need this bill.  All  the good provisions it contains are already mandated in the Constitution, and  are already programs of the government agencies concerned.  These simply need to be implemented through
   aggressive and sincere policy enforcement.
3. Since  public funds will be used to promote HB 4244’s contraceptive agenda (hidden  behind the funding of construction of hospitals, maternal health programs, and  the like). The Bishops object to the passage of the bill.
4. The  Philippines is a sovereign state.   Government should not yield to pressures coming from the treaty  monitoring bodies of the UN such as the ICPD and the CEDAW to legislate certain  rights that have not been contemplated nor intended in various international  instruments.  It should not be pressured  to comply with the MDG agenda, which uses a disturbing “reproductive rights”  approach in fostering its 8 goals.  Moreover, it is only a declaration.
5. Inasmuch  as President Benigno Simeon Aquino has already publicly declared his intention  to implement his own 5-point agenda on responsible parenthood (RP), the Bishops  do not see any reason to further undertake a serious study/dialogue on HB 4244  with the administration as was proposed by President Aquino himself.  HB 4244 and President Aquino’s 5-point RP  agenda are deemed to be basically the same.

–  Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, May 10, 2011

Download *.pdf copy of the document here:  CBCP Team Position on HB 4244

PAHALAGAHAN ANG BUHAY

(Homily delivered by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales during the Mass at the Prayer Rally “Filipinos! Unite Under God” at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, on March 25,2011, Feast of the Annunciation and Day of the Unborn Child, at 7 p.m.)

Nagsalita ang Panginoong Diyos kay Moises at sa mga sumasampalataya sa kanya nang ganito: “Tatawagin ko ang langit at lupa na sumaksi laban sa inyo. ‘Ihahain ko sa inyo ay buhay o kamatayan, ang pagpapala o ang sumpa. Piliin na ninyo ang buhay, nang sa gayo’y kayo at ang inyong salin-lahi ay mabuhay sa pagibig ng Panginoong inyong Diyos, tumatalima at nananatili sa Kanya.” (Deuteronomio 30:19).

Simulan natin ang pagninilay sa prinsipyo na ang buhay ay ang pinakamahalagang biyaya na kaloob ng Panginoong Diyos sa sinumang tao. Ito ang matinding paniniwala at turo ng Simbahang Katoliko na ang buhay ng tao, kahima’t mahina or nagdurusa ay palaging isang pinakamalaking biyaya ng kabutihan ng Diyos (Familiaris Consortio, n. 30).

Kapag hindi ninyo pinahalagahan ang buhay na iyan sa alinman o saan mang yugto ng buhay ng tao (sanggol, foetus, matanda, malakas o mahina), hinding-hindi igagalang ang buhay ng sinuman — at diyan kapag wala ng halaga o walang pagpapahalaga, wala ng magtatanggol sa buhay, dadayain ang buhay na yan, aapihin, kikidnapin na, pagsisinungalingan na, pagnanakawan na ang buhay na ‘yan ng tao!

Kanya napaka-ganda ang pagtuturo ng Simbahan — alagaan, ipagtanggol at itaguyod ang buhay. Huwag hahadlangan ng anuman sandata o anumang artipisyal na paraan ang buhay. Ang paglalapastangan sa buhay na iyan, malakas man o mahina, na ating laging, pinapahalagahan ay labag sa kulturang Pilipino tungkol sa buhay ng tao. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 January 2011).

Ang kahirapan ng tao o kaya’y ang pagdami ng tao ay likas na merong solusyon at ang kasagutan dito ay aral na rin ng Panginoong Hesukristo. Una, ang yaman ng daigdig or kaya’y ang pinagsikapan ng tao ay sapa’t na at sobra pa upang pagsaluhan ng lahat. “Magmahalan kayo” at magdamayan sa ngalan ng pagibig. Ikalawa, mayroong paraan na inilagay ang Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng katawan ng lalaki at babae, na ito ay marapat alamin o pag-aralan upang matiyak ang mga araw kung kalian maaaring madulot ng panibagong buhay sa pagtatalik ang binhi ng lalaki at babae. Sa bawa’t pagtatalik ang mag-asawa ay maaaring maging katuwang ng Panginoong Diyos sa paglikha ng panibagong buhay. (Humanae Vitae, n. 11).

Banal ang buhay ng magasawa at sapagkat ito ay banal ito ay ginagantihan ng Panginoong Diyos ng tuwa at ligaya ang bawa’t pagsasama ng sinuman magasawa, sapagka’t habang buhay nilang ipag-papatuloy ang masidhing pangangalaga hanggang sa ang mga anak ay akayin sa kabutihang asal, banal ring pamumuhay na mayroong pagdamay at paggalang sa kapwa hanggang sa katandaan.

Mayroon naming natural na paraan sa paghahanda sa mahalagang buhay na iyan. At iyan ang tinatawag na NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING. At ito ay kaloob ng Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng bawat tao, lalaki or babae. Alam ng makapangyarihang Panginoong Diyos na darating ang araw na dapat lalung pag-aralan at may pananagutang balakin ang dakilang paghahanda sa buhay na iyan. Kung kaya’t inilagay ng Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng katawan ng tao—lalaki at babae—ang wasto at tiyak na paraan at panahon ng hinog na binhi (ng buhay) para magsilang ng bagong buhay ng tao, lalang, at sa kawangis at kalarawan ng Diyos. (Henesis 1:27).

Sa pag-aaral ng paraan para tiyakin ang mahalaga at banal na mga sandaling ng nahihinog na binhi ng buhay, malalaman ng sinuman ang mga banal na sandaling iyan—at kailangan naman sa mga tiyak na sandal at araw na iyan ang pagtitimpi, pagpigil sa sarili (pagpigil sa pang-gigigil). Yan ang sakripisyo ng tao. Alalaon baga ay kailangan ang mga sandal ng disiplina. Kapag may disiplina sa kama, tiyak na magkakaroon ng disiplina sa kalsada, maging sa pitaka (karta moneda). Dito mapapahalagahan natin ang “values” na itinuturo ng Simbahan.

Banal po mga kapatid ang Gawain ng mag-asawa, kaya naman ginagantihan ng Butihing Diyos ng ligaya at tuwa ang mag-asawa hindi lamang sa pagtatalik, kung hindi hanggang sa mapalaki sa kabutihang asal, kabaitan at akayin sa kabanalan ang kanilang mga anak. Kasama diyan ng magasawa ang Panginoong Diyos. At ang tapat na magasawa ay hindi pinababayaan ng Panginoon.

Banal ang pag-aasawa; banal ang pagtatalik sapagka’t ito ay kalakip ng pagbibigay ng buhay na galling sa Panginoong Diyos. Hindi ito laru-laruan na ituturo sa mga bata sa paggamit ng goma, lobo o condom, para iwasan daw ang sakit? Bakit mga bata ang tuturuan ng ganitong laro? Hindi po ba ang tamang ituro sa kabataan ay ang magandang halimbawa ng matatanda at ang kahalagahan ng buhay, ang kabanalan ng pagpipigil sa sarili na ang tawag ay disiplina? Ang awag po noong una ay kapag may pagpipigil, mayroong disiplina at paggalang at magkakaroon din ng Karakter ang tao. Ngayon ang gusting ipamulat sa kabataan ay ito: gamitin ang goma, maglaro kayo! Ganyan kabarato ang buhay ng tao ngayon.

Salamat at mayroong Simbahan at salamat at mayroong Pananampalataya na nagpapaalaala pa (kahit mayroong ilang mga mambabatas o matatanda na kakaiba ang isip na hindi na mabuting makapangaral, hindi na kayang magpagturo ng magandang asal at batas na magpapabalik pa sa dahan-dahang nawawala at nanghihinang magandang hiyas na ating kabihasnang Pilipino.

At bakit bata pa ay tinuturuan na ang mga anak ng ilang mga matatanda at mambabatas sa pag-iwas sa responsibilidad at ang pagwawalang bahala sa katuwiran at kalinisan? (Sa pangalan daw ng sanidad at kalusugan). Puro maalawang palusot ang gustong ituro sa kabataan ng ilang mambabatas—kanya ganiyan ang magiging bukas ng Pilipinas—mga mamayan na puro palusot, lahat ng padulas ang alam. May peligrong mawawala ang halag (value) ng kristiyano at tunay na Filipino. Ang dapat ituro sa kabataan ay kalinisan ng budhi, kalinisan ng puso, disiplina at pagpipigil sa sarili at paggalang sa hindi sariling pera.

Anong klaseng panukalang batas itong RH Bill na kung maging batas na, at ang itinuro o ipaliwanag ng Simbahan at mga naglilingkod dito ay ang katwiran ng galing sa Bibliya, Pananampalataya at konsensiya ng Kristiyano tungkol sa Buhay at Kalinisan, sa halip na ang turo ay ang RH law, ay maaaring papag-multahin o ibilanggo ang mga ito? Paparusahan pa ang sumusunod sa konsensiya at Pananampalataya. Hindi ito ang Pilipinas! Hindi na tayo babanggit ng anumang bansa, pero hindi ito ang Pilipinas na minahal at pinag-alayan ng buhay ng mga bayani, sampo ng tatlong Pari — Padre Mariano Gomez, Padre Jose Burgos, at Padre Jacinto Zamora. Sa El Filibusterismo, ang unang pahina ay inihandog ni Jose Rizal sa tatlong pari na iyan. (At ang gusto pang alalahanin ng ilan ay si DAMASO na ito naman ay hindi Pilipino!)

Ito ang paninindigan ng Simbahan:

1. Ang pagmamalasakit sa katatayuan ng maraming mahihirap, lalo na ang mga nagdurusang kababaihan na nagsusumikap upang gumanda ang buhay at kailangan pang mangibang bayan upang kamtin ito o kailangan pang pumasok sa isang hindi disenteng paghahanap-buhay. Nababagabag ang Simbahan diyan.

2. Ang Simbahang Katoliko ay para sa buhay at dapat ipagsanggalang ang buhay ng tao mula sa sandal na ito ay ipaglihi o mabuo hanggang sa natural ng katapusan nito.

3. Naniniwala ang Simbahan sa mapanagutang (responsible) pagsasaayos ng bilang at panahon ng pagsisilang sa pamamagitan ng Natural Family Planning. Dito kailangan ang pagbuo ng matatag na kalooban (character building) na nagtataglay ng sakripisyo, disiplina at paggalang sa dangal ng asawa. Kung wala kang sakripisyo, hindi ka makakabuo ng karakter.

4. Ang sinumang tao ay tagapangasiwa lamang ng kanyang katawan. Ang pananagutan sa ating katawan ay dapat umalinsunod sa kalooban ng Diyos na nangungusap sa atin sa pamamagitan ng konsensiya (budhi). Kapag hindi pinakinggan at iginalang ang tinig na ‘yan ng Diyos (sa konsensiya), yayanigin at lilindulin, hindi ang bundok at dagat, kung hindi ang budhing ‘yan ng sinumang tao.

5. Aming paninindigan na sa mga pagpili kaugnay ng RH Bill, ang budhi (konsensiya) ay hindi lamang sapat na kabatiran kung hindi higit sa lahat ay ginagabayan ng mga itinuturo ng kanyang pananampalataya.

6. Naniniwala kami sa kalayaan sa relihiyon at sa karapatan ng pagtutol ayon sa budhi (konsensiya) sa mga bagay na labag sa sariling pananampalataya. Ang nakapataw at parusa sa napapaloob sa minumungkahing RH Bill ay dahilan para sa aming pagtutol dito. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 January 2011).

May panahon pa upang maiwasan ang trahedya moral na idudulot ng RH Bill.

Baguhin ang mga panukalang ‘yan, o ibagsak ang kayang kabuuan ng siyang pugad ng walang paggalang sa buhay, pagkawala ng responsibilidad at disiplina na siyang tunay na kailangan ngayon ng tao at bayan.

Kung ang mga bata ay natuturuan pa ng Simbahan, ang mambabatas ay amin rin pinapaalalahan. Lahat kayo, ngayon at bukas, ay kasama sa aming dalangin.

Pagpalain kayong lahat at ang Bayan ng Poong Maykapal! Mahal tayo ng Diyos at alaga ng Ina ni Hesus!

+G.B.ROSALES
Prayer Rally
Feast of the Annunciation
25 March 2011

“People Power Do-Day Kontra Dengue”

Homily of Archbishop Lagdameo in last March 17, 2011’s March for Life and Family [Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo City]

Summary in Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) of the CBCP’s Pastoral Statement: Choosing LIfe, Rejecting the RH Bill

Invitation to a March for Life and Family

Bishop Gerry’s Message on the 25th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolt

Synod Implementation: From Insight to Impact

Circular Letter No. 292/33/10 – AB Angel N. Lagdameo issued a circular letter on September 6, 2010 approving and mandating the implementation of the statutes contained in the revised draft of the Internal Ordering of the Archdiocese. The Internal Ordering includes statutes of different entities in the diocesan , vicariate and parish levels. The statutes mandated for implementation were the Statutes of the Jaro Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (JAPC), Jaro Archdiocesan Apostolic Council (JAAC), Jaro Archdiocesan Finance Council (JAFC), Jaro Archdiocesan Pastoral Secretariat (JAPS), Archdiocesan Council of the Laity, Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), Parish Apostolic Council (PAC), and Parish Finance Council (PFC). A Vicariate Coordinating Council (VAC) was also introduced to facilitate coordination of pastoral activities in the vicariate level. This is composed of a group of lay faithful supervised by the JAPS, under the authority of the bishop to ensure proper monitoring and implementation of the pastoral programs and provide a venue for exchange of information and support among vicariates.

In addition to the approval of the statutes Abp. Lagdameo also confirmed the Synod Implementation Plan which was the result of a series of consultations, meetings and strategic planning carried out by the Archdiocesan Councils (JAPC and JAAC) during the first half of the year. The cri de gueere for our Synod Implementation Process is “From INSIGHT to IMPACT, From SHARED VISION to INTEGRATED ACTION ”, Abp. Lagdameo summoned the Jaro Clergy on Sept 27, 2010 for a general assembly to present and inform the priests about the strategic objectives and visioning plan. This yearlong program was presented by Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza, assisted by JAPS and a team from Bukal ng Tipan, headed by Fr. Mark Lesage, CICM, Dr. Estela Padilla and Mr. Epee Casuncad, The primary aim of the visioning plan is to acquire a vision that is shared and owned by as many as possible so that they can be committed to implement it. The process also hopes to come up with an Identity Statement, which is an articulation how we are to be relevant as Church in our present time.

A total of 124 priest attended the assembly held at the John Paul II Hall of the Archbishop’s Residence, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Archdiocesan Formation Team (AFT)

The Jaro Archdiocesan Pastoral Secretariat (JAPS) conducted a series of trainings to enable a team of facilitators to take the lead in executing the Synod Implementation. As Abp. Lagdameo emphasized in his circular letter, the formation teams are essential to the process of information, training and implementation because they will serve as “the backbone and energy to the entire movement of the synodal plan”.

The first batch was held on October 1-3 at Marillac Renewal Center, Asilo De Molo, Iloilo City with 57 participants, the 2^nd batch on October 8-10 at the Gazebo Retreat House in San Dionesio, Iloilo with 27 participants and the 3^rd batch on October 15-17, 2010 at the Holy Rosary Prayer and Reflection Center, Calumpang with 80 participants. 83 parishes enlisted in the training which was designed to equip lay facilitators to organize and train parish-based teams that will conduct House-to-House Visitations and Brgy. Dialogues. The house visits and dialogues are the initial steps in coming up with necessary elements that will become the foundation of formulating our Identity Statements and Shared Vision.

Vicariate Dialogues Held

A succession of Vicariate Dialogues were held among the Bishops-Clergy and Lay Leaders to have a venue for discussion and clarification of the program for Synod Implementation-From Insight to Impact. This was also an occasion for the priest and the laity to pray and reflect together with the bishops and commit to the tasks required by the synod implementation.

This is a follow through of previous dialogues between Clergy and Bishop held in 2009 which at that time did not involve the lay. The dialogues were held on the following dates and venues:

• October 5 – John Paul II Hall: Vicariate of St. Paul and St. Peter
• October 6 – John Paul II Hall: Vicariate of St. John, Sts. Phillip and James, Sts. Titus and Timothy
• October 27 – St. John the Baptist Church, Sara: Vicariate of St. Jude Thaddeus, St. James the Greater and St. Barbanas
• November 4 – Buenavista, Guimaras; Vicariaye of St. Bartholomew
• November 15 – Patronage of St. Joseph Parish, Pototan: Vicariate of St. Thomas, St. Matthias, St. Matthew, St. Andrew and St. Simon the Zealot

Total attendance for the Vicariate Dialogues is 357 with 101 priests (69 Parish Priest, 26 Parochial Vicars, 3 Chaplains and 3 Residents Priests), 254 lay men and women and the 2 bishops present.

AFT Follow-up Meeting and Updating

The first follow-up gathering and updating of the Archdiocesan Formation Team (AFT) was held on January 15-16, 2011 at the Sta. Teresita Prayer and Reflection Center, Sambag, Jaro with 56 participants from 42 parishes. Of the 162 lay facilitators sent by 83 parishes for the October training, seventy two were selected by JAPS and Bukal ng Tipan (BNT) to compose the Core Team. The AFT Core Team is a composite team of facilitators that will meet regularly to coordinate, monitor, feedback, and evaluate the implementation with JAPS and BNT. Their main task is to attend regular meetings agreed upon by the group and work closely with the VCC through the Vicariate Lay Delegates(VLD) to monitors the parishes and vicariate activities

 The 14 Vicariate Lay Delegates (formely VLR) were also included in the updating since part of their function as VLD is to be the primary workforce of JAPS. The AFT Core Team agreed to hold regular meeting bi-monthly meeting on the 3^rd Saturday of the month. The next meeting was set on February 19, 2011.

Parish Updates and Ongoing Activities

  Vicariate of St. Thomas:

• The vicariate held PFT trainings on the following dates: December 27-28 (San Nicholas de Tolentino, Cabatuan); December 29-30 (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, New Lucena); January 7-8 (Our Lady of Candles, Jelicon); January 15-16 (Sta. Barbara Parish and Sacred Heart Chaplaincy); Januaryc22-23 (St, Martin de Porres, Layog); January 29-30 (St. James the Great, Maasin). Since Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Buyo trained PFTs ahead of other parishes they were able to complete the Home Visitations and Brgy. Dialogue by end of December 2010 and held their Parish Assembly on January 2,2011. Buyo is the first parish to hold a Parish Assembly and draft a Parish Identity Statement.

 Vicariate of St. Matthias:

• Parish of St. John the Baptist, Dingle conducted facilitators training among Brgy. Coordinators with their teams, catechists and religious organizations on November 29, 2010. Msgr. Juanito Ma. Tuvilla also gave talk on the Church. Attendance is 136. the participants were provided with kits for each barangay containing modified spontaneous prayer and copy of the family prayer. The House-to-House Visitation which started last December is currently underway. After sharing their kits with other parishes in the vicariate, training of the PFT ensued and House-to-House Visitation are currently ongoing in the parishes of Bongco, Igang, Mina and Palanguia.
• Patronage of St. Joseph Parish, Pototan held a meeting with the Brgy. Formation team (BFT) on January 21,2011. Target date for the start of House-to-House Visitation is on the first week of February.

Vicariate of Sts. Titus and Timothy:

• St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, Alimodian started House-to-House Visits on January 23 in pilots puroks with 9 teams of 2-3 facilitators. After evaluating the initial H2H visits the team agreed to be reshuffled in order to develop teamwork and to recruit more members so that the teams can be divided to different brgys. There were also recommendation that the teams be provided with uniforms for their safety in case they are sent to remote barangays.
• Fr. Jesus cabalum, vicar forane of Sts. Titus and Timothy called for a meeting of the vicariate priest to give updates on parish programs and synod activities.

 Vicariate of St. Jude Thaddeus:

• St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Btac. Nuevo held a stay-in training on January 10-11,2011 with 37 participants representing 19 of the 28 barangays in the parish. On January 16, the AFT of Btac. Nuevo met with their parish priest, Msgr. Sinforoso Padilla who approved to pray the Synod prayer during barangay masses. House-to-House visits and Brgy. Dialogue will strat on February 4 in the 28 brgys. Cash donations to support the PFT poured in after the training last October and they were able to raise Php 11,700 plus 1 sack of rice for the 2-day seminar. The tam also assisted in training PFT for the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, Btac. Viejo was held on January 21-2, 2011.

  Vicariate of St. Peter:

• The Spousal of Mary and Joseph Parish, Buntatala, Jaro held a Parish Formation Team (PFT) Training for Brgy. Dialogue and House-to-House Visitation on November 6 & 16, 2010. Twenty two attended the trainig.
• Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Paris, Lapaz designed a parish formation program, integrating the diocesan synod implementation plan. The parish is currently on its second phase of their parish assessment/ survey and the Paris Family Profile writing is already in progress. Two members of the formation team attended the first phase of the 3-day diocesan training on September 30, 2010. Other ongoing activities include regular family house-to-house rosary in 11 barangays, brgy. monthly masses and a weekly Bilbe Listening Group with brgy. Leaders and animators.
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Alta Tierra held a Parish Formation Team Training on November 26 and December 11, 2010. The first batch consisted of PFTs from Brgy. Balabago, Cubay, Bitoon and Greenfields. The second batch were from Alta Tierra, Petalsville Subd, Landheights, Quintin Salas and Lucky Homes. The training was assisted by Sem. Vincent Rhiyn Amalay.

  Vicariate of St. Paul:

• The Vicariate of St. Paul organized two formation teams to conduct simultaneous trainings sessions in parishes under the vicariate. Team 1, composed of AFTs from Bo. Obrero, San Jose Placer, Sta. Teresita and Lapuz designed a 2-day live out training which was scheduled and held every weekend from November through December 2010. The training design includes workshop sessions on Participative Learning. Home Visitation, Facilitating Skills and Neighborhood Session (Salo-Salo).
• The Immaculate Conception Parish, Tanza wa able to organize and train their PFT composed of Brgy. and BEC leaders from the 22 barangays. The training was held in 3 sessions (half-day) with 35 participants in attendance.
• Sn Jose de Obrero Parish, Fundidor, Molo is currently conducting House-to-House visitation with their Parish Priest Fr. Antonio Reyes who is fully supportive of the Synod Implementation program.
• San Jose Placer Parish team agreed to reactivate the Parish Pastoral Council and meet with their PFT after consultation with their parish priest. New PPC officers were elected on January 27, 2011. The PFT meeting was held on January 26 and February 1 at 6:30 PM.

JARO CELEBRATES FIESTA, RENOVATED CATHEDRAL BLESSED

Iloilo City, November 20, 2019        –           The Archdiocese of Jaro celebrated Wednesday, November 17, 2010, the Feast of her patroness, St. Elizabeth of Hungary with three related events.  The feast marked the Day of Sanctification of the Clergy, the blessing of the newly-renovated St. Elizabeth of Hungary Metropolitan Cathedral and the her declaration as Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Senor de la Candelaria and the commemoration of the third anniversary of the Third Diocesan Synod of Jaro.  
 
The Clergy of Jaro gathered at the Archbishop’s residence at 9:00 A.M. where Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon delivered a talk and was immediately followed by sharing in small groups by the clergy.  An agape capped the morning session at the Isabelita Hall of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
 
At 2:30 P.M., Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo presided over a concelebrated Mass with Kabankalan Bishop Buzon, Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Tance and Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza leading the concelebrants. 

The newly-renovated Cathedral was blessed during the Mass while a ritual prayer was said after the Mass to mark the Third Anniversary of the Promulgation of the Acts and Decrees of the Third Diocesan Synod of Jaro. 
 
Parochial delegates and representatives of various chaplaincies, religious communities, LOMAs and MAMOs, Papal awardees, government officials, benefactors  and the laity of the Cathedral parish joined the celebration of the Mass.  (CBCPNews/Fr. Ryan Teves, CSC-Jaro)

Celebration of the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary 2010

URGENT PRAYER FOR DENGUE OUTBREAK

CIRCULAR No. 287/28/2010
Protocol No. 4160/2010

August 19, 2010

TO: The Parish Priests and Religious Communities
RE: URGENT PRAYER FOR DENGUE OUTBREAK

Dengue cases here have exceeded the ‘epidemic threshold’ and therefore, urgent response is required according to our Provincial Health Office. In the past seven months, dengue cases rose to almost 144 percent, records of the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit showed… Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. has placed our province under a state of calamity and he is calling for ‘people power’ against dengue for a province-wide clean up. (Panay News, August 18, 2010)

As for our part, we need to storm heaven with our prayers and supplications. It is in this spirit, that we are sending you an “Oratio Imperata” and other forms of prayer which you may use in your daily & Sunday Masses. Gathered as a community in humble supplications – we pray for healing and fast recovery of all those afflicted. We pray for the doctors and caregivers for the grace of guidance as they serve our sick brothers and sisters. We pray for the healthy and blessed in life for their generosity in sharing the blessings to those in need.

With our care, concern and prayers, we can heal the world.

Fraternally in Christ and Mary,
+ GERARDO A. ALMINAZA, D.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro

Pangamuyo sa Paglikaw sa Dengue kag sa mga Masakit [Oratio Imperata]

O mahigumaon nga Amay,
kami nagapalapit sa pagpangayo sang imo bulig kag pagtabang.
Luwasa kami sa mga kalainan nga bunga sang dengue kag mga masakit
nga nagdala sa madamo nga mga tawo sa kabudlayan
kag nag-utas sang pila ka mga kabuhi ilabi na gid sang mga kabataan.

Kami nagapangayo sang imo diosnon nga pag-ayo,
sa pagbulong sa mga nagaantus tungod sa ila masakit.
Ihatag sa ila ang kabaskog agud ila madala ang ila pag-antus
kag mabatyagan ang kasulhay sa tunga sang ila kabudlayan.

Amon man ginapangamuyuan ang tanan nga ginhatagan sang katungdanan
sa pagbulong kag pagtatap sa mga masakiton.
Kabay nga ila himuon ang ila masarangan ang pag-ayo sa mga nagamasakit
kag ipabatyag sa ila ang mahigugmaon nga pagtatap.

Kabay nga ang amon panguluhan
maghimo sang nagakaigo nga tikang
para sa amon ikaayong lawas.
Kabay amon pamatian kag sundon
ang ila eksperto nga panugyan para sa amon.

Ihatag sa amon ang grasya sang pagtuo kag pagsalig
nga ikaw padayon nga nagabantay sa amon sing may paghigugma kag kaalwan kag ang tanan nga imo ginabuot
para pirmi sa amon kaayuhan.

Ginapangayo namon ini sa imo paagi sa imo Anak nga si Jesuskristo,
ang amon maayo nga manugbulong,
nga nagakabuhi kag nagahari upod sa imo
sa kaisahan sang Espirito Santo,
Dios sa tanan nga tuig sang mga kauigan. Amen

Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, ig-ampo mo kami.
San Lorenzo Ruiz, ig-ampo mo kami.
San Roque, ig-ampo mo kami.

Prayer of Deliverance from Dengue and other Diseases (Oratio Imperata)

God, our loving Father,
we come to you in need of your power and protection.
Defend us from the maladies of dengue and other diseases
that made many to suffer
and have claimed the lives of several people especially the children.

We ask your divine healing
to restore to health all those who are suffering from the disease.
Grant them the strength to endure the pain of their sickness
and experience the consolation of your presence.

We pray for all those in the medical profession
who must treat and care for those who contract the disease.
May they have the grace of competence and compassion
to minister and heal the sick.

Grant those who are working in the government health agency
to act responsibly for the good and well-being of all people.
May their expertise on health be listened to and followed by all.

Bestow upon us the grace of faith and hope
that you watch over us with love and providence
and that your will for us is always good.

This we pray through your Son, Jesus Christ, our divine healer,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen

Our Lady of Candles, pray for us.
San Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.
San Roque, pray for us.