CBCPNews

MANILA, Jan. 28, 2010-The more than 5,000 priests and bishops' participants to the ongoing national congress of the clergy currently being held at World Trade Center, Pasay City, have donated one million pesos to the devastated Caribbean nation of Haiti.

A special collection that yielded 988,675.35 pesos was made during the morning mass on the third day of the congress.

The collection filled three cartons of bills and coins in various denominations and currencies (Euro, US, Australian, Hong Kong dollars, Yuan).

MANILA, Jan. 2, 2010-The Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has lined up various activities in celebration of National Bible Week slated from January 25 to 31.

ECBA executive secretary Fr. Oscar Alunday, in a letter sent to different dioceses and partners in the Biblical-Pastoral Ministry, said the Bible Week celebration "calls for unity in making the prayer of Jesus come true, that 'they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us...' (Jn 17:21)"

MANILA, Dec. 9, 2009-A Catholic Church-backed poll watchdog is objecting the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao province until the May 2010 elections.

According to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), military rule "in any form and in any place" is the very thing that it does not want to happen during election period.

PPCRV national chairperson Henrietta de Villa said the country already has "enough" experience during the Marcos dictatorship.

"We don't want that to be repeated. It can't stay longer until election time," she said.

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 13 - All preparations are in place for the holding of the 1st Youth Empowerment Summit '09 set on October 23 to 25, this year sponsored by the Philippine Navy-Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL) here.

Navy Commodore Joel Babas NAVFORSOL commanding officer said the summit dubbed as "Kabataan, Ngayon na" will be participated in by 150 youth from Albay at Costa Rita Resort in Sto. Domingo town in Albay.

MANILA, October 13, 2009─Lay leaders nationwide are set to gather in a three-day convention in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga to reflect together on their potential to bring about change to oneself and society.

With the theme "The Laity: Changing Self and Society with Jesus and Mary", the three-day event will be a combined assembly of the 16th National Biennial Convention of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas and Laiko Regional Gathering in Luzon.

MAGARAO, Camarines Sur, Sept. 4, 2009- Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi has led the Solemn Canonical Erection of the Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish, the archdiocese's 77th parish, and the Rite of Installation of Fr. Ryan Fenis, its first parish priest.

Held last Aug. 22, several parishioners attended the said rites that took place during the feast of the Queenship of Mary, at the patio of Barangay Casuray Chapel, Magarao, Camarines Sur.

MANILA, August 27, 2009- The head of the Catholic bishops' leadership has welcomed moves to prosecute those who are allegedly using public funds on the so called political "infomercials."

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the Senate probe could help ferret out the truth who among those officials is abusing people's money.

MANILA, August 19, 2009-Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the party list system is already losing its relevance with the entry of "dubious" organizations seeking for congressional seats.

The prelate said he saddened by the existence of "questionable" party list groups wherein some of them have already been accredited by the poll body.

"The party list system has become rather vague... It is not helping the government because it does not necessarily mean that any Tom, Dick and Harry will know much about legislation," he said.

MANILA, July 18, 2009- Catholic priest-turned Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio has ended months of speculations by announcing today he will stand for the presidency in next year's elections.

Panlilio said he is already prepared to take the challenge amid the snowballing calls for his presidential bid.

He said he decided to welcome calls for running for a high position because he believes the country needs the best from Filipinos.

Panlilio said he will offer his self to the Filipinos in whatever capacity the country will need his services.