Heal our land

Sunday, Nov. 5, has been designated by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) as the start of a 33-day period for a “Start the Healing Campaign.” Here is part of a statement issued by the outgoing CBCP president, Archbishop Socrates Villegas.”

“To launch this period of prayer for national healing, I invite you to attend the mass at the EDSA Shrine on Nov. 5, at p.m., the hour of Divine Mercy. We are setting aside Nov. 5 as the “Lord Heal our Land Sunday.”

After the mass, the image of Our Lady of Fatima that was brought by devotees to EDSA in the 1986 People Power revolt will be brought in a candlelight procession to the People Power monument a kilo-meter away from the EDSA Shrine. We believe that our national healing, which only the Lord can grant, will come to us through the hands of His mother.

We are inviting the men and women in consecrated life, the youth and their teachers, the poor and the rich, the healthy and the persons with disability, the laborers and the entrepreneurs, the police and the military, the majority and minority political parties, in other words EVERYBODY, to join this observance of the “Lord Heal our Land Sunday.”

We are appealing to our brother priests to hold “Lord Heal our Land Sunday masses” in the provinces too for the sake of those who cannot go to the EDSA Shrine that day.

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 Br. Jose Mari Jimenez, head of the La Salle Brothers in the Philippines has also issued  the following pastoral letter on the CBCP call: 

“We have spent the last 40 days together praying for courage not to become indifferent to the growing culture of death and violence that plagues our country today. This atmosphere that breeds this lack of respect for life we can see on many fronts.  

In our communities where there are suspected drug addicts or pushers, we have witnessed how those who are nameless and powerless and poor are murdered and their families silenced by fear.  In Marawi, where an official declaration of the end of hostilities has been issued, we are witness to how fear of reprisals and vengeance continues to gnaw at the hearts of those who have been displaced. In social media, where bashing and name-calling have become a sport, we have witnessed how we have been deprived of the truth and how we are being divided along the lines of our political affiliations rather than by our love of country.  In the conduct of our government’s affairs, where those who perform the role of fiscalizers are threatened with impeachment or imprisonment, we are witness to the weakening of the structures of governance.  

Tasked by the Church to bring the Gospel through our ministry of education, we cannot remain unmoved when the supports to this Gospel of life that we preach are threatened by the ecology we inhabit. As a Lasallian community, we hear in these events a call for us to become pro-active and be co-responsible with other Filipinos. As we grope together to find answers and to understand the kind of action we must take, I enjoin you to continue to build solidarity with the growing number of Filipinos who refuse to surrender their human right to life and a life-giving environment.   Let us again assert our right to live in a humane society by advocating STOP THE KILLINGS! START THE HEALING.  

On Nov. 5, designated by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines as Heal Our Land Sunday, I ask our brothers and partners in Luzon to take part in the mass at the EDSA Shrine at 3 p.m. followed by a program at the People Power Monument. We ask our brothers and partners in the Visayas and Mindanao to mirror these same efforts on Nov. 5 by joining similar networks whose values and actions align with ours.  

As Lasallian communities, I ask that we take part in the 33 days of prayer and discernment that will begin with Heal Our Land Sunday. I wish for us to be involved in actions that raise awareness on the issue of human rights; that build solidarity with other like-minded groups that engage us in formative actions to safeguard our democracy; and that bring relief or support to those affected by acts of violence. In particular, let us be sure to engage the young people whom we care for in our ministries. Let us nurture in them the capacity to love our country and lead her with compassion. May our actions deepen our experience of God whose love offers life.”

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Br. Armin Luistro FSC, president of De La Salle Philippines – the network of 18 La Salle educational institutions all over the Philippines – also issued the following invitation: “For Luzon based schools we shall gather in the Divine Child Central House Administration, La Salle Greenhills at 2 p.m. and after a short orientation we shall walk to EDSA Shrine for the mass at 3 p.m. Right after the mass we shall join the procession going to the People Power Monument.for our Visayas and Mindanao based schools, may I also encourage you to hold simultaneous similar activities.”

Creative writing classes for kids/teens and adults

Young Writers’ Hangout for Kids & Teens on November 4, November 18, December 2 and December 9 (1:30-3pm/independent sessions). Turning Ideas Into Books  for Adults with Karina Bolasco on November 11, 2017 (1:30 pm-4:30 pm).  All sessions are at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street.  For registration and fee details text 0917-6240196 or email [email protected].

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Email: [email protected]