Sin to lead fasting for peace in Mindanao

Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin called on the nation yesterday to join a prayer and fasting crusade for peace in Mindanao.

The crusade will begin on Saturday, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, and run through July 1, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Sin encouraged Catholics to make sacrifices by fasting and abstaining from luxuries and donate money for the benefit of the growing number of refugees from the Mindanao conflict.

"We are praying for peace but there is no peace," he said. "We must pray more and not give up in offering prayers and spiritual sacrifices for peace in Mindanao and peace in our hearts. The fruit of prayer is union with God. Peace is being united with God at all times."

He said relief goods will be given to Christians and Muslims who have been displaced by the fighting, saying that charity knows no boundaries.

"We are brothers and sisters, not enemies," Sin said. "It is not the will of God that countrymen go to war against one another. We must atone for our national sins, especially our personal neglect of the poor and the marginalized. Let us make peace right now."

Sin said the war in Mindanao is not a religious conflict, but rather a war between terrorists and peacemakers and that people should not wait till the fighting is right outside their gates.

"I know that our Muslim brethren want peace as much as we do," he said. "I appeal to our Muslim brethren to join us too in the crusade for peace in Mindanao."

In Kidapawan, Cotabato City, Bishop Romulo Valles urged the public to take part in a prayer vigil at the city gymnasium from 6 to 8 tonight.

"It is imperative that in the darkness of the sad and grim events that have happened in Mindanao over the past weeks, we bend our knees and make sparks of hope in prayer to rekindle the light of peace that we all long for," he said.

Participants will march to the city gymnasium from various points in the city.