Catholic churches hold masses for peaceful polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Church yesterday prayed for credible, honest and peaceful midterm elections today.

Prayers for this intention were said in masses in parishes all over the country.

A candlelight rosary procession was held at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros to pray for clean and honest polls.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo called on Filipino voters to pray over their votes to help them “to choose well.”

“If we pray over our vote, will we include in our list a thief, a dishonest person or one who promotes killing? If we pray over our vote, will we allow our vote to be influenced by money or, much worse, sell it? We are poor and people have already robbed us of basic services in life, of our environment, of our jobs. Let them not rob us of our dignity. Our one vote is our dignity. Let us not sell it,” Pabillo said in a statement.

In Naga City, similar prayers were said in the Archdiocese of Caceres led by Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona.

Priests were earlier asked by the archdiocese to include in their masses the prayer intention.

“We pray in particular for our dedicated (Commission on Elections) officials, our dear teachers, the courageous (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and (Philippine National Police) security and all others tasked to guarantee a credible, honest and peaceful election,” Tirona said.

“Please include in your intentions the faithful compliance, safety and wellbeing of all those assigned to facilitate and safeguard a credible, honest, peaceful May 13 election,” he appealed in a letter to parish priests. “May the Holy Spirit strenghten, protect and guide these public servants in the exercise of their noble duty to be ever vigilant and to safeguard the sanctity of every vote cast by the eligible voters.”

Tirona said election day falls on the feast of the Our Lady of Fatima.

“And so, on the eve of her feast day, let us come together as one nation to pray for meaningful elections,” he said.

The celebration was made more meaningful by the presence of a replica image at the Chapel of Apparitions from Fatima, Portugal.