Bishops urge unity with typhoon victims; order second Mass collections
MANILA, Dec. 19, 2011—Newly-installed Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle has called on the Catholic faithful for solidarity with the typhoon victims by extending assistance to victims of typhoon victims in southern Philippines.
“In the spirit of Christian solidarity, I request that a second collection be made at all Masses in all 85 parishes, shrines, and communities in the Archdiocese of Manila from today (December 19) to Christmas Day (December 25),” he said.
Tagle said his office will immediately send the amount collected to the bishops of the affected areas.
He added that donations in kind may be sent to Caritas Manila – the Social Action arm of the archdiocese.
The archbishop encouraged everyone to keep their Christmas parties simple in view of the suffering of typhoon victims who lost loved ones and properties, and “let Christmas joy be found again in Jesus who became poor for us.”
Meanwhile, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI has also mandated all 28 parishes in the archdiocese to undergo second collections in all Masses from December 21- 23 to help flood victims in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the Diocese of Iligan.
In a pastoral statement read yesterday, the prelate said that in the past the Archdiocese of Cotabato had its share of floods and victims and had received a lot of support from many people.
“And now terrible floods have hit Northern Mindanao,” he said as he reminded everyone to “share this Christmas what we can to help our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives, their homes, their properties in the terrible floods.”
He added “God shared his own Son with us on Christmas Day” as he expressed confidence the Catholic faithful “can also share what we can for the flood victims.”
(Melo M. Acuna/CBCPNews)
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