Bishop Mesiona: IPs want their voices heard

THE voices of anti-mining protesters in Brooke’s Point, a town on the nearly southern tip of Palawan province, should be heard and not sidelined, a Catholic bishop said.

Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa said the church is in solidarity with the ongoing protest to protect what’s left of the environment.

“We are appealing to listen to the voice and respect the concerns of our fellowmen,” Mesiona said.

The call was contained in a pastoral statement that was read at a barricade against a large-scale nickel mining operation in Ipilan village on Monday, Feb. 28.

The statement started with a quote from Psalm 34, which reads: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”

A barricade has been set up outside the headquarters of Ipilan Nickel Corp. as residents, mostly farmers and indigenous peoples (IPs), assert that INC is operating without a mayor’s permit.

The protest also came more than a month after a massive flooding due to heavy rains struck several of the town’s villages.

The bishop said the anti-mining protests are “just” action to express their principles for what they think is good for their community.

“We recognize the basis of what they are fighting for. They are the ones who know the most and are directly affected by what is happening to their environment,” Mesiona said.

“It is only appropriate to respect their rights and listen to their grievances,” he added.

Residents have no recourse but to organize a barricade since the mining firm continues to operate despite an order by the town’s mayor Cesareo Benedito Jr to stop operations.

Vice Mayor Jean Feliciano of Brooke’s Point said “the people themselves are organizing the action to fight for their welfare.”

“We are thankful to the residents of Brooke’s Point who are willing to make sacrifices to protect our natural resources, livelihoods and our future,” she said.

Environment group Alyansa Tigil Mina said that INC has also been operating without a certificate of precondition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and other necessary requirements.

As the barricade continued, Bishop Mesiona also appealed for calm and for a “truthful” discussion on the issue for the sake of the common good “and not for the

ROME— The Vatican announced Saturday that Pope Francis will visit Hungary for the second time, from April 28-30.

According to the Feb. 27 announcement, the three-day papal trip to Budapest will include meetings with Hungary President Katalin Novák, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a private visit with children at the Blessed László Batthyány-Strattmann Institute, and meetings with poor people and migrants, young people, clergy, academics, and members of the Society of Jesus.

Pope Francis returns to the central European country after a short visit in 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress.

The pope spent just under seven benefits of a few”.

Caritas Philippines, the Church’s social justice arm, also expressed their support to the call to stop mining in Palawan.

“We believe it is important to listen to the voice of the community regarding its negative impact on the environment and the lifestyle of the local people,” said its president, Bishop Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan.

“We also call on the provincial government to declare Palawan as a no-mining zone to protect the natural resources of the so-called ‘the last frontier’ of the Philippines. This is especially important now that we are facing the climate emergency that is intensifying the calamities in our country,” he said. CBCP News

Brooke’s Point residents continue to hold a barricade to protest allegedly illegal mining operations in the area, Feb. 28, 2023. Photo courtesy of CBCP News

Pope Francis to visit Hungary in April

hours in Budapest to celebrate the congress’ closing Mass on Sept. 12 before embarking on a three-day trip to the neighboring country of Slovakia.

Pope Francis met Orbán during his 2021 visit to Hungary and in the Vatican in 2022. Novák, who was elected president of Hungary in March 2022, met Pope Francis at the Vatican last August. A Christian wife and mother, Novák was formerly Hungary’s family minister.

Katolikus.ma also reports that Francis’ trip will focus on the topic of young people in advance of the Aug. 1-6 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, which the pope is also expected to attend. Hannah Brockhaus/Catholic News Agency

Onthis second Sunday of Lent, we read the story of Transfiguration from Matthew’s gospel. The apostles Peter, James, and John were given a glimpse of Christ’s glory. They had a foretaste of pure Divinity. All the while they knew Jesus as the carpenter’s son, the rabbi from Galilee, the miracle worker, and a storyteller. On the mountain of the Transfiguration, they had a special vision and revelation about Jesus being the Son of God. They heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him” (Mt. 17:5). They were transported from ordinariness to an experience of the Transcendent. They were so awestruck that Peter suggested that they put up three tents there, one for Jesus, one for Moses who represents the Law, and one for Elijah who represents the prophets. Jesus became the new Moses and the prophet par excellence on the new Mt. Sinai of the Transfiguration mountain.

Beyond the Ordinary

Reflections

Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com saving, forgiving, and accepting presence of God. In some other experiences of Transcendence, some people are so caught up in the experience of beauty and love, that they realize there must be something beyond this ordinary existence. As St. Augustine wrote about his experience of earthly love and beauty that led him to God:

“Late have I loved you, Beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. ….You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.” Such was St. Augustine’s conversion experience.

Daily Scripture

Readings

2nd Sunday of Lent

Genesis

Readings: no. 230, p. 399

1st Reading: Daniel 9.3, 4b-10++

Gospel: Luke 6.36-38

Readings: no. 231, p. 401

1st Reading: Isaiah 1.10, 16-20, 27-28, 31++

The experience would be short-lived and Jesus with his band of disciples would proceed to Jerusalem where He would undergo His Passion. For the three witnesses of the transfiguration they must have wondered how Divinity could suffer. They must have asked themselves was the experience just a dream? Or the memory of the experience may have strengthened them through the difficult events of the Passion. It would not be until after the resurrection that they would look back into this experience and understand more what Jesus said, “The Messiah must suffer and die but on the third day He would rise again.” (Lk. 9:22).

A good number of people have undergone what we may call a “conversion experience” or a religious experience. The experience may happen while undergoing some personal crisis such as serious illness, accidents, failures, even experience of one’s moral frailties and sinfulness. It is within such experience of the limitations of human life that some people turn to God or rather, they experience the loving,

At some time in our life, we may have undergone a Transcendent experience, a call to conversion, a realization that over and above the ordinariness of human life, there is something more. There is the call of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. We could pay attention to the call and pursue where it leads us or we could deny the experience and just say it was borne of a dreamy state, or of melancholy and sentiments. The religious experience may lead us to the direction of conversion and renewal if we pay it proper attention, like St. Augustine. Such experience may also go wasted, as if they did not happen at all.

This season of Lent is also a season of conversion and renewal. Let us recall some religious experience. Even as far as our childhood, where we felt so near to God or called to be closer to God. By refreshing these memories, we may once more become closer to God who is Absolute Beauty, Absolute Truth, and Absolute Goodness. Then, we may have some glimpse of Divinity.

Gospel: Matthew 23.1-12

Readings: no. 233, p. 403

1st Reading: Jeremiah 18.18-20

Gospel: Matthew 20.17-28

Readings: no. 233, p. 405

1st Reading: Jeremiah 17.5-10

Gospel: Luke 16.19-31

Readings: no. 234, p. 408

1st Reading: Genesis 37.3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28

Gospel: Matthew 21.33-43, 45-46

Readings: no. 235, p. 411

1st Reading: Micah 7.14-15, 18-20

Gospel: Luke 15.1-3, 11-32