Palawan bishops elevate appeal against mining ops to Marcos

CATHOLIC bishops in Palawan province have elevated their appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to end mining operations in the biodiversity-rich island.

Bishops Socrates

Mesiona of Puerto Princesa and Broderick Pabillo of Taytay urged Marcos to “permanently stop” the operations of Ipilan Mining Corp. (INC) and other mining activities in watersheds and protected areas. The bishops’ appeal was contained in a joint pastoral statement released following what they described as “violent dispersal and unlawful arrests” of anti-mining protesters in Brooke’s Point town on April 14.

The incident, they said, was perpetrated by dozens of INC security guards, “backed up by a contingent of 30 police force who silently watched and abetted them”.

Several farmers, fisherfolk, and indigenous peoples have been manning a barricade since February 18 to prevent mining trucks containing nickel ore from entering a private port.

“They have endured hunger, heat, rain and grave threats to their life and safety to make a collective stand up in preserving and protecting our beautiful Palawan,” the bishops said.

The mayor’s permit of INC had expired on Feb. 1, 2023 and Brooke’s Point local government had issued a cease and desist order against its operations.

“Rather than fully complying with the rule of law, Ipilan Nickel Corporation acted in blatant defiance of the law by continuously operating its mine,” the prelates said.

“Worse, the company took the law into its own hands by deploying its large private security force in violently dispersing the peaceful rallyists,” they added.

The church leaders urged the provincial prosecutors to dismiss all the “trumped-up charges” against the rallyists and hold accountable the people behind the harsh dispersal and illegal arrests. CBCP News

ROME— On Monday Pope Francis introduced a limit of 80 years of age for retired bishops and patriarchs in the Eastern Catholic Churches to take part in decisional voting.

In the motu proprio Iam Pridem, issued April 17, the pope modified four articles in the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches, which regularly meet in synods of bishops to make decisions and elect patriarchs.

The changes exclude retired bishops and patriarchs over the age of 80 from participating in deliberative voting.

In his introduction, Pope Francis said that “for some time now” the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches has been hearing from patriarchs, major archbishops, and bishops in the Eastern Churches about difficulties regarding the number of retired bishops who participate in their meetings “with an active voice.”

He said these leaders had asked the pope to change the norms to exclude retired bishops over the age of 80 from having a deliberative vote.

According to the changes, those leaders who are over 80 but actively in office may still participate in the voting.

There are 23 Eastern Catholic Churches that are “sui iuris,” or selfgoverning, and in full communion with Rome. Hannah Brockhaus/ Catholic News Agency

AS violence in Sudan continues, the migration body of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has asked for prayers for the Filipinos based in the African country.

Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) said they are concerned over the safety of about 258 Filipinos in Sudan.

“They are in a very difficult and dangerous situation,” said Santos, who is also the bishop of the Diocese of Balanga.

“We are with you. We support our government to keep you all well-protected and bring you safely back home,” he said.

The ECMI vice chairman called on migrants’ chaplains to offer Masses for the safety of Filipinos in Sudan and for peace in the troubled nation.

“We are praying and offering holy Masses for their safety and security,” he said.

The prelate, on the other hand, advised Filipinos in Sudan to do their part in keeping themselves safe.

“We advise them to remain calm, courageous, and prayerful. Stay in their place, don’t venture outside, and always heed the advice of our government officials,” he added.

More than 1,800 people have been injured since the fighting between armed factions erupted on Saturday, U.N. envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes said.

He also put the death toll at 185 on Monday as fighting for control of the country between the army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) showed no sign of stopping.

The violence is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF led by Sudan’s deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. CBCP News

Walking has many benefits. Doctors tell us that moderate walking is good for our health. We do not have to be marathon athletes. Just walk , don’t ride. Not only does walking have physical health benefits, it also benefits the mind and the soul. So many great men, thinkers, and authors attest that their best ideas come from walking. As the great naturalist Jean Jacques Rosseau said, “There is something about walking that animates and activates my ideas.” There is this story about a couple who was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary and still in good health. When the husband was asked the secret of their long life, he said “When we were newly married we agreed that when we have a fight and it is my fault I leave the house and take a walk. I have walked thousands of kilometers in the past 50 years.” Walking has spiritual benefits as well.

Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com

His explanation that they wanted to hear more and when they arrived at their destination they invited Jesus in “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.” It was while they were eating and Jesus broke the bread for them that their eyes were opened and recognized the Lord. He then vanished from their sight. They were so filled with joy that immediately they returned to Jerusalem, notwithstanding the distance and the night time. They became proclaimers of the resurrection, that He was made known to them by the breaking of the bread.

Acts 2.14, 22b-28; Peter 1.17-21; Luke 24.13-35

This Sunday’s Easter story is about walking, walking with the Lord (Lk. 24:13ff). We are told the fascinating story of the two disciples who were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The walk is 10 kilometers more or less, not too far for two healthy persons who are used to walking. They were leaving Jerusalem, the site of the passion and death of Jesus. They were disappointed and discouraged, “We were hoping that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel,” they told the stranger walking with them. They were also leaving behind the group of disciples, and they were skeptical about what they were told that Jesus was alive. They have lost hope. What else is there for them in the future? They might as well separate from the group and start life anew.

They did not recognized Jesus who joined their conversation and started explaining the meaning of the scriptures to them, that the Messiah would suffer before entering his glory. They were so inspired by

This story has many insights. It tells of fellowship, conversations between friends, sharing the scriptures, inviting the Lord into our life, partaking of the Eucharist, and mission. Or to use the current terms of the Holy Father’s call for Synodality: the story of Emmaus is about Communion, Participation, and Mission. The Church is a Pilgrim Church and its destination is God’s Kingdom. The Church is a communion of disciples accompanied on its pilgrim journey by the communion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The disciple does not walk alone. The Lord accompanies us and inspires us through the Word of scriptures and strengthens us through the Eucharist. As the beautiful song says, “coebus et potus in itenere,” food and drink for the journey. However we have to invite the Lord to join us. This is our participation, inviting the Lord, “Mane Domine”, stay with us Lord. It is when we share the Eucharist that the Lord becomes most present to us.

It does not end there. Once we experience communion, and participation, we are also sent to mission. We become witnesses to the resurrection. We invite others to join the journey towards God’s Kingdom. We invite others to walk with the Lord and in the Lord. There is joy when we walk together.

Readings: no. 273, p. 526

1st Reading: Acts 6.8-15

Gospel: John 6.22-29

Readings: no. 555, p. 659; BG, p. 244

1st Reading: 1 Peter 5.5b-14

Gospel: Mark 16.15-20

Readings: no. 275, p. 531

1st Reading: Acts 8.1b-8

Gospel: John 6.35-40

Readings: no. 276, p. 533

1st Reading: Acts 8.26-40

Readings: no. 277, p. 536

1st Reading: Acts 9.1-20

Gospel: John 6.52-59

Readings: no. 278, p. 538 or no. 557, p. 665

1st Reading: Acts 9.31-42