COMMUNICATIONS... from the Bishop

ALAY KAPWA (AK) 2009 LAUNCHED

AK 2009 was launched on 17 February at St. Ignatius Cathedral, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The Military Ordinariate (Military Diocese) hosted the event.

Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, Military Ordinary was main celebrant and homilist. Arch. Antonio Ledesma, SJ (Cagayan de Oro), Retired Bishop Francisco Claver, SJ, Bishop Gabriel Reyes (Antipolo) and Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez (Marbel) concelebrated together with some 25 priests.

Gen. Alexander Yano, Chief-of-Staff, AFP, addressed the congregation after communion. He also hosted the lunch for the visitors.

Theme of AK 2009: ”Citizenship Building and Solidarity Towards a Culture of Peace and Integrity of Creation.”

This theme is “both an appeal and a challenge to the Filipino people and perhaps to all peoples of the world to confront social division, dislocation, violence and environmental destruction.”

“In depth, the theme invites every Christian Filipino to discern and to act on their faith, particularly their moral and social responsibility to be in communion/solidarity with others, espousing the values of humility and simplicity.”

“Moreover, it reminds all peace-loving people and Christians of their mission and task as ‘co-creators and stewards of God’s creation to form social consciences imbued with love for God, love of country, and commitment to work for people’s solidarity for common good.” (AK Facilitator’s Guide 2009).

03/01/2009
MARBEL DIOCESE OPPOSES COAL FIRED POWER PLANT

Conal Holdings Corporation (CHC) plans to put up a 200MW coal fired power plant in Brgy. Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province.

Accordingly, CHC applied for Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to DENR-EMB.

Before DENR-EMB approves the ECC an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be made.

Thus, On February 27, 2009, a public hearing was conducted at Maasim Municipal Gym.

Security was tight. Military and PNP elements frisked people entering the gym. Printed materials were confiscated. However, CONAL people were allowed to distribute fliers at the entrance

CHC was allowed to present its plan/project. Oppositions were not asked to present their side. Definitely, a one-sided public hearing!

But during the open forum a representative from Sta. Cruz Parish Against Pollution (SCPAP) read a statement opposing the CFPP. During the reading streamers, banners and posters opposing the project were raised. Very dramatic!

The Diocese, led by Sta. Cruz Parish, is strongly opposing the Coal Fired Power Plant because of its greenhouse gases emission such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and other toxic chemicals and particulates, thereby contributing to global warming and threatening besides human health. The emission of these toxic gases will affect General Santos City, most of Sarangani province and Davao del Sur.

Frs. Greto (Kiamba), Ricky (Maitum) and Nono (Lagao, Gen. Santos) with some 100 parishioners joined Fr. Flor, parish priest of Maasim and some 500 of his parishioners.

Christians are caretakers of the earth (cf. Gen 2:16) not polluters of environment. (culled from reports by Fr. Flor Litigio, Fr. Romeo Catedral and Fr. Angelo Buenavides).

03/01/2009

MARCH CLERGY RECOLLECTION

Fifty-seven (57) priests, 48 diocesan and 9 Passionists, made their recollection on March 2-3, 2009 at the Our Lady of Mt. Matutum Trappistine Monastery, Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato

Speaker was Fr. Pablo Tiong, OP, a theologian and a budding environmentalist.

Topic: ”Ecology” (Communion of all, human and non-human).

Talk 1: Re-establishing intimacy with Nature, Mother Earth, by affirming the essential connection of the Cycle of Nature, especially the day and night cycle with Christian spirituality: morning prayer (dawn) and evening prayer (dusk)

In the Lord’s prayer we ask God to “give us this day our daily bread.” We do not ask God to give us this day our weekly/monthly/yearly bread. This makes us aware of the daily cycle of day and night, of lights and shadows, of being continually in touch with God, our Father.

Talk 2: “Social Structural Renewal Beyond the Personal Demands of the Kingdom.”

Biblical foundations. Ps 24:1: “The Lord is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples.” Ps 33:10-11: “He frustrates the designs of the nations, he defeats the plans of the peoples. His own design shall stand forever, the plans of his heart from age to age.”

Points: 1) who/where are the poor? 2) Personal/communal faith-commitment to the poor; 3)structural renewal and our faith commitment to the poor.

So many poor. Causes of poverty are personal greed and structural injustices – the “structures of sin (cf. “Sollicetudo Rei Socialis,” 36 and “Libertatis Conscientia.”74

Social (societal) structures have impact on the care of environment. Connectedness between environment and social structures. Unjust structures destroy/degrade environment; degraded environment has negative impact on society and the cycle of injustice, degraded environment and poverty goes on and on.

So, we have to renew persons and transform structures of sin into structures of solidarity (communion and love) and we shall have a human-friendly (beneficial) environment.

This is our faith-commitment. This is our prophetic task. this is natural (nature’s) law applied. (From notes by Fr. Joy Peliño).
03/01/2009