“Communion should lead us to commitment, so that what we have learned may find beneficial fruits” said the National director of Caritas Philippines on Friday launching its 24 “Change Projects” of personal and community transformation at the Astoria Plaza. 

CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines national director Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, in his video message during the launching of the program said, “Communion should lead us to commitment, so that what we have learned may find beneficial fruits …And we can only do so when we commit our time our talent … to what is noble, what is good, what is true as demanded by the Gospel,”

(Vatican Radio) A Catholic bishop in Philippines denounced the justification of killings of suspected criminals and said that he was witnessing a worse kind of death, the death of conscience.   

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, on Thursday during his homily at Mass at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros for the victims of drug-related killings and to mark the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, lamented that conscience is no longer seen as a consideration in societal matters.  “By repeating arguments of justification over and over again, they begin to sound right, they begin to resemble a Gospel truth. They become part of the culture; they become the new normal,” he said. “When I hear comments like these, I get stunned” he added.

(Vatican Radio) International Day of Peace observed around the world on 21 September focuses this year on engaging and mobilizing people throughout the world to show support for refugees and migrants.

Fr. Cedric Prakash sj, a human rights activist from India and now working for JRS Lebanon  reflecting on the theme of the current year “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All”  says that the theme  is based on the TOGETHER global campaign that promotes respect, safety and dignity for everyone forced to flee their homes in search of a better life. TOGETHER brings together the organizations of the United Nations System, the 193 member countries of the United Nations, the private sector, civil society, academic institutions and individual citizens in a global partnership in support of diversity, non-discrimination and acceptance of refugees and migrants.