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The child Jesus came for everyone. In Him, God wants to be present in every aspect of our human condition and reality to redeem it and make it more human and divine.
In 1949, Mayor Antonio Gaston founded the Virgen sang Barangay, a Marian devotion that spread across the Philippines. The movement encouraged prayer, community-building, and devotion through the Rosary. This year, it is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
As he reflects on his journey leading up to the 75th jubilee of the enduring devotion to the Virgen sang Barangay, Fr. Christopher discovers that the Virgen had been guiding him all along, revealing her maternal love in every step of his spiritual path.
The image of Our Lady of the Barangay depicts a Virgen with distinctly Filipino features and attire. According to Antonio Gaston, “this is the only picture of Our Lady with the Infant Child holding and offering the beautiful devotion of His mother.”
The more demanding task before us is to continually insist that elected officials make it their priority to protect the lives, and promote the dignity, of the poor and vulnerable everywhere. Promoting these moral values is our duty as Catholic citizens.
The brave Filipinos who love their country are committed to helping the poor and the exploited and are changing the culture of corruption and injustice that pervades our nation are being killed and arbitrarily arrested. Good people must support them and demand an end to the violence against them.
Brother Christopher Villanueva, a member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), harnesses his creativity in painting to restore and strengthen hope among victims of conflict and natural disasters. He wishes his painting can also encourage the people to grow more in faith.
Pope Francis published a new encyclical calling for a renewed understanding of devotion to the Sacred Heart in the modern era. Archbishop Bruno Forte said the encyclical expressed “the inspiring motive of the whole magisterium of Pope Francis.”
From Mary hastening to help her cousin Elizabeth to Joan of Arc plunging into the defense of her people, women have always been on the frontline serving the common cause. Taking the initiative is leadership.
The Catholic social doctrine is based on the social mission of the Church, as Pope Francis maintains that there’s a “social dimension of evangelization” (Evangelii Gaudium, 176-258). The social mission of the Church is based on the social ministry of Jesus.
