libmanan.com

Bishops and priests assembled for the Second National Congress of the Clergy being held this week have contribute one million pesos to Haiti. The special collection for Haiti made at the morning mass on January 27, the third day of the  Congress of the Clergy, yielded  988,675.35 pesos, with Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales offering to fill up the balance to make it an even one million pesos.         

            The money will be sent directly to Filipino Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti. Cardinal Rosales immediately told Archbishop Auza of the donation in an email last night.

            The Cardinal wrote:  “At the Eucharistic Celebration today during the third day of the Second National Congress of the Clergy currently being held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, a collection was made for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. From the more than 5,500 priests  attending the collection totaled to almost a million pesos. This is an expression of the Filipino priests’ solidarity and concern for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. As soon as we have organized the amount, we will send it to the office of Your Excellency. Please continue to pray for the success and fruitfulness of the Clergy Congress.”

            Archbishop Auza also immediately replied to the Cardinal, thanking him for the donation. He said: “Maraming salamat! I am very glad that the Philippine Church, in particular the Bishops and the Clergy, have been generous with the Church in Haiti. If you want the contribution to be used for specific aid projects, please don’t hesitate to indicate to me what the Philippine Church would like its aid to be used.”

            The collection is the only one being made for the duration of the Congress which has drawn more than 5,500 priests from all over the country and other countries.

            Fifty members of the Collectors and Greeters Ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila fanned out in the massive hall of the World Trade Center to pass the collection bags. After the Mass three cartons of bills and coins in various denominations and currencies (Euro, US, Australian, Hong Kong dollars, Yuan) were counted by members of the Mother Butler’s Guild.

            Cardinal Rosales admitted that the expression of generosity and solidarity by the priests and clergy with the people of Haiti moved him. “Napaluha ako ng malaman ko yung amount,” he said.

            The Bishops and Clergy in the Congress have been responding favorably to the activities of the Congress, especially to the charismatic and inspiring talks of Franciscan Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Preacher to the Papal Household. The liturgical celebrations have also been moving experiences. On January 28, the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, the liturgical music was provided by the University of Santo Tomas chorale and orchestra.

            The congress ends today (January 29) with a final conference by Father Cantalamessa in the morning and the closing Mass at 3:30pm at the Cuneta Astrodome. All the bishop-and priest-delegates will march in a procession from the World Trade Center to the Astrodome. The procession will include the images of Jesus on the Cross, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Joseph, St. John Mary Vianney and his relics.