Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a m

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat On February 1, Sunday, the Philippine Catholic Church observed the National Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking, which has become a pressing social reality and urgent concern for the country, especially for children. In a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP ECMI), it is said that human trafficking “reflect deeper social conditions t

From The COMBIBLIA Staff NAGA CITY — In a gathering of faith and fellowship, the Archdiocese of Caceres, through its Commission on Biblical Apostolate (Caceres COMBIBLIA), held a Bible Congress on January 31. The event brought together 335 Bible animators called “Bible Apostles” –parish coordinators, religious sisters and lay leaders –at the Legaspi Hall within the Peñafrancia Basilica Compound. Guided by the theme “The Word of God Gives Life in a Church where Everyone Belong

The feast of St. Peter Baptist, principal patron of the Archdiocese of Caceres, was widely celebrated across the Archdiocese last Feb 1. A mass was officiated by Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon on the saint's feast day at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. In his homily, Alarcon urged the faithful to remain rooted in Christ. Having contributed much to the establishment and development of several towns that now comprise the Archdiocese, Baptist, who was a missionary from S

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 R. (Mt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs! Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12a When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are

By Roy Lagarde/CBCP News The new head of the Catholic hierarchy on Saturday set a two-year agenda focused on caring for bishops, strengthening coordination, care, deepening synodality. Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, outlined his priorities at the opening of the 131st CBCP plenary assembly in Manila. As his first priority, he stressed support for bishops themselves. “Before tending the flock, we must care for the s

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat Three hundred forty-five attendees from twenty-five participating schools of the Catholic Educational Association of Caceres and Libmanan (CEACAL) joined the Educators Congress yesterday, Jan 28, feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and patron of Catholic schools. In his message, CEACAL President Fr. Wilmer Joseph Tria, called on attendees to "form hearts that burn with the love of Christ, capable of transforming societies and shaping nat

By The COMBIBLIA Staff TINANGIS PROVINCIAL JAIL – “We are all sinners. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all members of the Church.” These were the comforting words of Fr. Erwin Blasa, Director of the Caceres Commission on Biblical Apostolate (Caceres COMBIBLIA), to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) during the celebration of National Bible Sunday on January 25. In an event emphasizing inclusivity and participation in the Church, Caceres COMBIBLIA, in partnersh

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Isaiah 8:23—9:3 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Gospel Reading: Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat “When we see the image of the Sto. Nino, it is an invitation to change our quick-fix mentality. To change from within, without any shortcuts.” This was the message of Fr. Francis Tordilla, Rector of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, as he delivered his homily on the feast of Sto. Niño, January 18, at the Balatas Development Complex, where hundreds of devotees gathered for a eucharistic celebration after the procession and street dance. Tordilla, who lam

By CBCP News Pope Leo XIV urged unity and service to the poor as Cebu Catholics gathered for the annual Fiesta Señor at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu. In a message sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, the pope said the annual feast should inspire believers to live their baptism through service. Parolin said the pope hopes that the celebration will inspire the devotees “a greater desire to embrace the baptismal call to live a grace-fill

Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, newly installed Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (ECSC) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), begins his term with a seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the first day of the CBCP Plenary Assembly. Held last Tuesday, January 20, at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila, Alarcon cited the Vatican document on AI, Antiqua et Nova, in his message, highlighting the importance of

By Edward Pentin/CNA Pope Leo XIV will be hosting a second consistory of cardinals at the end of June and wants to hold such meetings annually. The Vatican made the announcement at the conclusion of the Holy Father’s first extraordinary consistory of cardinals that lasted two days. The next such meeting is expected to be held on June 27–28, the vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope would like to hold annual meetings lasting three to four d

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 R/ (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Gospel Reading: John 1:29-34 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him,

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat “The Black Nazare is a symbol of a new beginning." This was the message of Caceres Archbishop Emeritus Rolando Tria Tirona, O.C.D. as he celebrated the mass on the eve of the Feast of the Black Nazarene at the Holy Cross Parish in Tabuco, Naga City, January 9. "We enter a New Year with the Black Nazarene as our inspiration," he said. "We are invited to accept Jesus Christ as our guide as we cross this New Year." The image of the Black Nazarene, the Ca