On January 25, 2019, from 4 to 7 pm at the Rajah Sulayman Plaza, Malate, Manila, church leaders, church people and Christians will converge in “One Faith, One Nation, One Voice: A Gathering for Truth, Justice and Peace.”
This gathering is part of coordinated activities of Philippine Churches. The organizers stated in their letter:
“In the spirit of the observation of the Bible Month and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity led by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, we encourage everyone to express our unity in faith and action and proclaim Truth, Justice and Peace in this challenging time.”
The letter was signed by: The Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D., CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity Auxiliary Bishop of Manila; Minnie Ann Mata-Calub, Acting General Secretary National Council of Churches; Bishop Melzar Labuntog, General Secretary United Church of Christ in the Philippines; Bishop Ciriaco Francisco, Manila Episcopal Area, The United Methodist Church; and, Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, President, De La Salle Philippines.
“Our prophetic witness is our most wilful instrument in celebrating God’s gift of life and dignity and in following Christ’s work of mercy and justice. Just like how Jesus led his disciples, come and see, and be counted in the community of Christians proclaiming One Voice as One Nation in One Faith,” the letter added.
The week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Philippines is always facilitated through the partnership of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and National Council of Churches in the Philippines.
The liturgical celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) is also celebrated by Christians all-over the world.
The briefing paper of the WPCU states:
“Every year, Christians across the world gather in prayer for growth in unity. We do this in a world where corruption, greed and inequality and division. Ours is a united prayer in a fractured world: this is Powerful. However, as individual Christians and communities, we are often complicit with injustice and yet we are called together to form a united witness for justice and to be a means of Christ’s healing grace for the brokenness of the world.”
The gathering of Churches, though not all leaders of the Philippine Churches were part of the signatories, is significant at this time. There is a need to show and manifest in public that Churches has a prophetic role, especially that the country is beset with so many problems.
The Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) will join “One Faith, One Nation, One Voice.” on January 25. Dioceses and parishes of the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant, Evangelical, Aglipayan Churches and its organizations like Isaiah Ministry, Anawim Mission, Ecumenical Bishops Forum, Promotion of Church People’s Response, and other faith-based organizations will also participate in this gathering.
The continuing political repression of the activists and progressive organizations, churches and church people’s organizations must be stopped.
The economic crisis brought about by regressive laws such as train laws and anti-people policies of the Duterte administration must be given concrete and viable solutions.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Chairperson Carol Araullo called on the people to act.
She said: “Ang kailangan, makibaka at huwag matakot. Kasi ang sindak, that is part of the arsenal of this administration (We need to fight, and not be afraid. Instilling fear is part of the arsenal of this administration.). The condition of the people is bleak.”
Mass movements will surely soar in the next few months. The extrajudicial killings, harassments and intimidations through red scare and communist hysteria, rising costs of basic commodities and services should not be covered up by the electoral campaign intramurals.
The “One Faith, One Nation, One Voice,” the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the continuing efforts of the people to unite, including patriotic, military and police officers and rank-and-file can end the plagues of the Philippine society.
