An encouraging message of hope in time of tragedy from Filipino Bishop

Filipinos’ faith is stronger than any typhoon—CBCP head

             

MANILA, Nov. 11, 2013—“No typhoon or flood can diminish the strength of the Filipino soul.”
The typhoon that devastated central Philippines may be the strongest in the world, but the faith of Filipinos in God is “even stronger,” president of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Archbishop Jose Palma said, in a message of hope to all Filipinos.
Highlighting the resilience of Filipino people in time of adversity, Palma said “no calamity or natural devastation can quench the fire of our hope.”
“The Filipino soul is stronger than (typhoon) Yolanda,” he stressed.
Palma assured typhoon victims of the Church’s deepest concern and solidarity amid the “gloom, uncertainty and grief that has beset our countrymen due to devastation wrought by the typhoon.”
He urged the faithful to turn to God “in this moment of national calamity,” just as every Filipino has done “for the past four hundred years.”
Novena of prayer and charity
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also declared a nationwide novena of prayer and charity from November 11 to 19 for the victims of typhoon Yolanda and the earthquake in Central Philippines, which happened a few weeks ago.
Palma said all Masses and prayers will be offered for the dead and the grieving families they left behind.
He also encouraged dioceses and parishes to conduct a charity fund collection within the same week and have the collection transmitted as soon as possible to the bishops in the calamity stricken provinces. (CBCPNews)