I was not able to attend Sunday masses on a regular basis while I was traveling but I made it a point to visit chapels and churches several times a week.
I was excited to go to church as soon as I was back. Edmund and I attended the mass together.
We were twenty minutes early. Syempre we were chatting. The woman seated on the pew in front of us kept turning her head. I thought she was looking at someone else. Then I realized she was annoyed by our voices.
Instead of a sermon, the priest read the pastoral letter. It was about the extra judicial killings happening in our country now. I missed the first part. Some of the key points are:
2. The opportunity to change is never lost in every person.
3. To destroy the life of another does evil to society.
4. Right to be presumed innocent.
5. Do not kill to solve the drug problem. The end does not justify the means.
6. Poverty, corruption and the destruction of the family are the root cause of the drug problem.
7. Let us not allow any law that will destroy the unity of families.
8. Do not consent to the killing of drug addicts and pushers.
Pres. Duterte didn’t like the contents of this particular pastoral letter. He should not get mad at the Catholic church. They didn’t say anything bad. They didn’t personally criticize him. They meant well.
There was also an announcement of pilgrimages this coming summer.
“Tart, I want to join”.
E—-“Never fails”.
He meant, every time there was an announcement regarding forthcoming trips to Holy Land, Fatima, Medjugorje, etc. pilgrimages, I would always say “Tart, I want to join”.
We never did because of conflict of schedule. Someday, maybe next year.
After the mass, we saw Mike Enriquez, the tv news anchor, at the church’s steps, while waiting for their vehicle. Ang hirap ng celebrity ano, kukunan ka ng picture. Buti na lang hindi ako sikat walang magkakamaling kumuha ng picture ko.
This is their vehicle.
Traffic na nga, itong guard nakipagkwentuhan pa dun sa driver ng isang van. Siguro madalas magsimba yun kaya magkakilala na sila. Edmund and I were so irritated. I approached the guard, “Guard, ngayon pa kayo nagkwentuhan, ang haba ng pila”. Sungit no?
