(Editor’s note: As a tribute to Josephine Darang, who passed away Dec. 28, 2014, feast of St. John the Evangelist, patron of writers and journalists, the Sunday Inquirer will continue her well-read column, Purely Personal, as a service to the Church and to the faithful. Those who would like to have their announcements published in this column should e-mail lzulueta@inquirer.com.ph. or noelmogate11@gmail.com)
Top artists are participating in the exhibit “Pro-Life is Pro-Art,” at 70 Main Horseshoe Drive, Horseshoe Village, Quezon City.
Particpating artists include Luisito Ac-ac, Robert Alejandro, Eric Cachero, Eduardo Castrillo, Sandro Castrillo, Jose Datuin Jr., Ace Dimanlig, Ramon Orlina, Susie Renta, Dominic Rubio, Fidel Sarmiento and Jose Vistan.
Curator is Joseph Renta.
According to Eric Manalang, president of Pro-Life Philippines Foundation Inc., the exhibit will raise funds for the foundation’s various programs, such as crisis pregnancy counseling and youth counseling.
Those who would like to donate to Pro-Life, please call 6556202/ 5716550/0919-2337783.
Pope in art
Currently on view at the Mendez Big and Small Gallery is a mural painting titled “Pope Francis Contemplating World Peace” by Juan de Mesa, the artist’s homage to the Supreme Pontiff and a remembrance of the historic visit to the Philippines.
Mendez Big and Small Gallery is at the Art Walk, 4/F, Building A, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, call 0917-8482691.
‘Rabbits’ remarks clarified
Pope Francis never said that Catholics should not “breed like rabbits,” said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“What the Pope did say was that some Catholics mistakenly believe that to be Catholic, we ought to breed like rabbits—and prior to using that simile, he knew that it was harsh and so said ‘excuse the expression’—but it was apt, and it brought home the point,” said Villegas. “And the point is that the Church has always taught that it is a Catholic obligation to be responsible about parenthood. Births should be planned rationally by both parents, who must always remain open to new life but who must also take into consideration their physical, financial and emotional capacity to raise children. It is not correct for a Catholic to assume the attitude: ‘Come what may!’”
Villegas referred to the remarks of the Pope during the Meeting of Families on Jan. 16 at the Mall of Asia.
“There he said that Blessed Paul VI in his much-maligned ‘Humanae Vitae’ prophetically understood that nations would be impoverished in the measure that they assume an antibirth stance,” said the CBCP president. “The experience of aging nations with only a handful of youngsters to take on the jobs necessary for a country’s survival and growth has proved Blessed Paul VI right. At the same time, Paul VI urged pastors to be sensitive to particular cases, referring to cases that called to carefully balanced, prayerfully calibrated solutions in accordance with a well-formed conscience and in the context of the guidance received from the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“And this is certainly significant teaching for our time,” the prelate added. “Let us leave the rabbits in peace!”
SVD priest puts up soup kitchen
Society of the Divine Word (SVD) Fr. Flaviano Villanueva celebrated his ninth year as a missionary priest.
“I appeal for your prayers and support to faithfully live the call of Pope Francis: ‘To look at the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion and to embrace the future with hope,” he told close friends and supporters.
He informed the Inquirer that three different classes of SVD priests will hold a joint anniversary celebration on March 6 in thanksgiving for their consecrated life and missionary work.
“Father Flavie,” as his friends and batchmates at the Collegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila, said he will soon put up a soup kitchen at the well-known SVD convent compound on Tayuman Street, Santa Cruz, Manila. He is calling the program “Kalinga sa Kapwa,” and aside from food, the program will offer toilet and bath for the homeless and the hungry.
Those who would like to help financially the very timely and worthwhile propoor program may contact Father Flavie, 0908-8838268.