Catholic Church in the Philippines kept the faith amid COVID-19 pandemic, says Valles

The leaders of the Catholic Church in the Philippines tried their best to uplift the faith of Filipinos amid the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, outgoing Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said Thursday.

In his speech during the 122nd Plenary Assembly of the CBCP, Valles acknowledged the help of bishops, clergy, lay leaders and religious in keeping the faith in the wake of the pandemic.

"I would like to believe that the Church in the Philippines tried her best, through us bishops, our clergy and religious, our lay leaders, to complete and make the memory of our people strong," Valles said in his speech posted on CBCP News.

"In our devotions and in our liturgies, especially the Eucharist, we kept the faith of our people in the ever-abiding presence and accompaniment of the Lord during these very trying times," the bishop added.

The CBCP head said the Church continued to let people experience "Lord's mercy, forgiveness and healing comfort."

CBCP lost two bishops to COVID-19, namely: Mati Bishop Patricio Alo and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Bishop Antonio Palang.

Valles described the year 2020 as times of "terrible sickness and death." But he said the pandemic-hit year also became a memory of keeping the faith in God.

"But we say to ourselves and to our people that our memory is not simply all of death and suffering. In faith, we prayed. In faith, we have not forgotten that we belong to the family of the Church," said Valles.

"In faith, we struggled to do good deeds, especially for the most suffering among us. In faith, we realized how present God is among us," he added.

The bishops earlier elected a new set of CBCP officers, whose tenure begins on December 1, 2021.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, a known drug war critic, was named as new CBCP President while Pasig Bishop  Mylo Hubert Vergara was named as vice president.

The new members of CBCP's Permanent Council are the following:

• President: Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan
• Vice President: Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig
• Treasurer: Archbishop John Du of Palo
• Secretary General: Msgr. Bernardo Pantin
• Asst. Sec. General/Asst. Treasurer: Fr. Carlo Del Rosario

Regional Representatives

Luzon

• North: Archbishop Ricardo Baccay of Tuguegarao
• Southwest: Bishop Dennis Villarojo of Malolos
• Central: Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga
• Southeast: Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa
• South: Bishop Jose Bantolo of Masbate

Visayas

• Eastern & Central: Bishop Patrick Daniel Parcon of Talibon
• West: Bishop Louie Galbines of Kabankalan

Mindanao

• North: Archbishop Jose Cabantan of Cagayan de Oro
• South: Bishop Abel Apigo of Mati

-- Consuelo Marquez/BAP, GMA News