PASTORAL LETTER FOR ALAY KAPWA SUNDAY
March 16, 2008

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In this season of Lent, and on the occasion of Alay Kapwa Sunday with the theme: Protection and Preservation of the Environment, a Christian Responsibility,I invite you to reflect on the teachings of Jesus.

The Holy Bible stated, “Do not defile the land in which you live and in the midst of which I dwell.” (Numbers 35: 34)

Natural calamities due to man’s exploitation of nature’s bounty have claimed many innocent lives. Our brothers, mostly from poor indigenous communities, had to bear the deadly consequence of man’s greed and disrespect for people’s rights and God’s sacred creation.

We have received so many blessings from our environment, and we have to take care of it for our children and our children’s children. Each and every one of us must heed the call to live up to our Christian responsibility to protect and preserve mother Earth. We must commit to living a simple life, to use what is only essential and to avoid the mentality of wanting to have more, with the utmost desire of serving God and their fellowmen. “Reform your lives and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

We are all responsible for the well-being of our neighbors as reflected in the verses of Genesis 4:9: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The love of Christ compels us to care for our people, our country, and our God-given resources that others may benefit from the use of them. Our task is to be stewards of His creation.

The global crisis on the environment should compel us to make a move right now. Let us all get involved by supporting projects that promotes the protection of the environment. Your Alay Kapwa love offering will support Caritas Manila’s Programs on Leadership Training for the Youth and advocacy on environmental conservation, Health, Livelihood and Restorative Justice. Your contributions will also support and sustain nationwide initiatives on sustainable agriculture, peace, advocacy, governance, children’s rights and disaster management.

Lastly, I pray that more people would support CARITAS and its work for the development of the poor. Together, let us spread Christ’s message of love, truth and justice in our community, not just in words but in deeds. CARITAS is the Latin word for love. “Where there is love, there is Christ.” Where there is CARITAS, there is Christ.

God bless us all!

+ GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES, DD
Archbishop of Manila