Circular No. 2010-05
18 January 2010

TO:      ALL PRIESTS, SUPERIORS OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, CATECHISTS, HEADS OF MANDATED ORGANIZATIONS AND TRANSPAROCHIAL COMMUNITIES, DIRECTORS OF RCAM-ES SCHOOLS AND CEAP SCHOOLS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA

RE:       EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONS AND CANCELLATION OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING MASSES DURING THE 2ND NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE CLERGY

In response to the call of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, to celebrate this year as “Year for Priests”, the Episcopal Commission on Clergy, led by our dear Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal

Rosales, organized the Second National Congress of the Clergy (NCC-2) from January 25-29, 2010.

The Archdiocese of Manila was gifted with the privilege of hosting the auspicious and historic event, which will welcome around 5,000 bishops and priests from all over the country and even some parts of the world.  Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap., Preacher to the Papal Household, was invited to preach and lead the clergy in prayer and reflection.

NCC-2 will be a moment of prayer, reflection, renewal for the Philippine clergy.  They will heed the invitation of the Lord, to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31).  It will also be a moment of priestly fraternity and celebration of sacramental brotherhood.

To take full advantage of the graces afforded by this occasion, our Cardinal-Archbishop has asked all parish communities, Catholic organizations and ministries, ecclesial movements and covenanted communities to hold Eucharistic adorations every evening while NCC-2 is taking place.  The Archdiocesan Commission on Liturgy will provide text for holy hour together with rubics for lay ministers.  Recitation of rosaries, bible reflection and sharing may also be conducted.  This is a special opportunity for the lay faithful to pray for their priests, whose life and ministry are spent interceding with and for them.  Moreover, this communion in prayer will definitely inspire and bring about immense graces to the clergy participating in this spiritual gathering.

Our Cardinal-Archbishop has also directed the cancellation of afternoon and evening Masses in all parish churches, chapels, oratories and places of worship in offices and other institutions in the archdiocese during NCC-2.  Holy Masses will only be held in the mornings from January 25-29, 2010.

Parish priests and lay liturgical ministers are likewise reminded that “Liturgy of the Word with Communion Service” is not permitted during these days because (1) it is not Sunday, and (2) such a service is not allowed in places where Mass was already celebrated on the same day (Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest, Chapter 2, 21).

The faithful are asked to appreciate these directives for the following reasons:

1. SOLIDARITY. During NCC-2 most places outside Manila will not have any Mass since their bishops and priests will be coming over.  Their communities offer this sacrifice for the sake of their clergy.
2. FRATERNITY. This gesture manifests the oneness of priests of the Archdiocese of Manila with the other clergy who left their pastoral duties for the sake of this important gathering.  It will also provide more opportunities for interaction and learning-exchange among priests ministering in different context.
3. AVAILABILITY. NCC-2 is not a convention or meeting.  It is primarily a retreat, a spiritual convocation aimed to cultivate the interior life of the ordained.  When the priest has no Mass schedule to consider during these days, he makes himself more available to God and the assembly.  He has more time to pray, reflect and participate.
4. GRATITUDE. As the lay faithful are gathered in prayer before the Eucharistic Lord, they realized that their pastors are “earthen vessels of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6), human beings in need of rest, renewal and support.  The laity will also rediscover the gift of the ministerial priesthood.  In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “The centrality of Christ brings with it the correct appreciation of the ministerial priesthood, without which there would be neither the Eucharist, nor even the mission nor the Church herself.”  (Address, March 16, 2009) This appreciation leads to the community’s renewed gratitude to God for his priests.

Let the laity faithful unite with the paternal solicitude of our dear Cardinal Rosales: “We pray always for you, dear brother priests in the Archdiocese, because of your pastoral responsibilities in our Local Church, but also and especially because as priests, you not only pray for others, but the need to be prayed for is many times greater than what most people think of.” (Address to priests during Manila Clergy day, August 4, 2009)

May NCC-2 be a moment of renewal and grace for both clergy and laity, for the Philippine Church and for the entire country.

Let us pray that through the intercession of Mary, Mother of priests, and St. John Mary Vianney, patron of all priests, God will give holy priests to his Church who will radiate the love and truth of Jesus, the eternal High Priest.

For the Archbishop of Manila

Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon, Jr.
Chancellor