By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. “Divorced Catholics who remarry, as well as their children, deserve better treatment from the church.” This was heard from Pope Francis himself as he warned pastors against treating those couples as though they were excommunicated. It all goes back to certain practices: Catholic teaching considers divorced Catholics who remarry as […]
By Father Fred Vergara I had a few experiences of exorcisms or deliverance ministry. In the Philippines, I participated in an exorcism rite in one barrio in Pangasinan. An extended family built their house on a former abortion clinic and they would hear infants crying by the wall. After the exorcism, we conducted a requiem […]
By Jannelle So ‘What would you do if God gave you a second chance?’ This is the question Filipino American author Karen Henson Jones posts in her memoir, “Heart of Miracles,” chronicling her near-death experience and her struggles as she journeyed back to life. Karen has a heart condition called Long QT Syndrome, a type […]
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Religious practices for the Lenten season, ushered in by February’s Ash Wednesday strongly remind us of our home-grown observances. Aren’t those celebrations so called ‘cool,’ by the very young generation? Young adults have been heard to call the same rites ‘awesome.’ For many of us who witnessed celebrations long past […]
By Loudette Avelino When I learned that Edward Cardinal Egan had died, I felt a sense of loss. I wanted to give him the respect and set him off to everlasting life by participating in his March 9 funeral mass. That was the only way I knew how to honor the man I never met, […]
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. In the current quest for peace and goodwill the world over, the role of Pope Francis has been pivotal. It gladdens many a heart to learn that the Philippine visit has been enshrined among Filipinos who went home to help welcome the pontiff nicknamed ‘Lolo Kiko.’ It might not seem […]
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. This writer has received queries from Australia and Indonesia surprisingly from friends she had known as ‘vibrant Catholics’ years ago, but who admitted they are no longer church goers. Still, they are hungry for information on Pope Francis and curious about the intent of his visit to the Philippines. Here […]
By Cristina DC Pastor The year was 2003. Quentin ‘Kentz’ Cavite was then a religious seminarian in Rome, and Pope Francis was still Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. Their paths crossed when Kentz was asked by his superior to pick up an Argentinian bishop from the airport. “For me that was only an ordinary […]
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Dateline Manila. With but a few days shortly after my homeland arrival had taken place, during the last days of November 2014, queries arose: “Aren’t you fortunate that you will be covering Pope Francis’s visit?” How I wish I could have answered positively in line with their caring views! Another […]