A Vatican official in the Philippines has encouraged families to continue upholding the Holy Family as a model to strengthen familial relationships.
Archbishop Charles John Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, says it is essential for families facing challenges in the country to look to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, who exemplify holiness as a family.
The nuncio praised Filipinos for their strong family values, emphasizing the need to nurture them for future generations.
“We follow the beautiful example of Joseph and Mary when it comes to family life. For Filipinos, family is of utmost importance. We must protect, strengthen, and defend family life,” Archbishop Brown stated.
During the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 19 at Saint Joseph Shrine in Quezon City, Diocese of Cubao, Brown sought Saint Joseph’s intercession to help families remain steadfast.
“I pray to Saint Joseph for our families, hoping they remain united and intact, filled with love and forgiveness for one another,” he added.
The Catholic Church in the Philippines continues to oppose the proposed divorce law, which was passed by the House of Representatives in May 2024 with 131 lawmakers voting in favor and 109 against.
Various pro-life groups in the country strongly urge legislators to reject divorce and instead strengthen existing laws addressing domestic violence, ensuring that violators are held accountable.
Meanwhile, Fr. Gilberto Fortunato II Dumlao, rector and parish priest of St. Joseph Shrine, shared that their parish is dedicated to deepening devotion to Saint Joseph, especially as they commemorate the 25th anniversary of the shrine with the theme "Silver of Hope."
Every 19th of the month, the parish dedicates the day to the devotion of Saint Joseph, the protector of families.
“Every 19th of the month, we honor Saint Joseph to further spread awareness of his role in our faith—as a father, as a protector of families, of Quezon City, and most of all, as a silent servant of our families,” Dumlao shared with Radio Veritas.
In addition to Dumlao, who assisted the nuncio in celebrating the Eucharist, priests from various communities, along with Parochial Vicar Fr. Victor Angelo Parlan, also joined in the solemn celebration.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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