MANILA, July 1, 2013—A formal appeal from a bishop, calling on the faithful to come together on July 9 for a Holy Mass on the first day of RH Law oral arguments, is making the rounds on social media.
Talking about the need to “continue to defend the Gospel of Life”, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) Chairman-Bishop Gabriel Reyes, specifically invited his brother bishops, heads of family and life organizations, diocesan workers and the Episcopal Commission on the Lay Apostolate to be at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in M.H. del Pilar Street, Ermita, Manila for the celebration of the Eucharist at 9 a.m. on July 9.
In his letter, Bishop Reyes, who also heads the Diocese of Antipolo, said the mass is for the intention of asking the Lord “to help us in our campaign for the protection of life”, especially for the petitioners against R.A. 10354, who will be heading to the Supreme Court for the oral arguments after the mass.
In a separate communication, ECFL executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro recommended that the faithful start a novena to the Blessed Virgin on July 1, ending in time for the start of the RH Law debates on July 9.
For the intention of the oral arguments, Castro also encouraged Catholics to offer an extra rosary every day, meditating on Jesus’ first public miracle, when He changed water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
