Tagle calls for day of prayer, fasting for typhoon victims

Photo: Roy Lagarde/CBCP Media

MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called for a day of prayer and fasting in the Archdiocese of Manila in solidarity with typhoon victims.

In a letter addressed to the clergy, religious and faithful in the archdiocese, Tagle urged everyone to spend the whole day of Saturday, November 16 in penance, recollection and fasting.

Called a “Day of LAMENT and HOPE: Solidarity in Prayer” (Panaghoy at Pag-asa: Damayan sa Panalangin), the day of prayer is an expression of communion and solidarity with fellow Filipinos “who are suffering, grieving and confused because of the successive calamities that afflicted the country.”

Tagle will lead a prayer service and Holy Hour at 8 p.m. at the San Fernando de Dilao Parish church, Paco, Manila, the temporary official church of the Archdiocese of Manila. 

  

In a separate message released earlier, Tagle expressed his solidarity with the typhoon victims even as he encouraged everyone to show concern and console the suffering.

“We are one with our suffering brothers and sisters. You are not alone and will never be alone,” Tagle assured victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

On November 10, two days after Yolanda struck Eastern and Western Visayas, Tagle called on the clergy to conduct a special collection to aid typhoon victims.

He also called for mobilization and coordination of efforts among parochial schools, religious communities in helping those affected by the calamity.

The cardinal said that in times of disaster, one should think less of oneself and more of others.

“It is a time to console and embrace our neighbors. It is a time to show a love that is stronger than an earthquake or a typhoon. With this love, human lives would be restored and our nation rebuilt,” Tagle said.