The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines urged Filipino faithfuls to offer prayers and aid to victims of calamities that struck the Visayas and Bicol regions as the Christian world usher in and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
“Again, this is another very sad situation for many of our people who will be for sure in difficult circumstances as we usher in and celebrate the birth of our Savior. May we enjoin our Catholic faithful and all people of good will to offer our sincere prayers to the Lord to let these people, in his mysterious ways, feel his care and love, his mercy and compassion,” newly installed CBCP president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said.
In his pastoral message titled “On the Suffering that Typhoon Urduja Brought to our People,” the Davao Archbishop said that typhoon “Urduja” struck the Visayas and Bicol regions as many of us prepare for the Christmas holidays.
He also asked the entire Filipino people to pray that the typhoon “Vinta” which is forecast to hit Mindanao to change its destructive path and spare the country from another destruction and possible deaths.
“More than 40 people died, many injured and still missing while almost 13,000 families were in evacuation centers as we prepare for Christmas,” he said.
“May we enjoin our Catholic faithful and all people of good will to offer our sincere prayers to the Lord to let these people, in his mysterious ways, feel his care and love, his mercy and compassion. At the same time, we can be with the Lord by extending all we can – our help and assistance to these people,” Valles added.