The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on Filipinos to observe Undas 2025 as a time of prayer, reflection, and remembrance, emphasizing the celebration as an affirmation of the universal call to holiness.
Bishop Renato P. Mayugba, chairman of the CBCP Office for the Causes of Saints, issued a circular reminding the faithful to honor their departed loved ones through prayers and Masses rather than secular or commercialized activities.
“The celebration of Undas is not only about remembering the dead, but also about renewing our connection to the Community of Saints,” Bishop Mayugba said.
He urged Catholics to offer Masses and prayers for the souls of the departed, especially those believed to be in purgatory.
The circular also reminded the public that Halloween is not a Catholic tradition and should not overshadow the sacred meaning of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. Instead, the faithful are encouraged to focus on holiness and to honor both the canonized saints and their own loved ones who lived virtuous lives.
In line with the broader guidance for Undas 2025, the CBCP also supports ongoing initiatives such as the “National Call to Prayer and Public Repentance,” which encourages Filipinos to wear white on Sundays and display white ribbons as signs of prayer for national renewal after recent calamities.
Bishop Mayugba also noted the Church’s continued efforts to promote sainthood causes in the Philippines, saying that honoring holy lives should inspire Filipinos to live out their faith in daily life.
The CBCP echoed Pope Francis’s message to recognize “the saints next door”—ordinary people who live with kindness, faith, and compassion.
The bishops likewise urged visitors to cemeteries to keep the surroundings clean and treat them as sacred grounds for prayer, not as “dumping grounds” for trash. The faithful were asked to make Undas a “prayerful, not wasteful” occasion.
