Ash Wednesday, marked by the administration of ashes on the forehead or head of the faithful, begins the solemn season of Lent. (In the Catholic liturgical calendar, Lent refers to the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday. Lent 2026 starts on Feb. 18, Ash Wednesday, and ends on April 2, Holy Thursday, before...
Author: Minerva Generalao (Minerva Generalao)
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What to know so far about the courtesy resignations of Marcos Cabinet members
When he called for members of his Cabinet on May 22 to each submit a courtesy resignation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said: “The people have spoken, and they expect results—not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act.” “It’s time to realign government with the people’s expectations,” the press release from the Presidential News...
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Pope Francis’ funeral is a simplified but still grand celebration of a pastor and disciple of Jesus
Till the end, Francis wished to keep to the simple style he had set for his papacy. On March 13, 2013, after his election as pope, he broke with tradition when he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica wearing a plain white cassock. He had chosen not to wear the traditional red ermine-trimmed...
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Why were Mary Magdalene and other women first to witness the Resurrection?
“I have seen the Lord.” Mary Magdalene made this announcement to the apostles after she saw, heard and spoke with the Risen Jesus. As told in the Gospel (John 20:11-17), this made her not only the very first witness of the resurrection but also its first apostle, or one sent to do a mission for...
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When the Pope and priests wear pink
“Gracia” was dismayed to see the parish priest wearing pink while celebrating Sunday Mass. She said a priest should be neutral and not openly declare himself a “kakampink” (literally, pro-pink), a supporter of then presidential candidate Leni Robredo. Pink was then the campaign color of choice of Robredo and her supporters. Was the parish priest a “kakampink”?...
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Marking Ash Wednesday and recalling Pope Francis’ call to ‘return to God with all our heart’
The Holy See Press Office announced on Feb. 28 that Pope Francis would not preside over the traditional celebration of the Ash Wednesday liturgy on Aventine Hill, which is to take place on March 5. The Pope has been confined for more than two weeks in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to receive treatment for bilateral pneumonia...
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The Sinulog is also a festival to recall Christianity’s birth in the Philippines
The Feast of the Santo Niño or the Holy Child Jesus falls yearly on the third Sunday of January. Though originally a simple religious feast, it has become one of the grandest and most colorful festivals now called the Sinulog. To celebrate this year’s festival, various activities were lined up by the Basilica Minore del...
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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!
It is the fourth time since 1900 that the Jewish festival Hanukkah is being celebrated during the Christmas season, which ends on the Feast of the Epiphany or the baptism of Jesus on Jan. 5. This year, Hanukkah began at sundown on Dec. 25 and will end on Jan. 2. (The date of the holiday...
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2023 confirmed as hottest year; warning up on worsening climate crisis
The global temperature in 2023 hit 1.45 ± 0.12 °C—the hottest year on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in its Jan. 12 news release. The years 2016 (which had a strong El Niño) and 2020 were previously classed as the warmest on record at 1.29 ±0.12°C and 1.27 ±0.12°C, respectively, above the...
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Hot new year!
While the traditional greeting is “Happy New Year,” this time it may need a significant addition in view of recent historic climate records. The greeting may well be: “Happy New Year, despite a hot or even hotter 2024.” June 2023 was the hottest June on record globally. July was also the hottest month. The following...