Baguio: An estimated 4,000 members of the Catholic Church in this city and Benguet province are continuously invoking the intercession of God to address the corruption problem, which is currently shaking the nation.
According to Philippines News Agency, a Holy Mass against corruption was held at the Baguio Cathedral. In his homily, Diocese of Baguio and Benguet Bishop Rafael Cruz said, "We are celebrating the holy sacrifice of the Mass, which is the highest prayer. We are praying for the corrupt, the thief, the greedy, those who only care for themselves, for their minds to be enlightened by God and realize their wrongdoings, their greed, corruption, and repent for their actions."
The Dioceses of Baguio and Benguet organized the prayer march and mass, which were attended by students, teachers, and non-teaching staff of several Catholic church-run Saint Louis University campuses in the province, including the Saint Louis hospital of the Sacred Heart and church volunteers and organizations to express their indignation over the corruption issues involving government officials and employees, as well as private contractors.
The bishop emphasized that prayer is the highest form of sacrifice that each faithful can extend to the country and those responsible for the wrongdoings. "We will never forget the wrongdoings which have led to more sufferings to poor Filipinos, but we want those engaged in illegal activities to realize that they have done wrong and will repent for their sins," he said in his homily.
The participants started the event with a march from the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center and onwards to Harrison Road and Session Road, then converged at the Baguio Cathedral for the Holy Mass. The participants recited the Holy Rosary while walking.
Father Gilbert Sales, Saint Louis University (SLU) president, noted the significance of the prayer rally against corruption, especially for the young people who will choose and elect the next generation of officials. "I hope they will be able to really think, elect who the best government officials will be, legislators who will really fight for the resources of the country that will go to the poor beneficiaries of our country," he said on the sidelines of the prayer march while waiting for the Holy Mass.
He mentioned that he suspended classes at the SLU to allow the students to join the activities and express their indignation over the corruption. "There is hope and I think the hope is our young people who are all amassed today in this Cathedral, they are our hope," he said.
Aside from college and high school students of SLU main, students from Saint Louis Philex, Saint Louis Aurora Hill, Saint Louis Pacdal, Saint Louis Sablan, Saint Louis Laboratory School, seminary schools in Baguio, different congregations, the Knights of Columbus, and lay leaders also joined the march that took more than two hours.
