Diocese of Catarman Pastoral Secretariat Office

15/12/2025

December 14, 2025- Pastoral and Synodal Orientation at St. Roche Parish, San Roque Northern Samar through the Office of the Pastoral Secretariat headed by Fr. Eduardo E. Dorico, Pastoral Director; and Sis. Karen D. Gajutos, Pastoral Secretariat Executive Secretary and Diocesan Synod Lay Contact Person.

Fr. Pio Aquiatan Jr. and Fr. Zandro Gorgonia initiated said gathering in coordination with the Parish Pastoral Council, in time for their pre-Christmas party "Pasko sa Parokya 2025".

Members, old and young from the parish and outside Poblacion Barangays gather as one in the Spirit of synodality and stewardship as they share their time, talent and resources for this important gathering.

Sis Karen shared the Vision, Mission and Goals of the Diocese and the Bishops who administered and currently shepherding the Diocese. She also presented the Pre-Synodal Journey of San Roque and the Diocese, as well as the briefer of the 2025-2028 Synodal Implementation Roadmap.

Fr. Dorico explained the Ten (10) Pastoral Priorities of the Diocese, and the functions, roles and responsibilities of the Parish Pastoral Council and other pastoral commissions. He also briefed the faithful about the current mission of the Diocese on the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC)-- "One Barangay, One BEC". Further, he enlightened them about the consultative function of the PPC.

In closing, Fr. Aquiatan thanked the Pastoral Office for providing such valuable inputs as these are useful as they officially take a step forward for their pastoral and synodal journey in the parish and Barangay levels.

Synod.va Synod Philippines Caritas Philippines

11/12/2025

Remembering you on this special day our dear Bishop Emeritus, the late Most Rev. Angel T. Hobayan, the first residential Bishop of the Diocese of Catarman
(December 11, 1929- March 11, 2023)

08/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BVjdMqdAZ/

Today we celebrate one of the Church’s most beautiful truths
that Mary, by a singular grace from God, was preserved from original sin from the very first moment of her existence.

Not because she was divine, but because God prepared her perfectly to bear His Son.

The Immaculate Conception reminds us that grace is always God’s initiative.
He enters our story first.
He prepares, He heals, He restores, and He makes all things new.

As we honor our Immaculate Mother, may we open our hearts to the same grace that shaped hers.
Mary was created spotless so that Christ could come to us.
May her intercession lead us closer to her Son, who is our hope, our peace, and our salvation. 💙🙏

08/12/2025

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ANO NGA BA ANG IMMACULATE CONCEPTION?

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Malinis na Paglilihi ng Pinagpalang Birhen Maria

✅Ito ay ang kalinis-linisang paglilihi sa Mahal na Birheng Maria ng kanyang inang si Santa Ana.

✴️Ibig sabihin, sa sinapupunan pa lang ni Santa Ana ang Mahal na Birheng Maria ay WALA NANG BAHID NG KASALANAN.

✴️Ang "original sin" ay isang konsepto sa teolohiya ng Kristiyanismo na tumutukoy sa kasalanan na nagawa ni Adan at Eva sa Eden. Ayon sa Genesis 3, ang unang mga tao ay kumain ng prutas mula sa punong nagbibigay ng kaalaman ng mabuti at masama, na ipinagbabawal ng Diyos. Ang paglabag na ito sa utos ng Diyos ay nagresulta sa pagkakapoot ng Diyos at sa pagkakaroon ng kasalanan sa sangkatauhan.

🇻🇦Mga Taga-Roma 5:12

📌Ang kasalanan
📍ay pumasok sa sanlibutan
👉sa pamamagitan ng isang tao,
📍at ang kamatayan
👉ay pumasok sa pamamagitan ng kasalanan.
🔹Dahil dito, lumaganap ang kamatayan sa lahat ng tao dahil ang lahat ay nagkasala.

🤔Bakit walang bahid ng kasalanan ang Mahal na Birheng Maria simula nang siya ay ipinaglihi pa lang ng kanyang inang si Santa Ana❓

✴️Alam natin na ang Panginoong Jesus,
✔️Diyos na totoo
✔️ang SALITA na nagkatawang tao
✔️ang bugtong na Anak ng Diyos,
📌ay isang Banal
🙅at walang kahit anong kasalanan
👉ay isinilang sa sanlibutan.

📖Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 491:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.

✴️In short, niligtas muna ng Diyos ang Mahal na Birheng Maria sa kasalanan. Kaya sa paglilihi pa lamang ni Santa Ana kay Maria, malinis na siya.
Wala nang bahid ng kasalanan.

IS THERE ANYTHING IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD❓

🇻🇦Lucas 1:37
Sapagkat walang imposible sa Diyos.”

✴️Kaya nga napa-awit sa galak noon ang Mahal na Birheng Maria

🇻🇦Lucas 1:46-49

At sinabi ni Maria,
“Ang puso ko'y nagpupuri sa Panginoon,
at ang aking espiritu'y nagagalak sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas,
sapagkat nilingap niya akong kanyang abang alipin!

📌Mula ngayon,
📍ang lahat ng tao'y tatawagin akong pinagpala;

🔹dahil sa mga 👉dakilang bagay👈
🔹na ginawa 👉sa akin👈

📌ng Makapangyarihan.
Banal ang kanyang pangalan!

🔰BIBLICAL NA BASEHAN

▪️1 CORINTHIANS 1:24
(New Jerusalem Bible)
“ but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a
✝️CHRIST
who is both the
👉POWER OF GOD and the
👉WISDOM OF GOD.”

▪️WISDOM 1:4
(New Jerusalem Bible)
🔰“ wisdom
❌will never enter the soul of a wrong-doer,
❌nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin;”

▪️WISDOM 1:4
(Douay-Rheims Bible)
🔰“ For wisdom
❌will not enter into a malicious soul,
❌nor dwell in a body subject to sins.”

▪️MATTHEW 7:18
(New American Bible)
✅“A good tree
❌cannot bear bad fruit,
📍nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.”

▪️LUKE 6:43
(New American Bible)
✅“A good tree
❌does not bear rotten fruit,
📍nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.”

▪️JOB 14:4
(New Jerusalem Bible)
📌“But will anyone produce the pure FROM what is impure?
❌No one can!”

▪️SIRACH 34:4
(New American Bible)
📌“ Can the unclean produce the clean?
📌can the liar ever speak the truth?

✴️Yamang ang Mahal na Birhen
📌ay tinawag ng Anghel Gabiel na
👉FULL of GRACE👈 (Luke 1:28),
✅ibig sabihin, NAG-UUMAPAW sa kanya ang GRASYA ng DIOS at WALA nang PUWANG ang KASALANAN sa kanya.

▪️EPHESIANS 2:8
(New International Version)
📌For it is by 👉grace 👈
🫵you have been 👉saved,👈
✅through faith—
❌and this is not from yourselves,
✅it is the gift of God—

⚠️Kung duda pa rin at hindi mo kayang paniwalaaan ang Immaculate Conception,
para mo na ring sinabi na ang Panginoong Jesus
ay mula sa isang makasalanan!

‼️Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na ito ay isang pahayag ng pamumusong (BLASPHEMY)‼️

⚜️Nawa mas lalong naging malinaw sa atin ang Immaculate Conception ♥️🙏🏻

08/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/176kxqvz8Q/

07/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/100066660040063/posts/1193688352863155/

December 8 | Solemnity of the Immacualte Concepcion of the Blessed Virgin

Did you know? The single most common misconception is that the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Jesus by the Virgin Mary. It does not. It refers to the unique and singular conception of Mary herself in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, free from the stain of original sin.

Some people mistakenly interpret the word "immaculate" as referring to Jesus's virgin birth. However, "immaculate" means "without stain," referring to Mary's preservation from original sin, not to the mechanics of her conception.

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!

07/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/100064527860930/posts/1301141882046728/?app=fbl

Mga nagatanging intensyon para sa Kapistahan ng Inmaculada Concepcion. 🙏🙌

07/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/100044891899137/posts/1397837321722651/

REMINDER: TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF GRACE AND OBLIGATION

We have two consecutive days of obligation.
Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Advent – a call to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
Monday: Feast of the Immaculate Conception – honoring Mary, full of grace from the moment of her conception.

Let us be faithful and attend Mass on both days.

04/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/100069952960305/posts/1154650026876752/?app=fbl

PASTORAL MESSAGE FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
Most Rev. Nolly C. Buco, D.D. | Bishop of Catarman

As we begin Advent, Bishop Nolly reminds us of the hope and joy that come with preparing for the birth of Jesus. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we are called to renew our trust in God’s promise of salvation.

The Bishop invites us to walk together in the spirit of synodality, deepening our communion and mission as one Church.

May our reflection on the manger inspire us with Christ’s love, compassion, and mercy.
And may this Christmas season bring grace, peace, and joy to all families in the Diocese.

04/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/100081193430175/posts/870774905638949/?app=fbl

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza, DD
Chairman, CBCP - Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice & Peace (ECSA-JP)
President, Caritas Philippines

Today, as I begin my service as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace and President of Caritas Philippines, I do so with deep humility and a grateful heart.

I inherit not only a mandate but a sacred lineage of prophetic shepherds - Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, Bishop Antonio Fortich, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Archbishop Rolando Tirona, and Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo. Their courage, communion, and steadfast love for the poor now guide the steps I must take with our people.

Yesterday, our nation witnessed peaceful yet formidable citizen mobilizations across the Philippines, as Filipinos stood together for truth, accountability, and moral leadership.

And in God’s own timing, a double rainbow arched above us — a biblical sign of covenant and fidelity (Genesis 9:12–17). This was more than a natural phenomenon; it was God’s gentle assurance that even in storms of injustice, corruption, and uncertainty, hope remains possible, and new beginnings are real.

This grace-filled assurance echoes what we experienced in the recent Asian Synodal gatherings in Bangkok, Thailand and Penang, Malaysia. There, Cardinal Tagle called us to be Renewed Pilgrims of Hope who chose the way of the Magi rather than the way of Herod (cf. Mt 2:12) — to take the courageous, creative, and compassionate path in our mission as Church in Asia.

Asia is not merely the future of the Church. Asia is the now — the place where dialogue with cultures, religions, the poor, and creation is not optional, but essential. From the Great Pilgrimage of Hope in Malaysia, we returned to the Philippines with a renewed conviction that shepherding, stewardship, and servanthood are the pastoral heart of a synodal mission: walking at the pace of people’s wounds, listening before speaking, and becoming bridges of encounter across divides, not forgetting I continue to be a missionary disciple of the Good Shepherd, our Crucified but Risen Lord.

As I begin this service, I hold five priorities close to my heart:

1. To walk with the poor with renewed synodal commitment.
The poor are not objects of charity but the source of transformation — the very presence of Christ. Our social action must begin with listening, accompaniment, and empowerment.

2. To champion justice, peace, and democratic healing.
Our people yearn for truth, accountability, and leadership rooted in moral integrity. ECSA-JP and Caritas Philippines will stand firmly for human rights, transparency, and the dignity of every Filipino. We shall continue to “enlarge the space of our tent.” (Is 54:2)

3. To defend and protect our common home with urgency and courage.
The climate emergency, the destruction of ecosystems, and the suffering of vulnerable communities demand decisive action grounded in Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. Care for creation is care for the poor, and it is the heart of our shared mission.

4. To continue and deepen the legacy of my predecessors.
Bishop Labayen’s radical solidarity, Bishop Fortich’s moral courage, Archbishop Quevedo’s peace-building, Archbishop Ledesma’s ecological ethics, Archbishop Tirona’s institution-building, Bishop Pabillo’s prophetic clarity, and Bishop Bagaforo’s revitalized Alay Kapwa will remain the compass for our mission.

5. To lead a Synodal Church in Mission.
Following the example of Mary at the Annunciation and the disciples on the road to Emmaus, our call is to listen, rise, go forth, and proclaim:

“We have seen the Lord!” This is how we write new pages of Jesus’ story in Asia and in the Philippines - through witness, mercy, spiritual depth, and collective mission.

Today, as the double rainbow reminds us of God’s covenant, I entrust this mission to Christ who lives among us.

May the Lord grant us courage to speak truth, compassion to heal wounds, and hope to build a future where justice and mercy prevail.

Sicut Christus Vivit — As Christ lives, may we walk as Christ the Risen Lord continues to walk alongside us. God bless our people. God bless our beloved Philippines.

(Sgd.) BISHOP GERARDO ALMINAZA, D.D.
Bishop, Diocese of San Carlos
Chairman, CBCP ECSA-JP
President, Caritas Philippines