DOP CIRCULAR NO. 2013-054

22 May 2013

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, PAROCHIAL VICARS, RECTORS OF SHRINES, PARISH ADMINISTRATORS IN THE DIOCESE OF PARANAQUE

RE: “CERTIFICATE OF NO RECORD” AS A REQUIREMENT FOR BAPTISM OF PERSONS THREE YEARS OF AGE AND ABOVE

Reverend Monsignori and Fathers:

Canon 867 §1. Parents are obliged to take care that infants are baptized in the first few weeks; as soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it.

§2. An infant in danger of death is to be baptized without delay.

Even when the baptism of an infant is delayed, parents are exhorted to have their children baptized as soon as possible and to provide them with a Catholic upbringing. Pastors, however, are required to make sure that baptism is not repeated.

Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1272).

After consulting with the Vicars Forane and with the Clergy of the Diocese, we hereby decree that, in the cases of infants THREE YEARS OLD AND ABOVE, a CERTIFICATE OF NO RECORD from three parishes near the domicile of the child is to be submitted by parents together with the child’s birth certificate and their marriage contract (if applicable).

Please be guided accordingly,

MOST REV. JESSE E. MERCADO, D.D.

Bishop of Parañaque

Attested:

REV. FR. CARMELO O. ESTORES

Chancellor

DOP CIRCULAR NO. 2013-053

22 May 2013

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, PARISH ADMINISTRATORS, CHAPLAINS, AND RECTORS OF SHRINES, CONSECRATED MEN AND WOMEN, AND LAY FAITHFUL IN THE DIOCESE OF PARAÑAQUE

RE: WARNING ABOUT THE SO-CALLED “APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC CHURCH”

Reverend Monsignori and Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“God wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

We have received complaints and queries about the group that calls itself the “Apostolic Catholic Church”. Even though they claim to be “catholic”, they condemn the Roman Catholic Church while pretending to celebrate similar sacraments, even simulating the Holy Eucharist.

Please be informed and warned that the so-called “Apostolic Catholic Church” is NOT CATHOLIC, NOT APOSTOLIC and NOT A CHURCH, but is considered a SCHISMATIC CULT. The so-called “Apostolic Catholic Church” was founded in 1992 by Maria Virginia P. Leonzon (now deceased) and her son ex-seminarian John Florentine L. Teruel, who are falsely styled as “saint” and “patriarch” respectively. The so-called “visions” and “trances” of Leonzon were NOT AUTHENTIC. Since Teruel was NOT ORDAINED by a Roman Catholic Bishop, he is NOT to be considered a priest, much less a “pope”. Therefore, all “sacraments” and “blessings” that he pretends to administer are INVALID. Moreover, their “archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, subdeacons and deaconesses” are FAKE. The so-called sisters of the “Order of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit” are also FAKE.

We have the utmost respect and charity for every person who seeks the truth about God. We, therefore, pray that the members of the so-called “Apostolic Catholic Church” would truly heed the Holy Spirit and return to the folds of the Roman Catholic Church, in which the one Church of Christ subsists (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium on the Church, n. 8). In all gentleness, let us “bring the light of Christ of all, a light brightly visible on the countenance of the Church” which “is in Christ like a sacrament or as a sign and instrument of a very closely knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race” (ibid., n. 1).

REV. FR. CARMELO O. ESTORES

Chancellor

DOP CIRCULAR NO. 2013-052

21 May 2013

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, PAROCHIAL VICARS, RECTORS OF SHRINES, PARISH ADMINISTRATORS, COORDINATORS OF COMCARE

RE: BASIC FORMATION FOR VOLCATS Batch 5

Dear Fathers, Monsignori, Brothers and Sisters:

Peace! This is to formally inform you that the Commission, through the Catechetical Ministry of our Diocese is in the process of recruiting applicants for the 5th batch of the Basic Formation Training for Volunteer Catechists.

The program is a two-year training held every Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Diocesan Center, which will equip your future Catechists with the proper knowledge of our faith and help them hone their skills as teachers of Christian values.

If you have parishioners, male or female, who are 18 – 65 years old and would like to serve the parish as Catechists, you may send them to the Pastoral Department, Diocesan Center for Evangelization, every Monday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 n.n. until the last Thursday of June, 2013, for an initial interview.

The Day of Prayer and orientation is scheduled on Friday, July 5, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 n.n.

In order to ensure the capability and commitment of your applicant, may I suggest that proper screening and evaluation be done by Your Reverence. This aspect of the whole process should be the basis for granting a Letter of Recommendation which should be submitted during the initial interview.

Let us continue to work together in serving the Church.

Sincerely yours,

Rev. Fr. AUGUST PULIDO

Director – Catechetical Ministry

Attested by:

REV. FR. CARMELO O. ESTORES

Chancellor

DOP CIRCULAR NO. 2013-051

20 May 2013

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, PARISH ADMINISTRATORS, RECTORS, PAROCHIAL VICARS, CHAPLAINS, GUEST PRIESTS, PRIESTS ON LOAN AND RELIGIOUS PRIESTS IN THE DIOCESE OF PARAÑAQUE

RE: WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF PRIESTS

Reverend Monsignori and Fathers,

Peace be with you!

I am respectfully forwarding the Letter of His Eminence Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, on the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, which will be observed on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 7 June 2013.

His Eminence attached to his letter some suggestions for the Eucharistic Adoration that may be held on the day itself or on the vigil. We shall use this format during the Holy Hour of our Clergy Assembly on Thursday, 23 May 2013, at 09:00 a.m.

One with you in Jesus and Mary,

MOST REV. JESSE E. MERCADO, D.D.

Bishop of Parañaque

Attested by:

REV. FR. CARMELO O. ESTORES

Chancellor

Attached: Congregatio Pro Clericis, World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests