Bishops call for aid, prayers for lumads

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is appealing for financial aid and prayers for the indigenous people (IP) throughout the country as it urged all parish churches to have second collection in all masses during the second Sunday of October.

In a statement, the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (Ecip) asked for financial aid as they continually give their service for indigent Filipinos.

Ecip was created in 1975 by the bishops to respond to the plight of the Filipino IPs.

“The agency continues to work for IPs in their efforts to secure justice for themselves, protect their ancestral domains and preserve their cultural heritage,” the statement read.

With the theme “Evangelization and Inculturation,” the IP Sunday celebration is about “relating Gospel to the situation of our indigenous brethren, respectful of their cultural practices.”

In 1978, the CBCP declared every second Sunday of October as Indigenous Peoples Sunday (also known before as Tribal Filipino Sunday).

This year’s celebration focuses on individual’s faith in relation with the faith of the indigenous brothers and sisters.

“It is our faith that gives meaning to our actions,” it added.