The Church in the Philippines

The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, 2026.

Father Agustin Opalalic noted that the feast day highlights the communion of saints, a reality expressed in the Creed. This communion includes all faithful belonging to Christ and consists of the Church on earth, the Church in purgatory, and the Church in heaven. This spiritual union is founded in Jesus Christ.

The celebration also encompasses the canonized saints who receive veneration within the Church.

Bishop Roberto Gaa attributed the decrease in priestly and religious vocations to a decline in family prayer. Speaking at the Manila Cathedral on Oct. 31, 2026, the Bishop of Novaliches said that families must create a culture of prayer to help children listen to God and discern their callings. He noted that less frequent family prayer results in fewer discovered vocations and encouraged parents to establish steadfast prayer habits with children from an early age.

The Mass presided over by Gaa opened the 3rd National Vocations Month. Gaa serves as the chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Vocations. The gathering included seminarians, consecrated persons, and vocation directors from various dioceses.

Participants held a Walk for Vocations through Intramuros to promote awareness of religious and priestly life. National Vocations Month is observed every November.

Bishop Crispin Varquez of Tagbilaran urged Catholic families to pray the Rosary together and attend Sunday Mass to strengthen household bonds. During a homily on Oct. 31 at the patronal fiesta of Holy Rosary Parish in Antequera, Bohol, the bishop said excessive use of electronic devices by both parents and children is eroding family unity.

Varquez noted that family prayer is becoming less frequent because people spend more time on gadgets than on shared religious activities. He encouraged parents to set aside time to gather their children for prayer, stating that these practices help preserve love and unity within the home. The celebration also marked the conclusion of the Month of the Holy Rosary.

Archbishop Victor Bendico of Capiz issued a pastoral letter for All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, advising families to teach children to embrace holiness rather than glorify evil. He cautioned against Halloween activities that portray Satan or occult practices, noting that such celebrations can influence the values and habits of children and the community.

While acknowledging that many Halloween activities are innocent recreation, the archbishop warned that some celebrations may obscure the Christian meaning of the solemnity. He encouraged parishes, Catholic schools, and religious communities to organize a Parade of Saints instead. This allows children to portray holy men and women and share their stories.

Bendico stated that these celebrations should include prayer, catechesis, and family participation. He noted that the purpose of such events is not to replace one costume party with another, but to teach children that they are called to become saints.

Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, urged Church officials to prioritize collaboration over institutional competition to advance the Church's mission.

During the closing Mass of a three-day interministerial planning workshop on October 29, 2026, Garcera stated that genuine synodality requires a change in attitude. He said officials must move from working independently toward seeking the common good of the Church. He noted that collaboration should be measured by how different offices recognize each other's contributions and serve their communities.

The workshop, held at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila, was facilitated by Garcera and the CBCP Secretariat. It brought together executive secretaries and sectoral representatives from various episcopal commissions and committees.

Fr. Jessie Martirizar has been elected provincial superior of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus St. Matthew Province. He will serve a four-year term ending in 2030, succeeding Fr. Orville Cajigal, who served in the role for eight years.

The election took place during the congregation’s Fourth Provincial Chapter, held from Oct. 13 to Oct. 19 at the Oasis of Prayer and Rogationist College in Silang, Cavite. The assembly included 62 capitulars. During the closing Mass, Martirizar, a former provincial councilor, made his profession of faith and oath of fidelity.

The chapter also elected several members to the provincial council. Fr. Jose Ariel Tecson was chosen as provincial vicar and councilor for religious life, formation, and vocation ministry. Fr. Ulrich Gacayan will oversee the Rogate sector, Bro. Christian Allan De Sagun will manage charity and mission, and Fr. Henry Ramos will lead ministry for the laity, parishes, and youth. Fr. Al John Provido was elected provincial treasurer.

The St. Matthew Province manages Rogationist communities and ministries in the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New.

The Vatican has elevated San Bartolome Parish in Malabon City to the status of a minor basilica. The Diocese of Kalookan announced the designation on Thursday, Oct. 29, following a decree from the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

The decree, dated Sept. 29, 2026, granted the petition for the title after it received an endorsement from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. This makes San Bartolome the first minor basilica in the Diocese of Kalookan.

Founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1614, the parish is the oldest church in the diocese. The current structure was completed in 1813, though the building has faced historical damage from natural calamities and the Philippine Revolution in 1898.

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos called for development projects to include the voices of indigenous communities facing displacement. Speaking at the ninth Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan at the University of the Philippines Diliman on October 24, Alminaza argued that progress is not genuine if those whose homes and livelihoods are affected have little influence over decisions regarding their land.

Alminaza, who also serves as president of Caritas Philippines, cited the Ati community in Boracay and other indigenous groups as examples of people facing displacement due to the expansion of hotels and businesses. He noted that bishops from Western Visayas recently visited these communities to hear their concerns.

During his acceptance speech, Alminaza rejected the idea that environmental advocates oppose progress. He stated that communities dependent on natural resources must participate in and lead decisions that affect their future. He used the Visayan term "Hayuma," meaning to repair fishing nets, to describe the need for communities to work together to defend rights and repair damage caused by displacement.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle told Catholics to prioritize personal relationships over technology when sharing their faith during a Mass for the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Legazpi on Oct. 28, 2026. Speaking at St. Gregory the Great Cathedral Parish in Legazpi City, Tagle, the pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, said that technology and social media can support missionary work but cannot replace personal testimony.

Tagle stated that evangelization requires human witnesses who have personally encountered Jesus. He noted that gadgets cannot lead people to faith and that only people can serve as missionaries. He encouraged the faithful to share what they have seen, heard, and touched personally and communally regarding Jesus.

The cardinal also urged baptized Catholics to use their specific talents to serve others and strengthen their communities. He identified ordinary skills, such as singing, reading, and cooking, as tools for evangelization when used to serve orphans, the elderly, and persons deprived of liberty. Tagle warned that jealousy and competition can prevent people from using these gifts for the common good.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan called on the Philippine government to defend maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea through firm but peaceful means. In a pastoral statement issued Sunday, Oct. 25, Villegas asked the government to protect what is lawfully the people's without provoking hostilities.

The archbishop stated the dispute involves justice, environmental care, and the welfare of poor communities. He noted that many families in Pangasinan and the dioceses of Iba and Alaminos depend on these waters for food and income. Villegas reported that Filipino fishermen in small boats, or bancas, face harassment from Chinese vessels, which makes their work difficult or impossible.

Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio called on the Church, correctional workers, and families to support prisoners in rebuilding their lives during his message for Prison Awareness Sunday on Oct. 25.

Florencio, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care, stated that while individuals may lose their liberty, they do not lose the dignity given by God. He urged correctional institutions to function as centers for rehabilitation and renewal to help inmates prepare for reintegration into society.

The bishop thanked prison chaplains, volunteers, and correctional personnel for their roles in providing spiritual guidance and ensuring humane treatment. He also asked Catholics to offer comfort to victims of crime and reminded those in custody that their past mistakes do not erase their worth or their opportunity to start over.