By Fr. Roy Cimagala WE are now in the season of Lent which is an ideal time for us to go through the process of repentance, renewal and conversion. Given the temper of the times, we should feel this need deeply. We cannot deny that as Pope Francis noted recently, the prevalent world culture today
March 7, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala SOMEONE asked me what my views are regarding the gender issue. I must admit that I have been quiet about this matter since I know it is a very delicate issue that can easily provoke unnecessary controversy and noise. As priest, I get to talk to all kinds of people—straight, gay,
March 6, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala This was a point strongly and repeatedly pounded on me and my batch during our pre-ordination seminar years ago. Only Christ should shine out in our ministry. We have to learn to pass unnoticed, avoiding grabbing the focus of public attention from the real light of the world. When we say
March 5, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala We have to be most wary of this particular predicament that, sad to say, is becoming more common these days. This is not about the usual and normal ageing and deterioration we can expect as we grow old after a life of very active work. This is about the aging and
March 3, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala We have to remind everyone that when we suffer, we should avoid suffering by our lonesome. That would make our suffering, whatever may be its cause, whether self-inflicted or caused by others, a useless and purely negative event. Our suffering can have tremendous meaning and positive effect on us if we
March 2, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THERE’S no doubt about it. We are meant to assume the identity of Christ, because he is the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity. We can only be as we ought to be when we assume Christ’s identity. That is to say, when Christ and us
February 29, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala THAT’S how priests, and others in similar position, should be. They, we—me included—have to be tough and strong because aside from bearing our own personal burdens, from contending with our own personal demons, we also have to bear the burdens of the others. It is no joke to serve like the
February 28, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala People have been asking me about how the homily in the Mass should be. I find it difficult to answer that question, knowing that behind that question are often critical observations people make, and that every priest has his own style, merits, and limits which should be respected. But what I
February 26, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That’s the title of some pop songs, the most notable of which was the one written by Dennis Lambert and performed by the 5th Dimension in 1973. It was a top hit with a catchy tune, though the lyrics definitely are not mainly religious in character. Rather it expresses angst over
February 25, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That’s right. The cross, given our human condition, is absolutely necessary in our life here on earth. We cannot even be human, much less, Christian, without the cross. Without the cross, we think that we can be absolutely on our own. Without the cross, the only possibility we have is to
February 24, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala IT’S love, of course. But the real one, not the fake ones that are proliferating around these days. It’s the love that comes from God, is a participation of God’s love for all of us, irrespective of who and how we are. It’s a love that goes all the way, without
February 22, 2020
By Fr. Roy Cimagala TO be realistic about the concrete conditions of our life here on earth, we need to know how to be tolerant of certain unavoidable evils without condoning them. The distinction may be difficult to make, but we simply have to learn it if we want to survive the drama of our
February 21, 2020