The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has released a prayer for the 2022 national and local elections to be recited in select Sunday Masses.
PRAYER FOR THE 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has released the following prayer for the 2022 elections. pic.twitter.com/WOJEOYy676
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) November 29, 2021
“[We] enjoin all parishes, shrines, and chapels in the country to pray the Prayer for 2022 Elections prepared by Archbishop Socrates Villegas,” CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles said in a circular released on Nov. 25.
Valles said the prayer focused on the 16 values enshrined in the preamble of the 1987 Constitution.
These values include faith in Almighty God, respect for life, order, work, concern for the family and future generations, love, freedom, peace, truth, justice, unity, equality, respect for law and Government, patriotism, promotion of the common good, and concern for the environment.
The Prayer for the 2022 Elections will be recited every first and third Sunday of the month after the post-communion prayer of the Mass, according to the recommendation of the CBCP Commission on Liturgy.
The second and fourth Sundays of the month will be dedicated to prayers for the Synod on Synodality.
The Philippine Church has organized several initiatives in preparation for the May 9, 2022 elections.
Catholic churches across the country simultaneously tolled their bells in May to encourage Filipinos to exercise their right and duty to vote.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting held novena Masses over nine months for every voter to choose the right leaders for the country and an “orderly, peaceful, honest, and clean” elections.
The Archdiocese of Manila Commission on Social Communication launched the “One Godly Vote” campaign to “educate voters and evangelize the political system.”
Caritas Philippines launched “Halalang Marangal 2022,” an alliance of more than 20 church and civic groups committed to “clean, accurate, responsible, and transparent” elections.
More than 65.5 million voters are expected to participate in the 2022 national and local elections, according to the Commission on Elections. Ma. Alena O. Castillo with reports from Allyssa Mae C. Cruz
