Bishops to lead Mass at hostage-taking site

BISHOPS Deogracias Iniguez of Kalookan and Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao will concelebrate Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila at Quirino Grandstand on Tuesday, Aug. 31, to offer prayers for victims of the recent hostage-taking there.

Church-run Radio Veritas 846 invited Catholics to the Mass it is co-organizing with the Department of Tourism, Manila city government, tour and travel industry members and the Archdiocese of Manila.

The radio station confirmed on Monday that Father Thaddeus Shang, a Catholic priest from mainland China, will concelebrate the Mass.

Father Anton Pascual, Radio Veritas president said Bishop Iniguez, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Public Affairs Committee, CBCP treasurer Bishop Ongtioco and Bishop Pabillo, chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA) will pray for the eight Hong Kong Chinese killed and others hurt when a disgruntled policeman demanding reinstatement in the force seized their tourist bus and held them hostage.

The hostage-taker was also killed at the end of the 11-hour ordeal.

“It’s so sad that this happened to us, but we need to unite in this situation, we need to pray ardently,” Father Pascual said.

Report from ucanews.com