Bishop Raul B. Dael of the Diocese of Tandag, Philippines, delivered a stirring homily against corruption during the Mass celebrating the Marian Feast of the Schoenstatt community in Talisay City, Cebu.
“The succession of earthquakes that struck different parts of the country has shaken us as a nation,” Bishop Dael said. “But even more serious is the earthquake of corruption.”
He described corruption as “a system and a culture” that Filipinos have long tolerated, saying that every person is part of it “either by cooperation or by silence.”
“I think the Lord allowed us to be shaken as a nation,” he said, “because corruption has become a system, a culture that we have tolerated for the longest time.”
Drawing on the Scripture readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the bishop called on the faithful to emulate the persistence of the widow and the steadfastness of Moses in standing up for justice.
“We are called to speak up, to stand for the truth,” he said. “We should not stop engaging until the government pays attention to our cries.”
Bishop Dael emphasized that corruption must not be met with resignation but with courage and faith.
“We are called to act, to speak up, so that the grace of God can enter and penetrate through the cracks in government structures,” he said. “In the eyes of the world, cracks can be destructive, but in the eyes of faith, they can be entry points for God’s grace.”
He added that perhaps God is using these “cracks” as openings to renew systems and hearts.
“Maybe God wants to enter through our ways of governance, in the life of contractors, in government agencies. We are calling on the President and all government officials for integrity, accountability, honesty, and transparency,” Bishop Dael declared.
Marian Celebration and Milestone
The Mass also honored Mary, Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, a Marian devotion founded in 1914 by German priest Fr. Joseph Kentenich.
In the Philippines, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, based in Talisay City, tend the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, a replica of the original shrine in Vallendar, Germany.
This year’s Marian feast coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, a secular institute established by Fr. Kentenich in 1926.
As the sisters prepare for their Great Jubilee, Bishop Dael encouraged them and the faithful to embrace renewal through Mary’s guidance.
“They remind us of the Lord’s invitation to work for renewal,” he said. “Their guide, and our guide as well, is the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother.”
Hope Amid Challenges
Speaking to Radio Veritas Asia after the Mass, Bishop Dael reaffirmed his commitment to educating and informing the faithful about issues affecting the nation.
“As the shepherd of the Diocese of Tandag, I will continue to educate our people and keep them informed about matters of national interest,” he said.
Despite the gravity of current corruption scandals, he expressed optimism that truth and justice will prevail.
“I’m hopeful that something good will come out of this. The fact that cases are being brought to light and investigated gives me hope,” Bishop Dael shared.
Diocesan Events
In the Diocese of Tandag, the faithful held a solemn procession on October 25, 2025, to mark the conclusion of the Month of the Holy Rosary.
On October 31, all parishes will also join the nationwide observance of the National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance, as called for by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
(Malou Guanzon Apalisok is a freelancer based in the Philippines who contributes regularly to RVA)
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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