A man took his own life within the premises of San Francisco de Asis Parish Church in Naga City, nearly 400 kilometers southeast of Manila, on June 29, leading to the temporary closure of the church.
In a statement released on July 1, the Archdiocese of Caceres, under which the parish falls, announced: “In line with Canons 1211–1212 of the Code of Canon Law and the liturgical directives for the reparation of a sacred space, the Parish Church of San Francisco de Asis will remain closed until July 2, 2025, to allow for a period of prayerful mourning and reparation. During this time, public liturgical celebrations will be suspended. The Rite of Reparation and Healing will be held on the evening of July 2, 2025, to restore the church’s sacred character and offer communal healing.”
The Archdiocese is providing services from licensed psychologists and trained pastoral counselors to the family of the deceased, as well as to parishioners, clergy, and parish staff and volunteers who witnessed or were affected by the incident.
The Archdiocese expressed “deep sorrow over the tragic death” and offered prayers for the deceased: “We pray for the eternal repose of the soul of the deceased. We pray that deep psychological suffering will not lead to hopelessness. Let us also give the deceased’s family and loved ones the privacy they need at this difficult time. We ask for prudence and sobriety, especially on social media.”
The Archdiocese also urged anyone experiencing distress to seek help from a priest, a counselor, or a trusted friend. “We are here for you,” the statement assured.
The Archdiocese of Caceres is home to the Peñafrancia Festival, the largest annual Marian celebration in Asia, whichculminates on the third Sunday of September.
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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