Tagle urges faithful to pray and help those affected by TS ‘Mario’

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. Photo from Tagle’s official Facebook page.

MANILA — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and other Catholic prelates urged the faithful to pray and to help those who were affected by Tropical Storm “Mario” that battered so many provinces of the country, including Metro Manila on Friday.

“We are praying for the safety of those people in all the areas that were hit by the storm. We are asking the faithful to lend a helping hand to the people affected by TS Mario…

I just hope that the people always help each other not only during calamities,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Tagle said that the Church is always ready to help calamity victims, as he asked those who were affected by the storm to coordinate with their parishes, Caritas Manila and the Diocesan Social Action Centers for their areas.

For his part, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (CBCP-ECFL) chairman Bishop Gabriel Reyes advised the public to follow the authorities if they asked them to evacuate during heavy storms and other calamities.

“The people should always follow the warning from the authorities since they have the knowledge in evacuation efforts and they have studied the process as flooding always occurs during heavy rains in the Diocese of Antipolo which covers the province of Rizal and Marikina. If the local government orders the people to evacuate, the people should oblige to prevent any untoward incidents,” the Antipolo prelate added.

He assured that the Church is also there to support the needs of residents affected by flooding.

Imus Bishop Rey Evangelista also offered prayers for the safety of all those affected by typhoon Mario.

“We are praying that the people will be spared from trouble, continue to bless them and the communities to be safe. We are also praying that we will have a better weather in the days to come,” he said.