Church bombed during Christmas Mass


Photo from AsiaNews

A bomb exploded in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart in Mindanao, Philippines, during Mass on the morning of December 25. The blast blew out the chapel's roof and wounded 11 people. Authorities are still trying to identify those responsible for the attack, but police suspect it is the work of the Islamist group Abu Sayyaf, which allegedly is connected to al-Qaida and Indonesia-based militant group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Pray for those injured in this attack. Pray for the church members as they recover and rebuild from this tragic incident. Pray that Christians in the Philippines will demonstrate the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48).

To learn more about the opposition facing Christians in the Philippines, visit the Philippines Country Report.

  • Country Information

    Population
    116,434,200 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Tagalog (26), Bisaya/Binisaya (14.3), Ilocano (8), Cebuano (8), Ilonggo (7.9), Bikol/Bicol (6.5), Waray (3.8), Kapampangan (3), other (22.5)

    Religion (%)
    Christianity (85.3), Islam (6.4), Other (8.2)

    Leader
    President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2022)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law

    Statistics provided by CIA World Factbook.

  • Pray for the Philippines

    Pray for those in the various villages of Mindanao who have been victimized by rebel groups. May they not pursue any form of retaliation, acknowledging that vengeance belongs to God alone – the Righteous Judge. Instead, may these believers be granted His grace and strength to not only forgive the perpetrators but to also earnestly intercede for them. Let's join our Christian brothers and sisters by pray

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Philippines News

  • Christmas Celebrations Curtailed After Bombing
    Officials are investigating the scene of the attack.
    The scene of the bombing.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Provincial Government of
    Lanao del Sur - Public Information Office

    On December 3rd, a Catholic mass held at Mindanao State University was rocked by a bomb that killed four participants and wounded 45 others. (More details about this incident are available here.) Following the bombing, which was carried out by ISIS-affiliated terrorists, the church deemed it necessary to scale back on their upcoming Christmas celebrations.

    Read more...

  • Persecution & Prayer Alert
    christmas surely vomc lg


    "O come, Thou 'Rod of Jesse' [the Messiah],
    Free Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
    From depths of hell Thy people save,
    And give them victory o'er the grave."
    ~ These lyrics, based on Isaiah 11:1-5, are from the hymn,
    "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
    Translated from Latin by John Mason Neale

    For many who receive the weekly "Persecution & Prayer Alerts," Christmastime brings to mind the imagery of joyful family celebrations, the enjoyment of peaceful carol music and, most importantly, the celebration of God's gift to humanity, as expressed through the birth of His Son Jesus. It's a season involving Christmas pageants, festive lights, gift-giving, and meaningful worship services of celebration. While the specific traditions may vary among individual families and churches, the primary purpose remains the same for all believers: to remember and celebrate the arrival of the "Promised Messiah."

    Read more...

  • Bomb Blasts Kill At Least Twenty
    Damage inside the Jolo Cathedral

    Coordinated bombs at a cathedral in Jolo, southern Philippines, killed at least 20 people and injured over 80 on January 27th. The first bomb went off during the church service; the second exploded outside the door, as people fled and troops responded to the disaster. Those killed included five soldiers. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the incident, and the Philippines military has been conducting raids in an effort to track down those responsible.

    Read more...

  • Hostages Escape Militant Captivity
    A beach in the Philippines

    After a full three months of fighting, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are now in control of all but a half-kilometre grid square of Marawi city. To date, the battle has claimed the lives of 573 militants, 128 soldiers and police, and at least 45 civilians. The progress has been slowed and complicated by the fact that the militants -- those who pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State -- have planted numerous improvised explosive devices and retained civilian captives as human shields.

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