IFI’s Obispo Maximo Timbang visits Eastern Canada

IFI’s Obispo Maximo Timbang visits Eastern Canada

To speak on current Philippine issues

BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF THE MIND. With this theme of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente’s 117th Proclamation Anniversary, the Parish of the Holy Child, Greater Toronto Area invites everyone to a PONTIFICAL MASS ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 10AM at the ALL SAINTS KINGSWAY ANGLICAN CHURCH on 2850 Bloor St West, Toronto (steps East of the TTC Royal York Station).

This Mass is part of the Official Pastoral Visit of the IFI Supreme Bishop Most Rev. Rhee Timbang to Eastern Canada, and of the continuing celebration of their 117th anniversary lasting throughout the month of August and spilling over through the following months until the next year’s Proclamation Anniversary.

In his pastoral message, Bishop Timbang said: “We need the renewing of mind for us to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation; and to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”
The Mass will be followed by a community fellowship. An open forum on the Philippine situation co-sponsored by BAYAN Canada will also be held. The Obispo Maximo is known for his critical stance on the current state of affairs in the Philippines especially with regard to the vilification and red tagging campaign against the churches and human rights defenders by the Duterte administration. Earlier this year, Bishop Timbang issued a statement condemning the attacks on lawyers and churchpeople saying:

“We want President Duterte to know that we are furious with this red-tagging and communist scare because it serves as a green light for the neutralization and termination of all those ridiculously marked and identified wrongly by his state security forces and their rogue elements as terrorists. We are angry because labeling endangers the lives of our clergy and partners; we are aghast because they are simply playing (with) the lives of these innocent persons.”

The IFI or Philippine Independent Church, born of the Filipino struggle against colonialism, is a national church in the Philippines and includes 10 million members. It carries on the patriotic and revolutionary tradition of its first Supreme Bishop Gregorio Aglipay, Isabelo de los Reyes and other heroes of the Filipino people’s struggle for independence

(PRESS RELEASE)