Jamaine Punzalan

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads a requiem Mass for the late Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral on April 22, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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20250422-mass for pope francis-manila cathedral-

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177509632424520250422-pope-francis-requiem-manila-MT18.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads a requiem Mass for the late Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral on April 22, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — In a striking address during the Chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula broke the silence on a growing crisis within the Church: the mental and emotional well-being of the clergy.</p><p>Speaking before hundreds of priests, the Cardinal shifted the focus from the traditional duties of the priesthood to the internal struggles that often go unseen.</p><p>&quot;Maraming mga pari ang dumadaan sa pagsubok ng kanilang kalusugan sa pag-iisip at damdamin,&quot; Advincula said. &quot;This is a concern we cannot ignore anymore, and we have to face it to resolve it.&quot;</p><p>The Chrism Mass is the traditional liturgy where holy oils are blessed for use in the sacraments throughout the year. During the service, Cardinal Advincula said that true holiness is often found in the courage to admit exhaustion.</p><p>&quot;Ang simula ng paghilom at paglaya ay pagkilala at pagtanggap na nahihirapan na tayo,&quot; the Cardinal said. &quot;At ang kabanalan ng pari ay hindi lang kapag matatag at magaling siya, kundi kung kaya niya ring aminin ang kahinaan at hangganan niya.&quot;</p><p>He warned that when a priest refuses to acknowledge his own &quot;heavy heart,&quot; the consequences ripple outward. </p><p>&quot;Kapag ang pari ay hindi marunong umamin sa sarili niyang bigat na pinagdadaanan, hindi lang naman siya ang nahihirapan; nabibigatan na rin ang kawan nang hindi niya man lang napapansin o sinasadya,&quot; he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RECOGNIZE, RECONNECT, RENEW </strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1857068805680316%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span></div><p>To address this silent struggle, Advincula shared a framework for healing based on three pillars.</p><p>First is to recognize. He urged priests to &quot;name it to tame it,&quot; noting that symptoms of distress often manifest as a routine-bound prayer life or a ministry that feels burdensome rather than life-giving.</p><p>Second is to reconnect. Emphasizing that isolation is the enemy of mental health, he reminded the clergy that the priesthood is fundamentally a life in communion.</p><p>&quot;Noong naordinahan tayo... para bang sinasabi nila sa atin, &#x27;Magmula ngayon, hindi ka mag-iisa... may mga karamay at katuwang ka. Nandito lang kami,&#x27;&quot; Advincula said. </p><p>And lastly, to renew. Advincula encouraged priests to find their identity not in their workload, but in their status as children of God. </p><p>&quot;Tayo ay mga pari, mga pari Niya, mga paring mahal Niya,&quot; he said. </p><p>The message resonated deeply with the faithful who packed the cathedral. For many, like Joman Manuel of the St. Peter’s Men Society, the Mass is a lifelong tradition of reflection.</p><p>“Taon-taon kasi ito ginagawa namin every Mahal na Araw… Siyempre bilang Kristiyano, bilang Katoliko, talagang ginagawa namin ito—napakahalaga nito para sa amin. Nagninilay kami,” he said.</p><p>Others, like JR Firmalan of the Divine Mercy Youth, saw the service as a vital moment of solidarity.</p><p>“Every year po kami uma-attend na magkakasama bilang isang parokya para suportahan at abangan ang aming parish priest dahil... dito nagaganap ang pag-renew ng kanilang priestly promises... Mahalaga itong Chrism Mass na ito dahil hindi lang ito bilang suporta sa pari, kundi kabilang din sa pinakamataas na antas ng selebrasyon ng aming pananampalataya,” Firmalan added.</p><p>The Cardinal, who is celebrating his 50th year of priesthood, by echoing the counsel of St. Paul to the elders at Ephesus, urging his brothers to care for themselves so they may better care for their flock. He ended with a plea for continued prayers, acknowledging the human frailty of those called to serve.</p><p>&quot;Umaasa kami sa mga panalangin ninyo upang mapabuti kaming mga pari ninyo habang kami ay naglilingkod sa inyo,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/4/2/pope-leo-lauds-cardinal-advincula-s-50-years-of-priesthood-0959">Pope Leo lauds Cardinal Advincula’s 50 years of priesthood</a></div><p>The Chrism Mass also served as a moment to honor this year’s jubilarians—priests celebrating significant milestones in their years of dedicated ministry.</p><p>Among the distinguished awardees were His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, marking 62 years in the priesthood, 52 years as a bishop, and 20 years as a cardinal. Joining him was Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, who was honored for his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination and 25th year of episcopal ministry.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/1/pnp-boosts-holy-week-security-with-inspections-of-churches-transport-hubs-1536">PNP boosts Holy Week security with inspection of churches, transport hubs</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/2/bus-terminals-shift-to-load-and-go-mode-amid-massive-holy-week-influx-0729">Bus terminals shift to ‘load and go’ mode amid massive Holy Week influx</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-beauty-fashion/2026/4/1/stay-home-for-holy-week-start-your-reset-in-stillness-2151">Staying home this Holy Week? Start your reset with sound and stillness.</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-KXWBxiiF80?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>In a striking address during the Chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral on Holy Thursday, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula broke the silence on a growing crisis within the Church: the mental and emotional well-being of the clergy.</p>

In a striking address during the Chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral on Holy Thursday, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula broke the silence on a growing crisis within the Church: the mental and emotional well-being of the clergy.

‘Name it to tame it’: Manila archbishop tackles clergy's mental well-being in Chrism Mass

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‘Name it to tame it’: Manila archbishop tackles clergy's mental well-being in Chrism Mass

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 02, 2026 10:26 AM PHT

|

Updated April 02, 2026 11:37 AM PHT

Read More:

mental health

Chrism Mass

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula

mental being

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