https://www.facebook.com/1991198151126815/

Bishop Joseph Lagumbay CUC, Cagayan de Oro (2026)

24/08/2026

To Our Catholic and Christian Brothers and Sisters Who Do Not Understand Us

If you do not like our Church because we are different, okay lang.

You do not have to agree with us. You do not have to attend our liturgies, receive our sacraments, accept our theology, or understand why we do things differently. Maraming churches, denominations, priests, pastors, and ministers today. If our way of following Christ is not for you, you are free to worship somewhere else and ask your own ministers to serve you according to your faith and tradition.

Traditional and conservative Christian communities have always existed, and they will continue to exist. We are not asking you to abandon your Church.

But please understand why we exist.

Our Church was created to minister to people who have often been pushed to the margins of Christianity. Mga taong sinabihan na hindi sila welcome. Mga taong itinuring na less worthy. Mga taong ang pamilya, gender, identity, or circumstances became reasons for exclusion.

Some of our priests are married.

We ordain qualified people regardless of gender, including women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

We bless same-sex couples who seek God's blessing upon their commitment and their lives together.

I understand that these things may not fit your understanding of Christianity. You may sincerely believe that what we do is wrong. You have the right to your convictions.

But disagreement does not give us permission to dehumanize one another.

Please do not call us demons. Do not call us satanic. Do not call us wolves, heretics, or agents of evil simply because we understand certain questions differently from you.

Kung ayaw ninyo sa amin, okay lang.

But please, do not stop us from serving the people you refuse to serve.

Because those people are still God's people.

The person who has been rejected by their family.

The woman who has been told that she cannot serve God in ordained ministry simply because she is a woman.

The LGBTQ+ Christian who has spent years hearing that God hates them.

The married priest who has been told that having a family somehow makes his vocation to ministry less genuine.

The person who walked away from church because they were humiliated instead of welcomed.

The person who desperately wants to come back to God but is afraid that the Church will reject them again.

Sila rin ay mga anak ng Diyos.

And perhaps this is where we should remember Jesus.

Jesus was criticized for sitting with sinners. He ate with tax collectors. He welcomed people whom respectable society looked down upon. He spoke with outsiders. He touched the untouchable. He defended the condemned.

He served people whom religious society had already decided were unworthy.

And eventually, Jesus Himself was rejected, humiliated, beaten, and crucified.

Why?

Because sometimes, love makes you stand beside the people everyone else has already abandoned.

So if you cannot accept us, we understand.

Hindi namin hinihingi na sumang-ayon kayo sa lahat ng ginagawa namin.

You do not have to participate in our Church. You do not have to receive our sacraments. You do not have to believe as we believe.

But please, do not stand in the doorway and prevent us from welcoming those who are searching for God.

You have your churches.

You have your traditions.

You have your priests and pastors.

You have your communities where you can worship according to your convictions.

Let us have ours.

Let us serve those who come to us.

Let us accompany those who have been wounded by religion.

Let us remind those who have been rejected that they are still beloved children of God.

And if you believe that we are wrong, then pray for us.

Correct us when necessary.

Talk to us.

Disagree with us.

But please, do not hate us.

Because while you are calling us names, there may be someone standing beside us who is hearing, perhaps for the first time in years:

“You are still loved by God.”

At baka iyon lang ang kailangan niyang marinig para muling maniwala na may Diyos na hindi siya iniwan.

We are not here to take people away from your churches.

We are here for the people who have nowhere else to go.

And as long as there are people searching for God's mercy, God's love, and a place where they can encounter Christ without first being told that they are unworthy, we will continue to serve them.

Not because we believe we are better than you.

Hindi dahil mas banal kami.

Hindi dahil kami lang ang tama.

But because we believe that they deserve to be served too.

So you may disagree with us.

You may choose another Church.

You may hold a different theology.

That's okay.

But please, let us do what we believe Christ has called us to do.

Let us love.

Let us serve.

Let us welcome.

Let us bless.

Let us bring Christ to those who have been told that they are not worthy of coming near Him.

Because we believe that God's table is not made smaller by welcoming another person.

And no amount of name-calling, condemnation, or rejection will make us stop loving God's people.

+Joseph L.

23/08/2026

The 12th Sunday After Trinity

22/08/2026

Rainbow Love (Let God Set Them Free)

19/08/2026

Ganito na ba kalala ang pagbagsak ng sistema natin?

As a school teacher, a school chaplain, and most importantly, as a parent, this is deeply sad and alarming. A school should be one of the safest places for our children. It should be where they learn not only mathematics, science, and other academic subjects, but also compassion, responsibility, respect, empathy, and the value of human life.

And yet, we are now seeing something that should make all of us stop and seriously reflect.

This happened in a Catholic school. A school where Christian formation and values are part of the educational environment. So we have to ask the difficult question: Is teaching values enough?

Maybe the issue is bigger than values education.

Are our children being exposed to violent content online that we are not aware of? Has social media become an environment where anger, humiliation, revenge, and violence can be normalized or even glorified?

What about access to weapons? Paano nakakakuha ang isang bata ng firearm in the first place? Are fi****ms at home properly secured? Are parents and adults doing enough to make sure that children cannot access them?

And what about our education system?

Are we becoming too focused on grades, attendance, rankings, and academic performance that we sometimes forget to ask a simple question: "How is this child really doing?"

As teachers, we see children every day, but seeing a child is not necessarily the same as knowing what that child is going through. A student can be quiet, academically capable, religious, or seemingly okay while carrying struggles that nobody sees.

As a chaplain, I also believe that spiritual formation matters. But prayer, catechism, Christian values, and religious education cannot replace genuine human connection. We cannot simply tell a hurting child to pray harder and assume the problem will disappear. We need to listen. We need to notice. We need to accompany.

And as a parent, this scares me.

Because our children are growing up in a world that is very different from the one many of us experienced. Their influences are no longer limited to their family, teachers, and immediate community. They are exposed to millions of voices through screens every day.

So instead of immediately asking, "Who is to blame?", perhaps we should ask:

What could we have done better?

Could the school have recognized something earlier? Could the family have seen a warning sign? Could someone have intervened? Could better firearm security have prevented access to a weapon? Could stronger mental-health and pastoral support have given a struggling child somewhere to turn? Could we be doing more to address harmful online influences?

These are difficult questions, but we need to ask them.

This is not about blaming the Catholic school, the parents, the teachers, social media, religion, or the education system as though one of them alone caused this tragedy. Human behavior is complicated, and we should not pretend that we already know the cause while the investigation is still ongoing.

But we also cannot simply say, "It's an isolated incident," and move on.

Values education matters. Christian formation matters. Academic education matters. But children also need emotional support, healthy relationships, responsible digital guidance, safe homes, responsible firearm storage, strong safeguarding systems, and adults who are willing to listen before a crisis happens.

Kailangan nating magtulungan.

Parents cannot do this alone. Teachers cannot do this alone. Schools cannot do this alone. Churches cannot do this alone. Government cannot do this alone.

It takes all of us.

As a teacher, chaplain, and parent, my greatest fear is not simply that our children might encounter violence.

It is that we might fail to notice that a child is already struggling until it is too late.

So perhaps the question we should be asking is not only, "Who failed?"

But rather:

"What can we change, together, so that we do not fail our children again?"

Ponder.

+Joseph L.

18/08/2026

Why Does It Have to Change When God Is All in All?

Kapag pinag-uusapan natin ang Transubstantiation, we usually begin with one question: How does the bread become the Body of Christ, and the wine become His Blood?

But perhaps there is another question worth asking:

Why does it have to change when God is already All in All?

Christian faith has never taught that God is confined to churches, altars, or sacred objects. Scripture tells us that in Christ all things hold together, that in Him we live and move and have our being, and that Christ is "all and in all."

Kung si Cristo ay already present in creation, then the bread and wine were never really outside God's presence in the first place.

So perhaps the Eucharistic mystery is not simply about God suddenly entering something that was previously separate from Him.

Perhaps it is also about the veil being lifted from our eyes.

Sa altar, ordinary bread and wine become a profound revelation of Christ's presence. We are invited to see beyond what our senses can perceive and recognize a reality that has always been deeper than appearances.

The consecration becomes an unveiling.

The sacred is revealed within the ordinary.

Christ is recognized where we might otherwise see only bread.

And when we receive the Eucharist, hindi lang tayo tumatanggap ng something holy. We participate in the mystery itself.

We partake of Christ so that the life of Christ may become more deeply expressed through us.

This also gives a deeper meaning to the words, "The Body of Christ."

If Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, then perhaps the Eucharist should also teach us to recognize Christ beyond the altar.

Makikita natin si Cristo sa buhay ng ordinaryong tao.

Makikita natin Siya sa mga mahihirap, sa mga estranghero na di natin kilala, sa taong nakalimutan ng mundo, at maging sa taong nahihirapan tayong mahalin.

And perhaps we begin to recognize Christ in creation itself, because everything continues to exist through Him and is held within His sustaining presence.

The Eucharist therefore does not necessarily teach us to divide reality into things where God is present and things where God is absent.

It teaches us how to recognize the Presence more deeply.

At the same time, we should remain humble before the mystery.

Perhaps our philosophical explanations of Transubstantiation, no matter how carefully formulated, can never completely explain what God is doing.

We can speak about substance and accidents. We can speak about Real Presence, sacrament, communion, and transformation.

Pero none of our words can contain God.

The mystery is always greater than the explanation.

And perhaps that is precisely why the Eucharist remains a mystery of faith.

Maybe the deepest question is not simply:

"Did the bread change?"

Maybe the deeper question is:

"Did we change enough to see what was already there?"

Perhaps Transubstantiation is not only about Christ becoming present.

Perhaps it is also about us becoming present to Christ.

The veil is lifted.

We recognize.

We receive.

We partake.

At sa sandaling iyon, perhaps we barely touch the edge of a mystery that human philosophy can never fully explain:

Christ is here.

Not because God was ever absent,

but because our hearts are finally learning to recognize the Presence that has always surrounded us.

And perhaps that is what the Eucharist ultimately invites us to do:

Not simply to receive Christ, but to recognize Christ, participate in Christ, and become Christ's presence in the world.

+Joseph L.

15/08/2026

PRIESTHOOD IS A VOCATION, NOT A PROFESSION

Madalas akong inaakusahan na nagtayo raw ako ng Church because the income here must be big.

But let me clarify something that many people don't understand.

I am a non-stipendiary priest.

Meaning, I do not receive a regular salary from the Church for my priestly ministry. Hindi ako umaasa sa Church para sa personal kong income, at lalo na para sa pangangailangan ng pamilya ko.

I have to work. I have to earn. I have a family to support, responsibilities to fulfill, and a life outside the altar.

And no, this is not something unbiblical.

Look at St. Paul.

"They were tentmakers by trade."
Acts 18:3

Paul was an apostle, yet he worked with his own hands. Hindi niya itinuring na mababa ang trabaho habang ginagawa niya ang kanyang ministry.

He even wrote:

"We worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you."
2 Thessalonians 3:8

And again:

"You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me."
Acts 20:34

Paul preached the Gospel, planted churches, discipled people, and carried out his apostolic ministry, while also working for his livelihood.

That is essentially the principle behind non-stipendiary ministry.

A non-stipendiary priest may be a teacher, businessman, farmer, employee, professional, freelancer, or entrepreneur. He earns his livelihood through legitimate work while offering his priestly ministry to the Church.

At para sa married priests, this can be especially important.

A married priest has a wife. He may have children. May tuition, pagkain, bahay, transportation, healthcare, bills, and countless other responsibilities.

Being ordained does not magically remove the responsibility to provide for your family.

In fact, Scripture says:

"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith."
1 Timothy 5:8

So there is absolutely nothing shameful about a married priest having a profession or a business.

You can be a priest and a teacher.

You can be a priest and an entrepreneur.

You can be a priest and an employee.

You can be a priest and a farmer.

Priesthood is the vocation.
Your profession is your livelihood.
Your family is your responsibility.
The Church is your ministry.

These things can exist together.

And this brings me back to the accusation:

"You built a church because there's money in it."

Honestly, kung pera lang ang habol ko, priesthood would be a terrible business model.

Most of the time, I receive nothing financially from the Church.

I have my own work. I earn my own living. I support my family through my livelihood outside of the Church.

And let me clarify something else:

I did not simply wake up one morning and appoint myself a priest or bishop.

Hindi ako nagdesisyon mag-isa na, "Starting today, Bishop na ako." 😂

I was ordained.

I received Holy Orders through the ecclesial process of the jurisdiction to which I belong.

People can disagree with my Church. They can disagree with my theology. They can disagree with my ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

That's completely fair.

Pero ang disagreement with my Church does not automatically mean that I invented a ministry simply to make money.

There are different Christian traditions and different models of supporting clergy.

Some priests are stipendiary, meaning the Church provides them with a salary or regular financial support.

Others are non-stipendiary, meaning they support themselves through employment or business while serving the Church.

Neither model, by itself, determines whether a person's vocation is sincere.

Paul made tents.

I work too.

Paul preached Christ while earning his livelihood.

I serve the Church while earning mine.

The altar is not my business.

The Eucharist is not my product.

Priesthood is not my salary.

It is a vocation that I believe I was called to live.

And kung kailangan kong magtrabaho gamit ang sarili kong mga kamay to support my family while continuing to serve God's people, then I will gladly do so.

"For we are God's fellow workers."
1 Corinthians 3:9

Priesthood is not about what I can get from the Church.

It is about what I am willing to give to God's people.

+Joseph L.

14/08/2026

Love Shall Be My Name

13/08/2026

SUMADA

12/08/2026

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF ETHICAL MINISTRY

A reminder for every Priest, Pastor, Bishop, and Minister

After my previous post about Free Sacraments and love offerings, many people raised an important concern: “What about ministers who charge too much?” Others reminded us that the Sacraments should never become a business.

I believe both sides have a point.

So this time, I want to speak not to the faithful, but to us ministers.

Because if we ask people to respect our vocation, we must also make sure that our ministry is worthy of that respect.

1. THOU SHALT NOT SELL THE GRACE OF GOD.

Never put a price on God's grace.

The Sacraments, blessings, prayers, pastoral care, and the Gospel are not merchandise.

A minister may receive a love offering or reasonable support, but we must never make people feel that God's grace is something they have to purchase.

Grace is freely given because God Himself is Love.

2. THOU SHALT NOT EXPLOIT THE FAITHFUL.

Just because someone is willing to pay does not mean we should take advantage of them.

Do not inflate fees simply because you know that someone has the financial capacity.

A wealthy family is not automatically an opportunity for greater income.

We are shepherds, not businessmen hunting for clients.

3. THOU SHALT BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT MONEY.

If there are legitimate expenses, explain them clearly.

If transportation, accommodation, food, materials, or other preparations are required, communicate this beforehand.

Do not surprise people with hidden charges after the ceremony.

Transparency builds trust.

4. THOU SHALT NEVER DENY PASTORAL CARE BECAUSE OF POVERTY.

A poor person deserves the same pastoral dignity as a wealthy person.

If someone cannot afford a love offering, do not make them feel less worthy of God's blessing.

Sometimes the most meaningful ministry we will ever perform is for someone who has absolutely nothing to give us in return.

And that is precisely where we discover whether our vocation is truly about God.

5. THOU SHALT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A SACRAMENT AND THE COST OF MINISTRY.

The Sacrament may be free, but ministry sometimes has legitimate expenses.

There is a difference between:

charging for God's grace

and

receiving support for the practical costs of ministry.

Transportation costs money.

Food costs money.

Liturgical materials cost money.

Travel takes time.

Preparation requires effort.

We should neither pretend these realities don't exist nor use them as an excuse for greed.

6. THOU SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOU ART ALSO A SERVANT.

The title Father, Pastor, Reverend, Bishop, or Minister does not make us superior to the people we serve.

It gives us a greater responsibility to serve.

The altar is not a throne.

The pulpit is not a platform for ego.

The collar is not a license for entitlement.

We are servants of the people of God.

7. THOU SHALT NOT USE FEAR OR GUILT TO OBTAIN MONEY.

Never tell people:

"If you don't give, God won't bless you."

Never pressure grieving families.

Never manipulate couples preparing for marriage.

Never use someone's desperation, guilt, or fear as a fundraising strategy.

That is not pastoral ministry. That is manipulation.

8. THOU SHALT HONOR THE TIME AND SACRIFICE OF THE FAITHFUL.

Just as we ask people to respect our time, we must respect theirs.

Be punctual.

Prepare properly.

Communicate clearly.

Do not cancel at the last minute without a serious reason.

Do not treat someone's wedding, baptism, funeral, Eucharist, or prayer service as if it were merely another appointment on a calendar.

For them, it may be one of the most important days of their life.

Treat it accordingly.

9. THOU SHALT PRACTICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

Money received in ministry must be handled with integrity.

If donations are intended for the parish, ministry, charity, or a particular purpose, use them accordingly.

Keep proper records.

Be accountable to your congregation and, when appropriate, to your ecclesiastical authority.

A minister who cannot be trusted with money should never be trusted with people's souls.

10. THOU SHALT REMEMBER WHY THOU BEGAN.

This may be the most important commandment of all.

Remember the person you were when you first heard the call.

Remember the fire.

Remember the prayer.

Remember the desire to serve.

Remember that you did not enter ministry simply to wear vestments, carry titles, receive honor, or make a living.

You entered because something inside you said:

"I want to serve God by serving people."

Never allow money, fame, power, social media, titles, or recognition to slowly replace that calling.

---

TO MY FELLOW MINISTERS:

Yes, your time has value.

Yes, your work deserves respect.

Yes, you have families and responsibilities.

Yes, the faithful should be considerate of the sacrifices you make.

But we must also be careful.

The moment we begin demanding instead of receiving, exploiting instead of serving, or treating the altar like a marketplace, we have forgotten what ministry is.

Let us not demand respect while behaving in ways that destroy the very respect we seek.

Let us not complain that people see us as businessmen if we ourselves have turned ministry into a business.

And let us not be ashamed to receive legitimate support when it is given freely, honestly, and transparently.

There is nothing wrong with being supported.

There is something wrong with being greedy.

There is nothing wrong with receiving a love offering.

There is something wrong with selling God's love.

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging the practical cost of ministry.

There is something wrong with putting a price on grace.

At the end of the day, perhaps the healthiest relationship between minister and faithful is not:

“You owe me.”

Nor:

“You should work for free.”

But rather:

“We serve one another in love.”

The faithful support the minister.

The minister serves the faithful.

And together, we serve God.

Free Sacraments.
Ethical Ministers.
Generous Hearts.
Transparent Ministry.
No exploitation.
No entitlement.
Only service and love.

May God keep us humble enough to serve, wise enough to lead, honest enough to be accountable, and courageous enough to remember that ministry is a vocation before it is ever a profession.

Amen.

Your brother in Light, Love, and Life,

+Joseph Lagumbay

11/08/2026

DON’T GET ME WRONG. THE SACRAMENTS ARE FREE.

Libre naman talaga ang mga Sacraments. No priest, pastor, or minister should put a price tag on the grace of God. The Sacraments are not commodities, and the Church is not a business.

But let us also remember one simple reality:

You are asking a real human being to leave whatever he or she is doing, travel to your venue, prepare, celebrate, preach, administer the Sacrament, and accompany you in one of the most important moments of your life.

And remember this:

No celebration can happen without a minister when the celebration itself requires a priest, pastor, or ordained minister.

You can have the most beautiful venue.
You can spend hundreds of thousands on food, decorations, flowers, gowns, suits, makeup, photography, lights, sounds, and everything else.

But if the minister is not there, the wedding cannot be celebrated as planned.

And sometimes, we spend ₱100,000, ₱200,000, or even more for the entire event, yet when it comes to the person who will actually officiate the sacred celebration, we hand them ₱500 and say:

“Father, ito na lang po.”

Again, I am not saying that you have to give thousands.

I am asking for consideration.

Kahit pang-kain o pamasahe lang ni Father or Pastor. Because some ministers have day jobs to support their families. Yung iba may asawa’t mga anak. If we are asking them to take a day off from work, then perhaps we should at least consider the income they are losing because they chose to be with us.

And if wala naman silang work that day, perhaps we should remember that they also have a family, a home, a body that needs rest, and a life outside the altar.

Their time is valuable too.

Hindi naman po sila machines na kapag tinawag natin, automatic available.

They are human beings.

They get tired.
They spend money for transportation.
They prepare.
They travel.
They study the ceremony.
They bring vestments, books, vessels, liturgical materials, or other things needed for the celebration.
And sometimes, they sacrifice their only day of rest just to be present for you.

I have always advocated for “Free Sacraments.”

And I still do.

But I have also realized something through experience.

Sometimes, because we say our services are “FREE,” people unintentionally begin to treat our time, effort, and presence as if they have no value.

Hindi naman po kami humihingi ng special treatment.

Konting konsiderasyon lang.

Because the Sacrament may be priceless, but the minister who administers it is still a human being who has transportation expenses, food expenses, family responsibilities, and sometimes even lost income.

Ang pagpa-Pari o pagpa-Pastor ay isang Vocation.

Alam po namin ang pinasok namin.

We know that ministry means giving our time to others. We know that there will be days when we have to sacrifice our rest, our personal plans, and even precious moments with our families.

We accepted that calling because we love God and we love His people.

Hindi po kami nagpapabayad dahil “priceless” ang Sacraments.

We serve because of Love.

But love should also teach us gratitude, respect, and consideration.

And let me be clear:

A love offering is not the price of the Sacrament.

It is simply one way of saying:

"Father, thank you for your time."
"Pastor, thank you for coming."
"Thank you for spending your day with us."
"Thank you for sacrificing time with your own family so you could be present with ours."

And if you genuinely cannot afford to give anything, that is completely okay.

Please don't be ashamed.

Just be honest.

Tell your minister beforehand:

"Father, Pastor, we would love to give something, but we honestly don't have the capacity right now."

Maiintindihan po namin.

At least we know what to expect, and we can make the necessary adjustments.

Because sometimes, may mga pari at pastor na nangungutang pa ng pamasahe para lamang makarating sa venue, especially when the location is far away.

Kaya honesty and transparency are important.

Hindi po ito negosyo.

We are not asking you to “pay for God.”

You cannot buy grace. You cannot purchase a Sacrament. And you certainly cannot put a monetary value on a minister's vocation.

But please don't confuse “free” with “worthless.”

Your minister's service may be offered freely, but that does not mean that his or her time, effort, sacrifice, and humanity should be disregarded.

So the next time you invite a priest, pastor, or minister and ask:

“Father, magkano po ang bayad?”

And he answers:

“Pag-ibig n’yo lang po, sapat na.”

Please understand what he may actually be saying.

"I am not charging you for God."

"I am not selling you a Sacrament."

"I am simply asking you to remember that I am also human."

And perhaps, before spending hundreds of thousands on the venue, food, clothes, makeup, decorations, and everything else, remember the person who has been invited to make the sacred celebration possible.

Not because the minister deserves more than everyone else.

But because everyone who sacrifices their time deserves to be treated with dignity, gratitude, and respect.

Free Sacraments.
Grateful hearts.
Honest conversations.
Respect for the ministry.

That is the balance.

Sana po ay nakapagbigay ako ng kaunting kaliwanagan tungkol sa usaping ito. May we continue to help one another grow in spirituality, compassion, and our relationship with the Great Creator.

Amen.

+Joseph Lagumbay

Bishop Joseph Lagumbay CUC

24/08/2026

23/08/2026

22/08/2026

19/08/2026

18/08/2026

15/08/2026

14/08/2026

13/08/2026

12/08/2026

11/08/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request