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A responder carries a rescue dog while conducting search and rescue operations in a collapsed building after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in General Santos City on June 9, 2026.
AFP / Jam Sta Rosa
MANILA, Philippines — Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera has urged bishops to authorize a second collection during all Sunday Masses on June 14 to fund emergency relief operations for victims of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao.
In a statement on Tuesday, June 9, Garcera said the proceeds of the collection may be transmitted through diocesan social action centers and Caritas Philippines to "support the emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts" for quake victims.
"We grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, pray for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured, and stand in spiritual communion with all those who have been displaced from their homes and livelihoods. We also remember in our prayers the rescue workers, medical personnel, government agencies, and volunteers who continue to labor tirelessly in responding to this tragedy," Garcera, on behalf of the CBCP, said.
"In moments such as these, we are reminded that the Church is called to be a sign of hope and a witness of charity. As one family in Christ, we cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of our brothers and sisters. Their pain is our pain; their loss is our loss," he added.
He also urged churches, Catholic institutions, and religious communities to offer a special "Prayer of the Faithful" during all Masses for victims and those involved in rescue efforts.
A second collection is usually taken after Communion during a Roman Catholic Mass. The priest-presider or lector usually explains where the money will go. It is different from the collection taken during the offertory.
The second collection is often dedicated to charitable purposes.
On the morning of June 8, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck parts of Mindanao, damaging several infrastructures.
As of writing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 37 people were killed, while 479 were injured and four remain missing.
