San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza on Saturday, April 11, called for a renewed commitment to austerity, accountability, and solidarity with the poor in a pastoral letter addressed to priests, consecrated persons, and lay leaders.
Alminaza said the current economic and ecological crises cannot be ignored, pointing out that fisherfolk are struggling with declining catches, drivers are burdened by rising fuel costs, and workers’ wages no longer meet basic needs.
“Their suffering is not distant. It is immediate, concrete, and persistent,” the bishop said.
Citing a growing gap between Church leaders and the poor, Alminaza described this reality as a “tolerated evil” that must be confronted through sincere conversion.
He stressed that the Church’s call for justice and accountability in society must begin within its own ranks.
“If we demand sacrifice, we must also be willing to sacrifice,” he said.
The bishop urged clergy and Church institutions to adopt concrete austerity measures, including:
· Simplifying lifestyles and Church events; · Reviewing spending and resource use; and · Redirecting savings toward the most vulnerable.
He also called for a re-examination of practices such as fiestas, travel, and parish expenditures, encouraging simplicity and closer identification with the poor.
Moving beyond traditional charity, the bishop invited the faithful to embrace a deeper form of solidarity inspired by Hayuma—a local image of mending a broken net together — and the African concept of Ubuntu, “I am because we are.”
Alminaza said these perspectives highlight the interconnected nature of today’s crises and the need for collective, systemic responses.
Among the initiatives encouraged are the strengthening of Caritas Kindness Stations and Stores, guided by the principle: “Get what you need. Give what you have.”
The bishop also highlighted emerging efforts such as the Negros Energy–Food Security and Sustainability Action Group, which promotes community-based renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local resilience.
“These are not merely technical solutions,” he noted, “but expressions of integral ecology—where care for people and care for creation are held together.”
The Diocese of San Carlos continues to support coordinated responses through Caritas Philippines and programs like Bayanihan Alay sa Kapwa, focusing on long-term solutions in food security, livelihoods, healthcare, and environmental care, Alminaza said.
“If we do not change, the distance between the Church and the poor will remain. If we do not act, injustice will become normalized,” Alminaza said.*
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