Amid widespread public outrage over corruption and a series of calamities battering the country, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called for a “National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance” on Oct. 7.

In a pastoral letter addressed to dioceses, CBCP president and Caloocan bishop Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David urged parishes, chapels, schools, families, and church organizations to join the observance, which coincides with the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

“In the spirit of the prophetic exhortation of Baruch (Bar 1:15–22), which is a prayer of national confession and contrition, and in the context of the calamities that continue to afflict our land, we call for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance,” he said.

The cardinal explained that the Church is asking the faithful to begin reciting a special prayer titled “A National Cry for Mercy and Renewal” starting Tuesday, and every succeeding Sunday leading up to the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 23, as a “sustained supplication for mercy and renewal.”

The prayer appeals to God to hear the cries of Filipinos “as we walk in the valley of darkness,” likening the country’s moral state to “a stray sheep that has fallen from the cliff… clinging desperately to a brittle branch, crying out for rescue.”

“This act of national contrition is also a step in our journey of synodality—walking together as God’s people, listening to the Spirit and to one another, in humility and hope,” David added.

The CBCP’s call comes as nationwide rallies and prayer vigils have continued over the past weeks, demanding accountability and transparency in government following reports of alleged large-scale corruption in public works, healthcare funds, and other agencies.

Thousands of faithful, clergy, and lay groups have joined simultaneous candlelight protests in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and other key cities, carrying placards bearing messages such as “End the culture of corruption,” “Cleanse our nation,” and “Pray, repent, reform.”

Catholic schools and diocesan commissions on social action have also announced community-wide Holy Hours, rosary processions, and confession drives, in solidarity with the CBCP’s national call.

The bishops’ initiative follows the Oratio Imperata for Integrity, Truth, and Justice recently issued by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula, which likewise urged the faithful to confront corruption as a “profound moral and spiritual crisis.”

The Philippines has endured successive calamities in recent months, including floods, earthquakes, and typhoons that left thousands homeless, prompting Church leaders to call these events a spiritual warning for national repentance and renewal.