Episcopal vicars gather for clergy confab in Davao

Close to 200 delegates from different parts of the Philippines have converged on this city for the National Convention of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Vicars for the Clergy.

CBCP president and Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles presided over a Eucharistic celebration held today, April, 9 at the San Pedro Cathedral to open the five-day convention.

In his homily, the prelate said he is thankful for the vicars for the clergy as they make the work of the archbishop easier.

“Thank you so much for being with us, for the doing the important task of caring for our priests,” Valles said, adding it is the primary responsibility of the bishop to care for his priests.

Treasure the gift

He said priests must take good care of their priesthood, which is “their gift.”

The archbishop told the delegates that they are gifted with their priestly vocation, calling it “so wonderful a gift.”

“We come to this Eucharist because in the end it is He who calls us,” he said, adding that he hopes each priest will love and appreciate the priesthood.

The archbishop also noted that priests should take their roles seriously as proclaimers of the Good News in the Christian community.

‘Sense of sacrifice’

He added that a priest must, first of all, “be convinced about God” and draw attention to the Lord and not to himself.

Valles told the priests to rediscover their sense of sacrifice saying, “This is the will of Lord, to bear the pain and sacrifice to do the will of the Church, the will of God.”

The convention will run until April 13, and will have talks and different workshops to be held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Lanang, Davao City.

The event reflected on the theme: “Renewed Servant-Leaders for the New Evangelization.”