Philippine Bishop urges Religious men and women to strengthen mission, service to Christian community

The Diocese of Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban, Jr., CMF, has encouraged religious communities to intensify their mission and service to the Christian community.

This was his message on the 29th World Day of Consecrated Life on February 2, coinciding with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

Bishop Ayuban, who previously served as co-chairperson of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP), emphasized the importance of gathering various congregations to strengthen their charism and spirituality. This can help form and shape a community dedicated to the path of holiness.

"We cannot serve the church on our own; we are not called to be consecrated persons on our own, but to share this with others," he said.

"We are consecrated persons for others, and this witness of community—we are not only called to be prophets but to build prophetic communities— not only as individual saints but to build saintly communities," Bishop Ayuban told Radio Veritas Asia.

He acknowledged the intercultural nature of consecrated persons in the country, which poses challenges, as many missionaries in the Philippines come from different countries with diverse cultures and traditions.

Nevertheless, the prelate stressed the need to live out Christ’s love in serving the Church to foster unity within the community.

"Perhaps one of the challenges is interculturality—how to live in an intercultural community," he noted.

"We see many communities composed of different nationalities. Let us be respectful of every culture and avoid a sense of entitlement, but instead, be open so that we can live in a more harmonious community in the context where we find ourselves," Bishop Ayuban emphasized.

Meanwhile, Fr. Lino Gregorio Redoblado, OFM, the current co-chairperson of CMSP, stated that the formation of consecrated persons continues to be strengthened so they can embody a synodal Church—one that truly journeys with the community and brings hope to each person.

"We are now continuously educating ourselves on this call for synodality, but I would focus more specifically as religious—to journey with the suffering people of today, to listen more to them and their cries. We can change the society we live in. In this gathering today, we will challenge ourselves to be people of hope," Fr. Redoblado said.

Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles Brown, presided over the Holy Mass together with Bishop Ayuban, Fr. Lino, and other priests. At the same time, approximately 1,000 consecrated persons from various congregations in Metro Manila and nearby provinces participated in the celebration held at Siena College in Quezon City.