Philippines to host 5th Asian Apostolic Congress on mercy
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The Archdiocese of Cebu is calling on the faithful to join the fifth Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy (AACOM), a significant event aimed at fostering unity and hope through the mercy and compassion of the Lord.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma emphasized the importance of this gathering, stating, "To hope is to believe in something good. But to believe and to have hope is to make something or someone the foundation of hope. For us, our very important source of hope is God.”
Scheduled from October 14 to 19, 2024, at the IC3 Pavilion in Cebu City, Philippines, the AACOM will feature lectures by esteemed speakers from both the Philippines and abroad.
Among the speakers are Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo, San Jose de Antique Bishop Marvyn Maceda, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, Fr. Patrice Chocholski, Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, and former Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide.
Archbishop Palma expressed his joy in Cebu being chosen to host this significant event, especially since it is known as the ‘Cradle of Christianity in Southeast Asia,’ where the Christian faith was first introduced in 1521 with the arrival of foreign missionaries.
This event aligns with the ongoing celebration of 500 Years of Christianity, under the theme ‘Gifted to Give.’
The fifth AACOM will open with a mass at 4:00 PM on October 14, led by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu.
Another highlight will be a foot procession at 3:00 AM on October 19 from the Cebu Provincial Capitol, followed by a closing mass at 6:00 AM at the Basilica.
AACOM aims to deepen the understanding of God’s mercy and promote the theme of mercy within the regional context.
The congress has been held every three years since its inception in Manila in 2009, with subsequent events in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The fifth AACOM, initially scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For those interested in attending the 5th AACOM, please contact Rev. Fr. Andrei Ventanilla at +639438494111, Kathrina Buletin at +639957662168, or Jinnie Pahuriray at +639562718128 for more details.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.