On July 10, Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu, Philippines, held a press conference to discuss the upcoming 5th Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy (AACOM), scheduled for October 14–19, 2024, in Cebu City.
Archbishop Palma highlighted Cebu’s growing reputation as a prime conference center in Asia due to its convenience, affordability, and the renowned hospitality of the Cebuanos. He emphasized that hosting events like the 5th AACOM is a wonderful way to live out the theme of the 500 Years of Christianity—"Gifted to Give."
Reflecting on the theme of the 5th AACOM, "Divine Mercy: Pilgrimage of Hope in Asia," Palma stated, "To hope is to believe in something good. But to believe and to hope is to make something or someone the foundation of hope. To us, little that we are."
AACOM is a triennial gathering that aims to deepen the faithful’s understanding of God's mercy and promote the theme of mercy within the regional context.
The first AACOM was held in Manila in 2009 with the theme, "Mercy, the Face of the Son of Man in Asia."
Subsequent congresses took place in Thailand in 2012, Indonesia in 2015, and Malaysia in 2018. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fifth AACOM was postponed to 2021.
The "Cradle of Christianity in Southeast Asia"—Cebu—will host AACOM after a five-year hiatus. Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, secretary-general of the 5th AACOM, provided an overview of the 6-day event.
Notable speakers include Bishop Dennis Villarojo of Malolos, Bishop Marvyn Maceda of San Jose de Antique, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, Fr. Patrice Chocholski, Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, and retired Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide.
The program will feature several public events, including the Opening Mass at 4:00 PM on October 14 at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu was presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles Brown. A procession will take place on October 19, starting at 3:00 AM in front of the Cebu Provincial Capitol, culminating with the Closing Mass at 6:00 PM at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu.
To register for the 5th AACOM, please visit 5th AACOM Registration Forms.
For inquiries or assistance, please email 5thaacom2024@gmail.com or contact:
- Fr. Andrei Ventanilla: +639438494111
- Kathrina Buletin: +639957662168
- Jinnie Pahuriray: +639562718128
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.
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