By Christina Hermoso
The 17-month countdown for the celebration of the 60th year of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF), the official residence of Filipino priests doing further studies in Rome, Italy, has begun.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, unveils the official logo of the 60th founding anniversary of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, Italy on May 3, 2020. SCREENSHOT/PCF/ VIA CBCP NEWS/ MANILA BULLETIN
The PCF will turn 60 on Oct. 7, 2021.
Then Pope, now Saint John XXIII, blessed and inaugurated the facility on October 7, 1961 to serve as home in Rome for Filipino diocesan priests pursuing further studies.
Newly appointed Cardinal-Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, led the launching of the countdown and the unveiling of the official logo of the PCF’s 60th anniversary after officiating a holy mass at the PCF’s chapel. The launching was held during the “Collegio Day,” which is usually celebrated every first Sunday of May to coincide with the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
Th Collegio Day traditionally includes a procession and a feast with the Filipino community in Rome but the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that has severely affected Italy called for a private celebration.
Cardinal Tagle noted how the Collegio has also become a home to an increasing number of priests from other parts of the world.
PCF rector Rev. Fr. Gregory Gaston said there are currently 50 priests residing at the Collegio, 35 of them are Filipinos and 15 are of different nationalities. Last February, the Italian Episcopal Conference appointed Gaston as the coordinator for the pastoral care of OFWs in Italy.
The PCF is directly under Pope Francis, through the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education. It also reports directly to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which created a body to administer the PCF. The PCF has also been serving as the de facto Filipino Chaplaincy, with one office coordinating several Filipino clusters in Rome.
The CBCP said about 50 to 60 holy masses in Filipino, English, Ilocano, Cebuano, and Bicolano are held every Sunday in different parishes with PCF priests assisting the “Sentro Filippino.” The PCF priests also cater to the pastoral needs of OFWs in other European countries such as Switzerland, Greece, Malta, Germany, Spain, Norway, and France.