The local Church will hold the Second National Mission Congress from April 17 to 24 to culminate the celebrations for the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines.
With the theme “Gifted to Give,” the weeklong event is spearheaded by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines –Episcopal Commission on Mission in coordination with the Archdiocese of Cebu, the Basilica Minore de Sto. Niño de Cebu, Dominus Est, and Couples for Christ.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma presided over the opening holy mass with Puerto Princesa Bishop Socrates Mesiona, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Mission, on April 17 at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu.
Renowned missiologist Fr. Andrew Recepcion of the Pontifical Gregorian University and Fr. Tony Pernisa, SVD led the International Missiology Symposium on April 18 to 19. The symposium included talks by Fr. Danny Huang, SJ of the Pontifical Gregorian University; Fr. John Young, President of Father Saturnino Urios University; and Fr. Stephen Bevans, SVD from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
From April 20 to 23 the National Mission Forum will have a round table discussion to be moderated by Msgr. Esteban Lo, executive secretary of the CBCP Mission, and missiologists Fr. Andrew Recepcion and Fr. Tony Pernia, SVD.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will lead the guest speakers for the National Mission Conference. Other speakers include Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and historian Dr. Danilo Gerona of the Partido State University Center of Trust.
The forum will present testimonies, round table discussions, artistic renditions and a concert from the 29AD Musicionaries.
Finally, on April 24, Divine Mercy Sunday, a closing mass will be held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to be presided by Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, with Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown as co celebrant.
The Second National Mission Congress is streamed via the Facebook pages of CBCP Commission on Mission, TV Maria, Radio Veritas, and the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Communications (AOC).