The Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines (ACSP), the umbrella organization of minor basilicas, shrines, and pilgrimage sites in the country, will hold its annual general assembly at the Our Lady of Antipolo Retreat House in Antipolo City from Sept. 26 to 28.
With the theme: “Developing a Systematic Approach to the Role of Shrines as Dynamic Sources of Continuing Evangelization,” the gathering will be hosted by the Diocese of Antipolo, home of the first international shrine in the Philippines - the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
Speakers include Fr. Reynante Tolentino, rector of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and ACSP vice president for NCR and Southern Luzon; and Kendrick Ivan B. Panganiban, author of the book, “The Role of Shrines in view of the New Evangelization: Pope Francis’ Theology on Shrines and Pilgrimages applied in the Philippine Context.”
“The reflections of our speakers will hopefully update us on our role in the Church evangelizing mission today,” ACSP president Fr. Roderick Castro, rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Makati City said over a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News post.
Attendees will also go on a whole-day pilgrimage tour to the different shrines in the diocese.
Organizers said the ACSP will hold its general assembly again in 2019 because of the pandemic. The assembly is open to delegations from canonically approved shrines in the country or organized pilgrimage promoters, they said.
Founded in 1991, the ACSP was officially adopted as a ministry of the CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.