ILOILO CITY – The role of married Catholic priests or priests with families was reassessed in the 17th national convention of the Philippine Federation of Married Catholic Priests (PFMCP) over the weekend in this city.
MEMBERS of the Philippine Federation of Married Catholic Priests pose with Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo (seated, center) during their 17th national convention in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
“We cannot deny that we have a vocation to the priesthood by virtue of irrevocable and indelible priestly ordination. God has called and ordained us to be priests forever,” said Fr. Samuel Yap, the outgoing president of the PFMCP, the umbrella of different associations across the country. The three-day convention had the theme “Going Forward with the Ministry.” The convention had three main objectives: Determining the roles of married priests and their families in the transformation of the Church, forming the identity and future forms of ministries by married priests, and determining the issues and concerns for the next five years. “This strengthens our married life and apostolate in the community that we served,” said Fr. Hector Canto, president of the Iloilo-based Padres de Capilla that hosted the convention. While they no longer have parishes and ventured into different professions, various members of the PFMCP maintained they are still priests as they are validly ordained. Fr. Jose Elmer Cajilig and Fr. Jesus Siva of Padres de Capilla explained that while each of the associations may have different advocacies, the convention strengthened how they can still serve their communities as priests. One of the convention’s highlights was the Mass presided over by Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of the Archdiocese of Jaro. They also had a dialogue with Lazo. Fr. Orlando Carvajal is the incoming PFMCP president.
MEMBERS of the Philippine Federation of Married Catholic Priests pose with Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo (seated, center) during their 17th national convention in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
“We cannot deny that we have a vocation to the priesthood by virtue of irrevocable and indelible priestly ordination. God has called and ordained us to be priests forever,” said Fr. Samuel Yap, the outgoing president of the PFMCP, the umbrella of different associations across the country. The three-day convention had the theme “Going Forward with the Ministry.” The convention had three main objectives: Determining the roles of married priests and their families in the transformation of the Church, forming the identity and future forms of ministries by married priests, and determining the issues and concerns for the next five years. “This strengthens our married life and apostolate in the community that we served,” said Fr. Hector Canto, president of the Iloilo-based Padres de Capilla that hosted the convention. While they no longer have parishes and ventured into different professions, various members of the PFMCP maintained they are still priests as they are validly ordained. Fr. Jose Elmer Cajilig and Fr. Jesus Siva of Padres de Capilla explained that while each of the associations may have different advocacies, the convention strengthened how they can still serve their communities as priests. One of the convention’s highlights was the Mass presided over by Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of the Archdiocese of Jaro. They also had a dialogue with Lazo. Fr. Orlando Carvajal is the incoming PFMCP president.