MANILA, January 21, 2010—“The Second National Congress of the Clergy (NCC2) is a real retreat experience. It is basically a retreat, a call to interior renewal, a call to holiness.”
This is how Msgr. Jose Bernardo, Jr., Executive Secretary of National Organizing Committee of NCC2, discussed on the framework of the forthcoming national clergy congress in a recent press conference.
He explained that this event is a follow up of the first clergy congress in 2004 and a response to the prophetic call of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to convene all priest from all over the world to gather and honor a holy man, St. John Vianney.
The Executive Secretary also affirmed that the recent congress intends to respond to the needs of the clergy in the Philippines as well as “to surface the needs and realities concerning the ongoing formation and renewal of priests.”
NCC II Committee member, Msgr. Gerardo Santos, on the other hand, said that upcoming congress aims to provide the priests a deep and religious experience that will hopefully lead to a spiritual conversion and greater commitment. ]
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, Preacher to the Papal Household, will be the retreat master of the congress while Imus Bishop Luis Chito Tagle will provide the challenge for the pastoral aspect of the call to holiness, according to Bernardo.
Meanwhile, the relics of St. John Mary Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests, will be brought to Manila just in time for the NCC2 that will be held at the World Trade Center on January 25-29, 2010.
The Manila Archdiocese recently announced that St. Vianney’s stole and breviary, among others relics, will arrive from France accompanied by two French priests.
The exposition and visit of the relics will commence at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Makati City on January 23 then at the EDSA Shrine on the 24th.
It will settle at the World Trade Center on January 25-29 then at the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish on January 29; Quiapo Church on January 30 and at the St. John Mary Vianney Parish, Makati on January 31.
Spearheaded by the Episcopal Commission of the Clergy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the NCC2 assumed the theme of the Year for Priests, “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests.” (Kate Laceda)
http://clergycongress2.org/?p=233
