News

Davao launches Year for Priests

DAVAO CITY, June 19, 2009—The Archdiocese of Davao has launched the yearlong celebration of the Year for Priests yesterday, a day advance to its formal opening tomorrow, June 19.

The launching held at the San Pedro Cathedral was also in time with the thanksgiving mass intended for the 34th Episcopal ordination anniversary of Archbishop Fernando Capalla.

Prior to the mass, there was Holy Hour at 4:30 in the afternoon followed by the anticipated and concelebrated Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Capalla also issued a circular letter asking all priests, superiors of religious institutes, catholic school youth, members of the Archdiocesan Council on Lay Apostolate and Integrated Movements (ACLAIM), Love Our Shepherds Movement (LOSM), Davao Archdiocesan Youth Coordinating Apostolate (DAYCA),

Association of Priests, Parents of the Archdiocese of Davao (APPAD) and KAPATID to come in full force for the launching.

It can be noted that last March 16, Pope Benedict XVI announced the year-long celebration of the Year for Priests from June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010.

The theme of the celebration is “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests.”

According to the Vatican Congregation of the Clergy the purpose of the celebration is “to highlight the role and mission of the clergy in the Church and in modern society, as well as the need to intensify the permanent formation of priests and seminarians.”

Meanwhile, Archdiocesan Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy Msgr. Martiniano Gorgonio also lauded the prayerful presence of the faithful during the launching at the Cathedral.

Gorgonio asked the people to always include in their prayers the formation of priests and seminarians in the archdiocese and worldwide.

(Mark S. Ventura)