Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao Convention 2015

The annual convention of the Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao (DCM) will be taking place in the Archdiocese of Davao this coming February 9 – 11, 2015. The venue of the event will be held particularly at St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao (ReMaSe) in Catalunan Grande, Davao City and San Pedro Cathedral for the opening Mass. (Kindly check separate page for the program.)

This convention was supposed to happen last February of this year but due to the earthquake and the strong typhoon Yolanda that hit the people in the Visayas region, the Archbishop of Davao Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, D.D. recommended for the postponement of the said convention in solidarity of the victims of the earthquake and typhoon Yolanda. The other Mindanao Bishops unanimously supported him.

The last time that the Archdiocese of Davao hosted the said convention was way back in 1996 and it was held in the Island Garden City of Samal. It was still the time of the late Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas, D.D. Our present archbishop, His Excellency Romulo G. Valles, D.D., accepted the challenge to host the said gathering due to the fact that it is also the most opportune time to express our gratitude to the diocesan priests working in Mindanao. They work hard in their respective pastoral assignments. This gathering serves also as the priests’ updating in order for them to be fully re-charged as they continue to serve God’s people.

The theme for the 2015 DCM convention is “DCM: Reflecting on our Ministry and Compassion to the Poor!”

This theme is in line with the spirit of His Holiness Pope Francis who has shown much of his attention to the poor people. This is also very timely since this year the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced that 2015 would be the “Year of the Poor!” The chosen theme will enable us, the Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao, to reflect further on our pastoral activities in relation to the poor people in our parishes. These people are always with us and so as shepherds of the flock the priests need to be always reminded how far have we done in ministering to their needs. As Pope Francis said in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium “we are called to find Christ in them (poor), to lend our voices to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them.”*

The Archbishop of Davao, his Auxiliary Bishop Most Reverend George B. Rimando, D.D., and the entire Clergy of Davao look forward with enthusiasm to hosting all the Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao guests and participants who will be attending the said convention. Equally happy and enthusiastic are the lay people of Davao who are ever supportive to the many big church activities in the Archdiocese! As the Archbishop said to the committee heads during the regular meetings “I am confident that we can do this well because of the support of everyone – both the priests and the lay people.”

Finally, after series of meetings the organizers from the Archdiocese of Davao have finalized the schedule for this annual convention in consultation with the Officers of the Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao. Please check program here.

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* Pope Francis. Evangelii Gaudium. (Libreria Vaticana, 2013) # 198, p. 137.