45th DCM Convention: Beautiful Metamorphosis of Religious Vocation for a Lifetime

With a huge event like the 45th DCM Convention, the Diocese of Mati definitely and absolutely takes pride in hosting the event, thus, the diocese is taking no stones unturned to ascertain its success, and making it an event beyond putting into oblivion.

DCM was conceptuallzed in 1970 when a group of priests met in Davao city, and was discussed again in 1971 in then Dadiangas City, and now General Santos City, in a meeting of religious priests, and it was agreed that the convention should also include diocesan priests, and this time, from the entirety of Mindanao. It was followed by another discussion in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon in 1972. Hence, the 1st Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao finally transpired in Davao City on February 6-7, 1973.

Now, 45 years after, the convention lives on as a fitting time for the clergy to gather, share life and faith experiences, and strengthen their brotherhood, and renew their commitment to their task of serving God and His people.

Most Rev. Abel Apigo, DD of the Diocese of Mati furthered that the Diocese of Mati heeded the call to host the convention, as it is a convenient time now to take the responsibility.

He added that the annual event is an on-gong formation for the priests, guided with the essence and importance of synodality and stewardship.

“This is an assurance that God is walking with us, and that the challenge now is to combine all our acts together for the evangelization of the gospel, and on the human side, the convention is also bent on strengthening their sacramental brotherhood,” he said.

Admittedly, there were problems encountered with the holding of the clergy convention, which included the character of a person who shuns away from hard work and sacrifice, unwilling to give one’s self in such endeavor, and the difficulty in gathering the priests because of the distance from their respective places, and transportation.

But with this year’s theme, “ DCM: Journeying Together as Frontliners of the Faith in the Spirit of Synodality and Stewardship”, the problems aren’t and won’t ever be hindrances for the clergy to take the lead in taking good care of God’s people and His wonderful creations.

With the throng of priests coming to the Diocese of Mati, Bp. Abel Apigo is also happy that this is a way to contribute in invigorating economic activity, and an opportunity for the delegates to see and be awed with the beauty and mystique of the Diocese of Mati.

The 45th DCM Convention is on February 14-16, 2023. (Neela G. Duallo | Photos: Diocese of Mati – Social Communications Ministry)