Together In Caring

DCM: Moving Forward as Frontliners of the Faith in the Spirit of Synodality and Stewardship

This is the formulated and chosen theme for the 45th Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao (DCM) convention on February 14-16, 2023 with the Diocese of Mati as its host for the second time around, the first of it was in the year 2006.

The DCM is an annual gathering of members of the Diocesan Clergy in Mindanao aiming to renew the commitment of the clergy serving the Church in Mindanao and the opportunity to meet one another, sharing the same mission. Suspended for almost four years due to COVID 19 pandemic, the opportunity to once again join this event is very much welcome for each member of the Mindanao Clergy.

The experience of the pandemic, the effect it brought, the fear it generated gave us so many lessons. The Church, surely the members of the Mindanao clergy, also have the same experience. Some of the lessons during this pandemic, in the words of Pope Francis. “we are a global community, all in the same boat, where one person’s problems are the problems of all…no one is saved alone; we can only be saved together” (Fratelli Tutti, 32). Nobody is self-sustaining; we need each other’s help and cooperation if we want to save our precious lives. That the most dangerous enemy is not the virus of covid 19, but the virus of pride, greed and selfishness. It is said that, every crisis is an opportunity. Truly, with the pandemic crisis, we found an opportunity to stop from our usual business and busy-ness and try to save our loved ones, and in doing so, we realize that our loved ones necessarily meant EVERYONE – in a word, it has to be with a sense of SYNODALITY and STEWARDSHIP. Together in caring.

In the life of the Church, COVID 19 Pandemic made us re-assess and re-evaluate our sense of belongingness. We thirst for the presence of one another in the Mass, in our meeting, in plotting out plans for our apostolates and ministries. Technology provides us means to communicate virtually, but physical presence is always better than virtual.

Also during this pandemic, spiritual needs skyrocketed. Depression is experienced due to lock downs and quarantines. Priests found themselves celebrating the Mass online and with no one present. And many times, they braved themselves going to hospitals and other places to bless the dead bodies of those who were declared casualties of the disease. Priests were also frontliners during this pandemic unappreciated it may be.

In order not to waste those experiences and lessons, it is just right that this post-pandemic DCM will banner the theme emphasizing those lessons and acknowledge the service priests during that fearful period in our history.

Hence, it is in the spirit of synodality and stewardship that the Diocese of Mati accepted the challenge to host the annual gathering of Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao. With Most Rev. Abel C. Apigo, D.D. leading the way, the Mati Clergy in the spirit of synodality, throw their support and happily participate for the preparations and to make the 45th DCM successful.

For the greater glory of God and for the Church!