Penitential rite highlights tomorrow’s activities at clergy congress

MANILA, Jan. 26, 2010 ─A penitential celebration will highlight tomorrow’s activity on the currently being held 2nd National Congress of the Clergy (NCC II).

According to Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, Media Director of CBCP’s Media Office, this activity will bring a total of 5,500 priests who will be confessing to one another.

“One of the highlights is the Penitential Celebration, imagine 5,500 priests will be confessing to each other,” he stated during “The Forum” organized by the CBCPNews and Catholic Media Network (CMN) on Tuesday.

Quitorio said that the biggest and most important highlights of the NCC II is the reflection being given by Fr. Raniero Cantalamesa, OFMCap, Preacher of Pope Benedict XVI and the late Pope John Paul II.

He disclosed that during the preparation of the NCC II Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales proposed to organize a “Kumpisalang Bayan” that should be held in Luneta but most of the committees opposed the idea due to logistical difficulties.

Quitorio said he indeed liked the idea that the Cardinal has projected.

“That would have been a great media event had it been pushed through. It would be the first of its kind in the world.” he said.

Quitorio also said the lay people played a very active part in this congress and has helped in the success of the preparation of the event.

The laity will have their chance to hear Cantalamessa when he gives a day-long conference for lay people at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.

He then stated that media priests, like them, have been helping the lay people in their spiritual renewal through their engagement in media.

“Being media priests is also a big help since we try to bridge the retreat between priests and the laiko by airing live over the radio, TV and even online the reflections of Fr. Cantalamessa,” Quitorio said.

(Kate Laceda)