Bikol Priests Gather in Albay

BACACAY, Albay, Nov. 10, 2009- At least 400 priests from the Archdiocese of Caceres and the Dioceses Legazpi, Sorsogon, Daet, Masbate, Libmanan and Virac have gathered at the Bethlehem Retreat Center, this town for their regional clergy retreat which began yesterday and will end on Friday.

The retreat is centered on the theme "Revisiting the Priesthood in the Light of St. John Mary Vianney's Life and Example."

Masbate Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, secretary general of the Union of Bicol Clergy said the regional clergy retreat is being held because of Pope Benedict XVI's proclamation of the period from June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010 as Year of the Priests, as integral part of the spiritual preparation for the 300th anniversary of the Peñafrancia Devotion in 2010 and the Golden Jubilee of the Union of Bicol Clergy.

He said Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, Virac Bishop Manolo A. Delos Santos, Daet Bishop Gilbert A. Garcera, Libmanan Bishop Jose R. Rojas, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo M. Bastes, SVD, Legazpi Apostolic Administrator Lucilo B. Quiambao and Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose C. Sorra are in attendance.

"All our speakers are priests from the Bicol region except for Professor Danny Gerona, an expert in the history of the Bikol church," Bishop Baylon said.

The prelate said the expenses for the event have been shouldered by the seven dioceses through individual donations.

"The Diocese of Legazpi also promised to help source funds," he said.

The Union of Bicol Clergy was organized in the late 50's. Fr. Teotimo C. Pacis, a Vincentian who became bishop of Palo, Leyte and Legazpi, initiated the organization of the UBC. He was then Rector of the Seminario del Santisimo Rosario.

Ever since it was established the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary played host to the UBC every September. During gathering the clergy engage themselves in various sports competitions

In a related development, Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose Sorra said the first Regional Clergy Congress was held in 1995 under the auspices the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Clergy then chaired by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal. (Fr. Louie Occiano/Melo M. Acuna)