by Leahna Villajos
MANILA (RVA News): Representatives from the Philippines to the October 2023 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops—or the Synod on Synodality, held at the Vatican, talked about the transformative potential of attentive listening characterised by humility and openness during the Philippine Conference for New Evangelisation [PCNE] on January 19 at the University of Sto. Thomas [UST] in Manila.
“Listening has transformative power, especially if we are listening with humility and openness,” said Jose Cardinal Advincula, the archbishop of Manila, during the Heart-to-Heart Talk segment on the first day of the conference.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines [CBCP], also said that it is true that humility in listening is important, but added that we must also listen to “the Spirit speaking through each other.”
Estella Padilla, one of the 70 lay members appointed by Pope Francis to join synod and the only layperson invited to the segment, also expressed that listening, particularly to the diverse stories, can be a transformative and beautiful experience.
Former archbishop of Manila, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who facilitated the segment, commented on the diversity of people, saying that sometimes it “threatens” us, but if we are ”open and listening, that is a treasure.”
For this reason Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig and CBCP vice president, believes that “there is hope, but we have to listen, we have to learn the truth, and we have to face reality even if it hurts.”
Through listening, people will learn about their differences and defects, but sometimes “the defect is on us; we believe that we are already the best,” Cardinal Advincula noted.
The cardinal further elaborated that it is important to learn each person’s differences. “Some people might have already gone far when it comes to their faith, and some might have just begun,” he pointed out.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Cardinal Tagle concluded the segment by expressing his conviction that synodality would continue further and that the contribution of everyone in the community would be essential. The participation of the clergy, religious and laity is vital if we all want betterment for the Church.
The Office for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation of the Archdiocese of Manila coordinated the PCNE in its 10th year, and it is back at its home at the UST Quadricentennial Pavillion.
It is also the first face-to-face gathering following the three-year Covid-19 pandemic. During the talks and segments on the first day of PCNE, the audience experienced an interactive session where they used their smartphones to scan QR codes to submit comments and answers to the panelists.
