Church leaders, workers meet in Cebu for confab

CEBU, Philippines - Church leaders and workers nationwide will gather in Cebu for the first ever Church People and Workers’ National Conference from September 12 to 15 at the Mariner’s Court at the Port area.

The event is being organized by the Archdiocese of Cebu. It is aimed at propagating social teachings of the church on labor, business and the economy as well as at contributing in the “quest for the improvement of workers’ conditions.”

The event is also in celebration of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Laborem Exercens (On Human Work) published on September 14, 1981. It says that the Church is convinced that work is a fundamental dimension of man’s existence on earth.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Mayor Michael Rama, and Msgr. Rommel Kintanar, honorary prelate of the Cebu Archdiocese, are expected to attend the opening of the event.

On September 13, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines will head the ecumenical prayer service, which will be followed by a message from Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

Rev. Angel Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro in Iloilo, is also expected to give a solidarity message. He will be followed by Rimando Felicia, head of IBON People’s Education Resource Center, who will speak on the topic, “Marginalization of Workers in the Era of Globalization.”

Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza will then speak on the Church teachings on human work.

Presentations, lectures, and workshops concerning human work will be facilitated by various church leaders.

On the last day, participants will participate in a solidarity walk from the Plaza Independencia to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral where Palma will celebrate the closing Eucharistic celebration at 10am. The conference, over all, aims to deepen the church people’s understanding of the workers’ plight, to forge wider and stronger unity, and make resolutions for concrete action in advancing workers’ rights.

“Before today’s forms of exploitation of the poor, the Church cannot remain silent,” said the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, quoting Pope John Paul’s Laborem Exercens.  (FREEMAN)