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The Philippines is once again privileged to hold another international spiritual gathering, this time the fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM 4) where thousands of delegates from all over the world are expected to gather in the country from January 16 to 20, 2017.
With the theme, “Communion in Mercy; Mission for Mercy”, WACOM4 aims to accelerate the culture of mercy in the Church and in the world and as the bastion of Christianity in Asia and the world’s third-largest Catholic population, the Philippines is presenting this international congress as a “Pilgrimage of Mercy” that will bring delegates to different holy places each day. This congress offers an opportunity for all to be oriented to the Filipinos’ lived faith in Jesus, the Divine Mercy Incarnate.
On its first day, January 16, 2017, delegates will gather at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral where the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines Most Rev. Giuseppe Pinto, D.D. and His Eminence Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, D.D. as homilist will preside the opening Mass.
Day two (January 17, 2017) is dedicated for the reflection on the benevolence of God who abundantly nurtures His children with His love and mercy which will be held at the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila. His Eminence Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, D.D., (The Church is Called to be a Communion in the Love and Mercy of God in Jesus Christ) WACOM4 Secretary General Rev. Fr. Patrice Chocholski, (The Church receives and celebrates the Mercy of God through the Word and Sacraments especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation) Rev. Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, (The Church is the Servant and Witness of God’s Mercy) and Archbishop of Medan, Indonesia Most. Rev. Anicetus Bongsu Sinaga, OFM Cap, D.D. (The Church is Sent to be Missionary of Mercy to the Poor and Suffering of the World) will deliver the first four major talks for the Congress. Each talk will be followed by testimonies by some of the guests each day.
Meanwhile, His Eminence Lyon, France Archbishop Philippe Cardinal Barbarin, D.D., will preside the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist, with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Most Rev. Socrates Villegas, D.D. as homilist.
The National Shrine and Parish of Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Batangas will be the venue for the third day of the congress (January 18) where delegates may avail the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a hundred and twenty priests scheduled to hear confessions from 9am to 4:30pm. Bishop Emeritus of Novaliches, Most Rev. Teodoro Bacani, D.D. will deliver a talk on “Remembering and Celebrating the Mercy of God as a Forgivien and Forgiving Community” and Most Rev. Antonio Maralit, D.D. and Msgr. Josefino Ramirez will give their testimonies.
In the afternoon, Archbishop Emeritus of Manila His Eminence Gaudencio Rosales, D.D. will preside the Holy Eucharist with the Archbishop of Lipa, Most Rev. Ramon Arguelles D.D. as homilist.
The fourth day (January 19) will be a grand day of festivities showcasing the typical Filipino hospitality at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan. In the morning, international delegates will be brought to fifteen designated “Places of Mercy” in various locations in Bulacan where they will witness the corporal and spiritual services given to the less fortunate.
In the afternoon of day four, CBCP –NASSA (National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace) National Director Most Rev. Rolando Tria Tirona, OCD, D.D. will deliver the talk “Witnessing to the Mercy of God as the Church of and for the Poor” with Mr. Antonio Meloto of Gawad Kalinga and Rev. Fr. Aurelio Perez, FAM to give their testimonies.
Bishop of Minna, Nigeria Most Rev. Martin Uzoukwu, D.D. will lead the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Bishop of Malolos Most Rev. Jose Francisco Oliveros, D.D. as homilist. To follow is the blessing and dedication of the 100-ft statue of the Divine Mercy, (the world’s tallest) atop a four story multi-purpose building to perpetuate the memory of WACOM 2017. Day four will culminate with sumptuous barrio fiesta dinner and song and dance performances for all the delegates.
The last day of the congress (January 20), will be held at the Diocese of Balanga in the historic place of Bataan. Lyon, France Archbishop His Eminence Philippe Cardinal Barbarin, D.D. will deliver the final talk “Being Sent as a Church of God’s Mercy to the World”. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist will be presided by Nueva Segovia Archbishop Most Rev. Marlo Peralta, D.D. with Balanga, Bataan Bishop Most Rev. Ruperto C. Santos, D.D. as homilist.
The congress will be concluded with the announcement of the next host country for WACOM5 and a mission sending ceremony by the sea, where all the delegates to the WACOM 4 will come together to receive the mandate to spread to all the corners of the earth, the joy, the bliss and privilege and the opportunity to proclaim the unfathomable mercy of God!
The World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) is an international gathering of Divine Mercy devotees and promoters such as bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters and the laity convened every three years. It was first introduced by the Vatican on April 2-6 2008 in Rome, Italy. It coincided with the third death anniversary of St. Pope John Paul II. From then on, mercy congresses have been sustained on a regular basis so that after every world congress was followed by a continental congress on the following year by a national congress then back to another world congress. The second WACOM was held in Krakow, Poland from October 1 to 5, 2011 and the third was held in Bogota, Columbia from August 14 to 18, 2014.
To know more about WACOM 2017, visit the official website, www.WACOM4.com.
