CBCP marks 500 years of Christianity with online activities

MANILA, Philippines — As the Catholic Church celebrates 500 years of Christianity this April, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) would be maximizing social media’s potential by holding webinars, lecture series and other online activities in place of physical gatherings to ensure that the faithful are safe amid the pandemic.

At a press conference on Thursday, Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the CBCP, said the Church would commemorate the first baptism in the country “according to health [measures]” since many will not be accommodated in churches.

The Jubilee Year opens on April 4, while the second National Mission Congress, Mission Sending and closing of the Jubilee Year is on April 18 to April 22.

This year’s theme is “Missio Ad Gentes (Mission to the World).”

“All Christians are ‘gifted to give.’ This ‘giftedness’ motivated generous missionaries over the centuries; it must also enflame the hearts of all of us today to engage in mission here at home and in other countries,” Valles said in a pastoral statement.

“Indeed, this is part of Jesus’ mission mandate to his disciples: ‘What you have received as a gift, give as a gift’ (Mt 10:8). We pray for a missionary renewal of our Church—both at home (ad intra) and beyond our borders (ad extra) during our celebration of the 500 years—and into the future!” Valles said.