Fr. Step

PASTORAL CONFERENCE ON ACCOMPANIMENT

In a spirit of prayerful reflection, listening, and pastoral charity, the Minor Basilica and Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag conducted a Pastoral Conference on Accompaniment with the theme, “Accompaniment and Encounter: Walking with LGBTQ+ Persons in the Church Today.”

The conference featured Bro. Edwin Albert T. Valles of Courage Philippines and Consultant to the CBCP and Episcopal Commission on Family and Life as the resource speaker. Through his presentation, participants were invited to deepen their understanding of the Church’s pastoral mission of accompanying persons with compassion, respect, and fidelity to the teachings of Christ and His Church.

Bringing together clergy, religious, parish workers, ministry leaders, and lay faithful, the gathering provided an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and reflection on authentic Christian accompaniment. Grounded in the Gospel and guided by the Church’s pastoral teachings, the conference emphasized the importance of walking with one another in truth, mercy, and love, while upholding the inherent dignity of every human person.

May this encounter inspire all who participated to continue building a parish community that listens with understanding, welcomes with charity, and accompanies others on their journey of faith, always guided by the compassionate heart of Jesus Christ.

In a message for the 45th anniversary of Couples for Christ, the pope encouraged married couples to draw strength from their union with Christ, saying the sacramental grace of marriage can deepen their love and strengthen their commitment to one another.

𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.