BACOLOD City, April 19, 2013—The 21st National Convention for the Canon Law Society of the Philippines (CLSP) was held at the Planta Centro Bacolod Hotel and Restaurant, Bacolod City from April 8 to 11.
Around 80 Canon Lawyers and representatives from all over the Philippines attended the convention centered on the theme “Keeping the faith in the Year of Faith”.
To open the convention, a Solemn Inaugural Mass was held at the San Sebastian Cathedral led by Most Rev. Vicente M. Navarra, DD.
In his homily, he acclaimed, “Your theme ‘Keeping the Faith in the Year of Faith’ wonderfully encapsulates the meaning of the feast we are celebrating today. I believe it is a sheer grace that at the very opening mass of your gathering, Mary our mother emerges as a glorious figure setting the keynote of how it is to keep the faith, of how it is to celebrate the faith, of how it is to live the faith.”
Bishop Navarra stressed that in faith “there is no place for grasping, self-importance… because faith is about allowing God’s power not our own power to overshadow and engulfed us.”
He added that faith like in Mary’s example is the readiness to receive what God has in store for us, and quoted one famous theologian, by saying “the best things in life come to us when at the end of what we can accomplished we are ready to receive a gift”.
The convention proper started on April 9 with a welcome address by Bacolod Gov. Alfredo Marañon. Bishop Antonieto Cabajog, DD, JCL, chairman of Episcopal Commission on Canon Law gave the keynote address.
Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, JCD, executive secretary of CLSP gave the first lecture on the theme: “Keeping the Faith of the Unsung Heroes: Towards a Personal Circumscription for the OFW’s.”
The second lecture, given by Msgr. Rey Monsanto, JCD, vice president of CLSP for Mindanao dwelt on the topic, “Keeping the Faith the Bayanihan Way: Towards a set of Guidelines for BEC’s”.
Other activities on the following days included a workshop and LCD presentation of Final Drafts by corresponding groups, and a closing Mass on April 11 at the Planta Centro Bacolod.
CLSP is an association of Canon lawyers, mostly priests but not exclusively. Its membership admits those who have knowledge, practice and interest in canon law and may be classified as principal, associate or honorary members.
Aimed at rendering pastoral service to the Church through the apostolate of Canon law, the association was established with the approval of the CBCP as a non-stock and non-profit national public juridical person. (Adsum Bacolod)
