(Photo: Aid to the Church in Need)
MANILA, Nov. 11, 2016 – For the first time, people who have witnessed first-hand the struggles of persecuted Christians in places like Syria will bring their message to the Philippines at the 1st National Conference on Persecuted Christians on Nov. 12, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., San Pedro Poveda College, EDSA, Quezon City.
With ACN Philippines president Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas giving the keynote address, the conference features speakers from Syria, Basilan, and Marawi who will share about their experiences and the situation of persecuted Christians in high-conflict areas.
“The conference can be a venue for us to be really aware of the situation of our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their faith but [who] still continue to live the faith. As baptized Christians, it is our duty to help them like how we help members of our family who are suffering and in need,” said Jomar Luciano, ACN Philippines national director.
Organized by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Philippines, the event, which is free and open to the public, aims to “to create awareness [about] the situation of the persecuted Church as well as to discover ways to be in solidarity with them.”
The event’s programme is as follows:
1:00 p.m. – Registration (Participants can walk-through the ACN exhibit while waiting fo rthe conference to start.)
2:00 – National Anthem
2:05 – Invocation – Body Prayer by Don Bosco volunteers
2:10 – Welcome Remarks – Mr. Jonathan Luciano, ACN Philippines National Director
2:15 – Keynote Address – Most. Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, ACN Philippines President
2:25 – Aid to the Church in Need: Video presentation
2:31 – Video intro speaker #1
2:32 – Most. Rev. Antoine Chbeir (Maronite Bishop of Lattaquia – Tartous – Syria)
2:52 – Video Intro Speaker #2
2:53 – Most. Rev. Montfort Stima (Bishop of Mangochi, Malawi)
3:13 – Intermission – Il Volo Choir
3:20 – Video Intro Speaker #3
3:21 – Madame Majd Jalhoum (Volunteer from Homs, Syria)
3:39 – Video Intro Speaker #4
3:40 – Most. Rev. Martin Jumoad (Diocesan Administrator of Basilan, Archbishop-elect of Ozamis)
4:00 – Closing Remarks – Baron Johannes Heereman von Zuydtwyck, Aid to the Church in Need International Executive President
4:10 p.m. – Penitential Rites / Commitment Rites / Closing prayer – Most. Rev. Socrates B. Villegas
Interested parties may register onsite. Admission is free. (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz / CBCPNews)
