180 Malaysian delegates attend 4th WACOM Manila

KOTA KINABALU – Among the 753 foreign delegates attending the 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) on 16-20 Jan 2017 in Manila Philippines were 180 Malaysians.

Among the Malaysian delegates were Father Nicholas Stephen of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese and Father Stanley Matakim of Sandakan Diocese.

The congress themed Communion in Mercy, Mission for Mercy attracted over 4,000 local and foreign devotees including 300 priests, 40 arch/bishops and two cardinals.

The participants assembled Jan 16 at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral.  They were joined by church dignitaries headed by Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, papal nuncio;  Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen and president of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines; Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa; Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga and WACOM-Asia Episcopal Coordinator; Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos and WACOM National Episcopal Coordinator; Rev Patrice Chocholski, WACOM Secretary General; and Rev Prospero Tenorio, WACOM-Asia Secretary General.

The enthronement of the images of the Divine Mercy, Our Lady of Mercy, Saints Faustina, John Paul II, Padre Pio and Mother Teresa with morning prayers at the Royal and Pontifical University of Sto Tomas in Manila took place Jan 17.

On Jan 18, the participants went to the National Shrine and Parish of Padre Pio in Sto Tomas, Batangas.

They visited the designated 15 “Places of Mercy” in Bulacan province on Jan 19 like the Ephesus House Guiguinto, Nazareth Home for Street Children Bustos, Emmaus House of Apostolate Malolos City, Bethlehem House of Bread Baliwag, Bahay Kalinga Sta Maria, Hospicio San Juan de Dios for Men Bocaue and Galilee Home Dona Remedios Trinidad.

The pilgrimage culminated on Jan 20 at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Balanga, Bataan.

WACOM was introduced by the Vatican on 2-6 April 2008 in Rome Italy.

The first WACOM coincided with the third death anniversary of St John Paul II.  Since then mercy congresses have been organised on a regular basis:  each world congress is followed by a continental congress, and each continental congress by a national congress. – interaksyon.com