The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) opened its first-ever retreat in Bohol province on Monday, marking a historic step in the Church’s ongoing journey of synodality. At the welcome Mass at Dauis Church, Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy greeted more than a hundred bishops and synodal delegates — a mix of priests, consecrated persons and laypeople — with a message of urgency and hope. “The bishop’s decision to come to Bohol is not just for a change in venue,” he said. “It is deeply symbolic. Like Jesus moving from village to village, he said, the bishops came not just to rest but to reflect, pray and walk with the people.
Drawing from the day’s Gospel and the Genesis story of Abraham interceding for Sodom, Uy addressed the moral, social and spiritual wounds faced by Filipino communities — from fractured families and disillusioned youth to systemic injustice and poverty. “We often carry the burden of seeing the bigger picture,” he said, “but Genesis reminds us: God looks for even the few, the faithful remnant, to justify His mercy.” He added: “We do not preach doom. Why? Because our God is not only just. He is merciful.” The retreat is part of the CBCP’s broader synodal journey, aligned with Pope Francis’ call for a Church that listens, discerns and walks together. Uy captured this spirit by urging the Church to embrace its vocation as an intercessor.” Let the Church be found on its knees — not in fear, but in hope,” he said. “To our bishops and priests: When we kneel in prayer for our people, when we speak prophetically on behalf of the poor and voiceless, we become part of that sacred tradition of not giving up on the city, the nation and the people,” he added. Reflecting on the cost of discipleship, Uy also spoke candidly about the loneliness and exhaustion many in the ministry feel today. “Some of us have faced betrayal, burnout or financial burdens,” he said. “Many priests feel tired, alone or misunderstood. And yet we continue. Why? It’s because we are not chasing burdens — we are following a Person.” “He does not promise security,” he added. “But He promises Himself.” This year’s retreat holds added significance as it coincides with the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope. Hosting the CBCP in Bohol — known for its deep Catholic roots and vibrant lay involvement — underscores the Church’s desire to root its future direction in the lived faith of ordinary Filipinos. In closing, Uy thanked the people of Bohol for their generosity and faith. “Let us repay their kindness with our prayers,” he said. As the bishops and synodal delegates begin their four-day retreat, reflection and consultation, they carry with them the prayers of a nation and the challenges of a Church seeking renewal. “May we leave this gathering not just with strategies,” Uy said, “but renewed in the spirit of Christian hope — stronger than death, deeper than sin and more enduring than the unworthiness of this world.”
After the retreat, the bishops will hold their 130th plenary assembly, the highest decision-making body of the CBCP, that will be held in the neighboring Diocese of Talibon on July to 5 to 7.
Source: CBCP News, Philippines
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