Word Conference (WordCon), now in its 7th year, is a project of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province of Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines, under the care of the Prefecture of Biblical Animation and Communications of the Claretian Missionaries and the Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI), in collaboration with Claret School of Quezon City (CSQC) was held on November 30, 2024, at the CSQC Auditorium, Quezon City, Philippines.
The theme of the Word Conference 2024 is PRAYING THE WORD OF GOD: “LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.” (LUKE 11:1) This is in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ where Pope Francis has designated 2024 as a Year of Prayer. The Pope encourages each faithful to continue praying in all seasons of life – in good times, in bad times, in times of hopelessness, in times of optimism, in times of sorrows, and in times of joys. We must constantly pray for God to work and transform us and our community. This year’s WordCon was a hybrid event attended by 208 participants: 138 onsite and another 70 joining online via Zoom. Online participants came from various cities in the Philippines in Metro Manila, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Bacolod City, and, as far as Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Macau. Just like the onsite participants, they were able to interact with the Speakers during the Sala (Open Forum).
The conference started with a creative Bible Enthronement led by the scholastics of the San Antonio Maria Claret Theology House. It was followed by the Opening Remarks of Fr. Amador Tumbaga, CMF, Provincial Superior of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province, who gave as an example the life of Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, CMF. Fr. Rhoel died a martyr, and God has prepared him to receive such a gift. He is a man of prayer, a man of the eucharist, a man of the word, humility, and a missionary dedicated to the Father.
Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF, General Consultor and Prefect of Biblical Ministry and Communications of the Claretian Missionaries, also joined the conference online from Rome and gave a very inspiring message to the organizers and participants of this year’s Word Conference. He encouraged the participants to be people of prayer by including in the objective of the conference the strengthening of commitment to prayer as the best way to teach others to pray.
Bishop-elect Fr. Elias Ayuban, Jr., CMF welcomed the participants by telling them that prayer is the heartbeat of our faith. Through prayer, the word of God comes alive in our hearts and transforms us from hearers to doers. He said that the conference is an opportunity to pray and experience its transformative power in our lives.
As highlighted, after embarking on the synodal process as a Church, Pope Francis invites us “to dedicate this year to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer in one’s personal life, the life of the Church, and the world.” As we journey together, we must recognize how prayer nurtures our faith and relationship with God. Moreover, when we pray, we are transformed into the image of Christ as a community of believers.
The first talk, THE WORD BECAME FLESH: The Word of God in Sacred Images and the Eucharist, was presented by Fr. Emil D. Valeza from the Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres. In his presentation, he discussed how the Word of God is “incarnated” in the sacred images created by artists through their prayerful reflection and how their artworks, e.g., paintings, carved images, drawings, and the like inspired by the Word of God help the Christian faithful pray more fervently and lead them in communion to Christ in the Holy Mass. Moreover, Fr. Emil presented the principles and methodology of Biblical Reception Theory, the role of visual artists as active readers of the Word of God, and how their artworks inspired by the Word of God bring the praying faithful to appreciate and love the Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Enrique Luzung, a priest from the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, shared his reflections on the presentation.
The second speaker, Sr. Bernardita Dianzon, FSP, focused her presentation on one of the most quotable New Testament passages, often used to begin a prayer meeting, fellowship, or introduce intercessory prayers. However, it is also listed among the biblical passages most taken out of context. The second talk, COMING TOGETHER IN PRAYER: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Mt 18:19-20), is commonly understood as Jesus’ promise of his presence to people who are united in prayer. The presentation of Sr. Bernardita Dianzon has a double thrust: first, to show the relevance of Mt 18:19-20 to the theme of this year’s Word Conference, and second, to interpret the passage in its broader context and discern its implications for us today as believers who gather in the name of the Lord.
Bro. Jesus Matias, OFS, author and a speaker on spirituality and the Franciscan life, shared his beautiful reflection on the presentation and imparted a prayer that the participants can use when praying together as a community.
In the afternoon, before the start of the third talk, Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF, Executive Director of the Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., shared with the participants the theme for the 2025 Word Conference and Conference on Mary, which will center on the Pilgrims of Hope. He thanked everyone, including the speakers, sharers, staff, and participants who came to participate in this year’s conference.
The third speaker, Fr. Arlo Bernardo Yap, SVD, the Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Biblical Apostolate, presented his talk on HUMILITY, THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mk 10:47). As we invoke God’s presence in our lives, we must remind ourselves that the foundation of prayer is HUMILITY (CCC #2559). When we cry out to God for mercy and compassion, we bow our heads before Him – as a person and a community – acknowledging that we are sinful, limited, and powerless. Fr. Arlo started his presentation by defining the origin of humility, which is humus – soil, ground, and earth. He highlighted scripture passages that are relevant in the understanding of humility; there is the story of Zacchaeus, there is the image of thanksgiving in the Cleansing of the Ten Lepers (Lk 17:11-19), the image of forgiveness in the story of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32) and the image of healing in the story of the Woman with hemorrhage (Mk 5:25-34). Humility, therefore, is being open and receptive to God.
Sr. Dulce Emmanuel Inlayo, OCD, the present Novice Mistress of Infanta Carmel, shared her heartfelt reflection on the presentation online.
The last speaker, Fr. Stuart Patrick Chalmers, a priest of the Diocese of Aberdeen, Scotland, presented his talk on PRAYING THE OUR FATHER: A Summary of the Gospel. His presentation was drawn from a phrase used by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and rooted in the Church Fathers, which reminds us that the Word of God is condensed into the Lord’s Prayer in such a way that, if we meditate slowly on the prayer of our Lord and Master, we will be drawn into meditating upon all of the mysteries of his life, death, and resurrection. Moreover, the Our Father leads us to reflect on the mystery of salvation and God’s infinite love for us. His presentation examined the writings of the Church Fathers to help us recognize the richness of the Lord’s Prayer and to see it as the doorway to the whole Gospel.
Fr. Salvador Agualada, Jr., CMF, President of Saint Anthony Mary Claret College (SAMCC) and Dean of the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA), gave an in-depth sharing of the presentation.
To end the conference, Fr. Alejandro Gobrin, CMF, Prefect of Biblical Animation and Communications, stressed the importance of coming together to pray and reflect on the Word of God. He shared that this event was a beautiful way to end the liturgical year as we embark and look forward to a new liturgical year with hope. A concelebrated Eucharistic celebration followed with Fr. Stuart Patrick Chalmers as the main presider.
Mr. Alvin Macaranas, from the Kapatirang Claretiano, Inc. and Coordinator of the Christian Living Education Subject Area, Ateneo De Manila Senior High School, and Ms. Ma. Myra Inocencio, a Grade School Culinary Arts Instructor at St. Paul College Pasig and PREX Coordinator at the IHMP, moderated the Q&A during the Sala. Fr. Julius Jose A. Coching, CMF, Parish Priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, hosted the event. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate endorsed the WordCon 2024, while LiCAS.news, Veritas 846, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, and TV Maria served as the event’s Media Partners.
By: Robert U. Laurio
