Bataan hosts international gathering of Divine Mercy devotees

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – About 4,000 foreign and local Catholic leaders from 28 countries converged today, January 20, for the last leg of the 5-day 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM 4) with the theme “Communion in Mercy, Mission for Mercy”.

Starting at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral Archdiocese of Manila last January 16, the delegation proceeded to the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas Archdiocese of Manila (January 17), then to the National Shrine and Parish of Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Batangas Archdiocese of Lipa (January 18), and to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan Diocese of Malolos (January 19).

Three concurring talks simultaneously took place this morning at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Balanga City, another at the Divine Mercy Shrine also in Balanga, and at the Holy Land Sanctuary in Subic, Morong.

At noon, the devotees proceeded to Bagac at the world-class resort Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar for another talk, “Being Sent as a Church of God’s Mercy to the World “ delivered by HE Philippe Cardinal Barbarin, DD the Archbishop of Lyon, France, followed by an Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament by Most Rev. Isabelo Abarquez, DD, Bishop of Calbayog.  At 4PM, Most. Rev. Ruperto Santos, DD, Bishop of Balanga will deliver the homily. The devotees and promoters of Divine Mercy also visited the St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Bagac town.

A dinner and cultural show late in the afternoon at the picturesque Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar will mark the end of the WACOM 4.

Photo courtesy of Bagac Pride FB account.