Papal preacher to address laity during clergy congress

THE laity in the Philippines will have the rare chance of hearing the Papal preacher speak to them in a day of conference during the National Congress of the Clergy.

The day-long event aims to encourage the laity “to co-journey with the priests during the Second National Congress on the occasion of the year for Priests.”

Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, preacher to the Papal household will speak to lay people on the topics “Clergy and Laity relationship” and “Marriage and Family According to the Bible.”

As preacher to the Papal household, Cantalamessa has delivered weekly meditation, during Advent and Lent, in the presence of the Holy Father, the Cardinals, the bishops of the Roman Curia and the general superiors of religious orders. He also gives retreats and formation sessions to lay people.

The conference, slated at the Araneta Coliseum on January 28 from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m., is expected to draw thousands of lay people and religious men and women.

Open to the public, the event is being organized by the Episcopal Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines through the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas.