Philippine Bishops Urged to Accompany People in their Wounds ahead of Plenary Assembly

Catholic bishops in the Philippines were urged to become shepherds who accompany people in their deepest wounds as the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) opened its annual retreat on July 3.

Presiding over the opening Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Archbishop Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz reflected on St. Thomas the Apostle, saying the disciple's encounter with the risen Christ offers a model of pastoral leadership rooted in truth, compassion, and solidarity.

"Wherever there is death, wherever there is loss, wherever there is a question of justice, that is where we place our finger," Archbishop Jumoad said in his homily. "A shepherd does not change the subject when his sheep are bleeding."

The annual retreat brings together bishops from across the country for three days of prayer, reflection, and fraternity ahead of the CBCP's 132nd plenary assembly scheduled for July 8 to 10.

Drawing from the feast of St. Thomas, the archbishop said the apostle rejected "a faith that ignores wounds," emphasizing that genuine faith confronts human suffering rather than avoiding it.

"Our people are not 'negative' when they ask hard questions after tragedy," he said. "They are being Thomas. They are demanding a faith that touches reality."

Without mentioning specific political figures, Archbishop Jumoad referred to recent events that have caused grief among Filipinos, including calls for accountability in public life, deadly flooding in Cebu, and communities recovering from the recent strong earthquake in Mindanao.

He reminded the bishops that the Church's prophetic mission is to stand beside those who suffer while defending the dignity of every human person without becoming partisan.

"If we speak strongly on political division, we must speak just as tenderly on every loss of life," he said. "We are not called to be anti-anyone. We are called to be pro-life, pro-truth, pro-justice."

The archbishop also stressed that Christian concern for justice must always be rooted in Christ.

"Justice without Christ becomes bitterness. But Christ without justice becomes empty words," he said. "First, we touch the wounds with compassion… Then, only after touching, we fall on our knees."

Addressing the faithful, Archbishop Jumoad acknowledged the many hidden wounds carried by Filipinos, including grief, unemployment, debt, broken families, natural disasters, and social divisions. He encouraged the bishops to respond to suffering with mercy, charity, and reconciliation.

"When disaster strikes, let us not ask only, 'Who is to blame?' Let us also ask, 'How can I help?'" he said. "When we see suffering, let us respond with charity. When we see division, let us become instruments of reconciliation."

This year's bishops' retreat coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Ozamiz, celebrated under the theme, "Celebrating 75 Years of God's Faithfulness: Rooted in Communion, United in Participation, Growing in Mission."

The retreat will continue until July 6 at the Archdiocesan Mission and Retreat Center (AMORAP) in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, before the country's bishops convene for their plenary assembly next week.