Philippine Church Urges Prayers for Overseas Filipino Workers Amid Middle East Tensions

The Church in the Philippines has called for intensified prayers and immediate government action as tensions escalate between Iran, Israel and the United States, raising concerns for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

In a statement dated March 2, the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro, through its Diocesan Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, appealed for spiritual solidarity and swift measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos in conflict-affected areas.

The statement was issued under the pastoral leadership of Bishop Moises M. Cuevas, Apostolic Vicar of Calapan.

“Our hearts are heavy as we witness the rising tensions in the Middle East, a region that serves as a second home to thousands of our fellow Filipinos, including many from our own province of Oriental Mindoro,” the statement read.

“Behind every report of a missile or a threat are the faces of our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who have sacrificed the comfort of home to work abroad for the welfare of their families,” it added.

Call to prayer

The Vicariate urged clergy, religious, and lay faithful to unite in prayer for peace and for the protection of OFWs, entrusting them to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Together with Bishop Moises M. Cuevas, we invite all the faithful, the clergy and the religious of the Vicariate to join in a unified prayer for peace,” the commission said. “May the Lord grant them safety, courage and a calm spirit amidst the threat of war.”

The statement also echoed the appeal of Pope Leo XIV, urging world leaders “to choose the path of diplomacy over the path of destruction” and to allow “the voices of the vulnerable to be heard over the sound of weapons.”

Appeal to government agencies

The Vicariate called on the Philippine government, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers, to act with urgency.

It urged the immediate activation of evacuation and repatriation protocols for Filipinos in high-risk areas, stressing that “no one should be left behind.”

The commission also called for the mobilization of adequate resources to safeguard the physical and financial security of displaced workers, as well as the establishment of transparent and accessible communication channels for families in Oriental Mindoro awaiting updates.

First Friday Mass offering

As a pastoral response, the Vicariate requested all parishes to dedicate their First Friday afternoon Mass on March 6 to the intentions of migrant families.

Parish priests were encouraged to offer the Eucharistic celebration for the protection of OFWs and to include special petitions in the Prayers of the Faithful, for the Church, for Filipino workers in the Middle East, for government officials addressing the crisis, and for families awaiting news of their loved ones.

“To our OFWs and their families: The Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan walks with you. You are not forgotten,” the statement concluded.

The appeal was signed by Fr. Jimson H. Ruga, director of the Diocesan Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.