By Fr. Rex Rocamora, SSC
As Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue (CBCP-ECID), I serve as the focal person for the Mindanao Bishops in revitalizing the Bishops-Ulama Conference, now known as Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference (MiRLeC). I work closely with the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue team of bishops composed of Bishops Edwin de la Peña of Marawi, Leo Dalmao of Basilan, Charlie Inzon of Jolo, Archbishop Angelito Lampon of Cotabato, and Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro,
Our first meeting took place on August 20-21 in Davao City, where we discussed revitalizing the Bishops-Ulama Conference.
On October 7, Bishop de la Peña, Msgr. Ramon Torres, Bishop Ledesma, and I traveled from Cagayan de Oro to Davao City via Talakag, stopping for lunch at a halal restaurant near Davao’s Arakan Valley Crossing before reaching the Blue Lotus Hotel for our meeting.
After six weeks of planning with focal persons, the technical working group, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), we reconvened in Davao on October 8-9. This gathering included 24 Muslim Ulama and leaders, 20 bishops and Christian leaders, 3 Indigenous Peoples representatives, and 10 Civil Society Organizations as observers.
During Session 3, I facilitated the drafting of the group’s Vision and Mission. To prepare, I researched the peace process and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Participants were initially divided into two groups—the ‘Sultan team’ and the ‘Saints team’ — and then further into six groups to collaboratively work on the key elements of the VMGO (Vision, Mission, Goals, Objectives, Values, Context). The ‘Dream Team’ then finalized the draft. In the plenary session, they presented the final VMGO, and the Dream Team was awarded the ‘World Cup’ (printed with Coffee For Peace | Stop Wars) for their successful efforts.
On October 10, we headed back to Cagayan de Oro, joined by Bishop Jose Cabantan, while Bishop Tony Ledesma traveled to Korea to give a talk on Interreligious Dialogue. Along the way, we attended the blessing of MerGrande Mountain Resort, where we enjoyed a bountiful serving of durian. Upon arriving in Cagayan De Oro, we went straight to the Bishop’s house and relaxed over coffee.
Later, back in my room, I celebrated the day with the bottle of Guinness that Bishop Edwin had given me, remembering how, on October 10, 1916, Bishop Edward Galvin met with the Irish bishops and received approval for a new Missionary society. Now, in 2024, we continue to realize God’s dream.
(You may also want to join us in celebrating a journey of faith, understanding, and shared stories as Marjorie Engcoy, Columban JPIC-Mindanao Animator, takes us on their pilgrimage to Simunol. Check here.)