By Felipe Salvosa II | CBCP News
October 19, 2023
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP president, speaks during a press briefing on the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican, Oct. 18, 2023. SCREENSHOT FROM VATICAN NEWS VIDEO
ROME— The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) shone a spotlight on the growing role of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Church in the ongoing Synod of Bishops in the Vatican.
CBCP president Pablo Virgilio David, the bishop of Kalookan, said OFWs – whom he described as “reluctant” or “accidental” missionaries – need to be empowered as they were not specifically trained for this role.
“Filipinos especially overseas Filipino workers, are finding themselves in new situations all over the world and are forced by circumstances to become what we call ‘accidental missionaries,’” David said in a press briefing on Wednesday at the sidelines of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.