The 5th Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy (AACOM) is set to make a return to the Philippines, bringing together devotees and promoters of Divine Mercy from across Asia.
The Archdiocese of Cebu announced it will host the event at the IC3 Pavilion in Cebu City from October 14 to 19, under the theme “Divine Mercy: Pilgrimage of Hope in Asia.”
This year’s congress, first held in Manila in 2009, is expected to draw around 5,000 participants.
According to Imma Alfon, the lay coordinator for Divine Mercy Philippines-Archdiocese of Cebu, the event will feature 1,000 slots for international delegates, with an equal number of slots distributed among the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions. Additionally, 1,000 slots will be reserved for local delegates from Cebu.
AACOM, which occurs triennially, serves as a platform for cardinals, bishops, priests, religious figures, and laypeople devoted to spreading the message of Divine Mercy throughout Asia.
It is a continuation of the World Congress on Mercy, which was initiated by the Vatican in Rome in 2008 and has since seen continental congresses held worldwide.
This year’s congress will feature prominent speakers, including Lithuanian Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius, where St. Faustina Kowalska reported visions of Jesus that led to the Divine Mercy devotion.
Another distinguished speaker will be Fr. Patrice Chocholski, Rector of the Shrine of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Ars, France, a noted theologian on Divine Mercy.
The event was last held in Penang, Malaysia, in 2018. The 5th AACOM was initially planned for Hong Kong in 2021 but was postponed due to the pandemic.
Registration for the upcoming congress will open on March 19, coinciding with the feast of St. Joseph, and will close on September 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For more information and updates, participants and interested parties are encouraged to visit the official AACOM Facebook page. The Philippines also had the honor of hosting the 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in January 2017. – CebuLifestyleChannel.ph