The first consecrated mass by the newly-appointed Bishop Chaplain of Iglesia Filipina Independiente for Migrants in Europe was celebrated yesterday March 1, at the Old Catholic Church parish in Amsterdam.
The mass was led by Bishop Antonio Ablon who used to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Pagadian. The IFI and the OCC entered into an agreement in 1965 to strengthen their cooperation, and the Holy Eucharist celebrated yesterday by an IFI Bishop at the altar of OCC is one of the manifestation of this agreement. Bishop Ablon is in Europe to give flesh to this agreement.
In his homily during the mass, Bishop Ablon reflecting on Matthew 4:1-11, talked about how greed and temptation have deprived the majority of the loving, caring and resources that they need.
As chaplain of migrants, Bishop Ablon hopes to reach out to many migrants, specifically Filipino migrants, to study and understand their situation, give spiritual guidance and counseling, and involve himself in projects and services relating to migrants’ physical and spiritual well-being. He will also pursue advocacy of migrant and human rights here in Europe.
Bishop Ablon will celebrate the Filipino mass for migrants (in English) every third Sunday of the month at the OCC in Ruysdaelstraat, Amsterdam, from 2pm to 4pm.###