Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila on Friday opened the 11th Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization (PCNE) with a call for perseverance in faith and mission, urging the faithful to press on amid failure, sin, and uncertainty.
“Let us go on. Let us continue,” the cardinal said during the opening Mass at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion. “Let us continue in our faith in God and in our mission in the world.”
Now in its eleventh year, the three-day conference gathers Church leaders, religious communities, and lay faithful to reflect on synodality and missionary renewal. This year’s theme, “Padayon: A Synodal Witnessing of the Faith,” takes its name from a Visayan word meaning “to move forward” or “to continue.”
“We move forth, we journey on, we walk forward together,” said Cardinal Advincula. “We will continue.”
The Eucharistic celebration, held in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, marked the official opening of the event and was concelebrated by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, Bishop Mel Rey Uy of Lucena, and Bishop Daniel Presto of San Fernando, La Union.
It began with the enthronement of the image of the Sacred Heart led by Fr. Roy Bellen of the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Makati.
In his homily, Cardinal Advincula reflected on two key reasons to remain on the journey: God’s forgiving love and God’s persisting hope.
“God’s love is not ‘I love you if…’ or ‘I love you because…’ but ‘I love you even if…,’” he said. “God is telling us, ‘I love you even if you sin, even if you drift away from Me, even if you reject My love. I still love you.’”
He warned against letting sin or discouragement halt the mission of the Church. “Sin and failure are not reasons to stop the mission or to turn away from God,” he said. “The love of God allows us to continue with life, with faith, and with service.”
Reflecting on the Gospel parable of the lost sheep, the cardinal emphasized the character of a shepherd who refuses to abandon the one that strays, even if it is seen as a burden or risk.
“Even if we do not want to be found, God will still search for us. Such is the heart of God who persistently hopes in us,” he said. “God’s hope in our homecoming is a persisting hope, and His hope does not disappoint.”
Later in the day, UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., formally welcomed participants, followed by a perspective-setting message from Fr. Jason Laguerta, director of the PCNE.
In the opening plenary session, Cardinal David addressed the theme “Walking Together in Hope: Synodality and the Jubilee of Hope.” The prelate, who also serves as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, underscored the importance of dialogue, listening, and communion as the Church prepares for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
The conference also featured a Heart-to-Heart Talk titled “Signs of Hope,” where Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle engaged in conversation with three public figures whose lives reflect resilience and faith: basketball player L.A. Tenorio, veteran journalist Jessica Soho, and human rights advocate Edita Burgos.
In the afternoon, Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, delivered his reflection on the “profound truth that Christ’s love is both a deliberate choice and an enduring promise.”
The day concluded with Eucharistic Adoration, offering participants time for silent prayer and encounter with Christ. PCNE 11 runs until July 20, with sessions and activities designed to deepen the Church’s commitment to evangelization through the spirit of synodality.
“God’s forgiving love and God’s persisting hope—these are the graces that He has poured into our hearts and revealed in our lives,” Cardinal Advincula said. “Let us continue in our synodal journey. Let us go on. Let us continue.”
