By Crisel Dionisio The Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) 2026 Media Conference gathered 19 media partners and key collaborators in Camarines Sur last August 10, 2026 at the Johanine Hall of the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. Fr. Francis A. Tordilla, director of Caceres Commission on Communications, started the event with his opening remarks. In his speech he welcomed and acknowledged all the participants and media personnel present in the conference. After which th

By Lilette P. Manauis The Camino de Peñafrancia (CDP) embarks on its fifth year with new paths, new spiritual director, and new partnerships as the pilgrimage starts on August 30, 2026 in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, then proceeds through Albay and continues to Camarines Sur. The pilgrimage culminates on September 11, 2026, coincides with the Traslacion and completes a 13-day spiritual journey. The devotion grows in participation and spreads in church itineraries as the Diocese

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat Three ecclesiastical territories in the Bicol region marked their 75th anniversaries this week, commemorating a historic Church reorganization that reshaped Catholic governance across southern Luzon. The milestone traces its roots to Pope Pius XII’s 1951 papal bull Quo in Philippina Republica, which elevated Caceres to a metropolitan archdiocese and created the dioceses of Legazpi and Sorsogon. The Archdiocese of Caceres celebrated the diamond jubilee

By Jonnah Abellano The Archdiocese of Caceres marked a significant milestone on June 29, 2026, celebrating the 75th anniversary of its elevation to an archdiocese. Rather than focusing on grand celebrations, the observance emphasized “system-building,” highlighting efforts to strengthen structures that promote greater participation of the faithful in the life and mission of the Church. To ensure long-term pastoral vitality, the Archdiocese introduced four updated structural f

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat “This is a call and prayer for accountability, truth, justice, and responsibility in our country.” With these words, Bishop Herman Abcede of Daet urged the clergy, religious and lay faithful to participate in the White Ribbon Movement March on June 28, Sunday. Abcede issued the circular regarding the March yesterday, Feast of St. John the Baptist. “In solidarity and support for the White Ribbon Movement March, I encourage everyone to wear white when a

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat Slated on July 26 at the Archbishop Legaspi Hall of the Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia, the Gawad Josefina Bakhita 2026: A Diamond Legacy of Championing Safety and Protection of Women and Children aims to showcase the initiatives and groundwork of those deeply committed to promote and defend the safety, dignity, healing, and protection of women and children. According to its organizer, the Caceres Office for Women and Children Protection (COWCP) head

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat At the Good Shepherd Chapel of the Holy Rosary Major Seminary in Naga City, priest formators, teachers, students, and seminarians of both the Holy Rosary Major and Preparatory Seminaries gathered for the Mass of the Holy Spirit yesterday, June 10. Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon officiated the mass that opened the new academic year. In his homily, Alarcon underlined the importance of being a participative Church and called on the seminarians t

By Jonnie M. Dulfo & Adriell B. Soreta As part of its continuing preparations for the celebration of 450 years of faith and Christian community, the St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Bula, Camarines Sur recently gathered parishioners, devotees and local residents in three meaningful events that highlighted the Parish’s rich heritage, vibrant devotion and strong sense of community. Under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Rolando Canonce, Parish Priest, the celebrations were designed not onl

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat "Do not be mere spectators." Speaking to hundreds of devotees of Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, at the Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia in Naga City last May 22, Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon emphasized the pillars of a synodal church: communion, participation and mission. Devotion must deepen our sense of communion with others, the Archbishop said. "It must let us grow in empathy, compassion and solidarity towards others." "We desire a Church t

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat At the novena mass held in honor of Mary, Mother of the Church last May 20, mass presider and homilist, Bishop Luisito Occiano of Virac, highlighted the significant contributions of the Daughters of Mary (DM) sisters not only to the Philippine local Church, especially in the Bicol region where they take root, but also to the many Dioceses abroad where the sisters have been present as missionaries. Reflecting on the Wedding at Cana, Occiano highlighted

By Jonnah Abellano and Lilette Manauis Two hundred thirty nine delegates from various parishes, schools and religious organizations from across the Bicol region transformed the halls of Naga City's Our Lady of Peñafrancia Minor Basilica into a hub for modern evangelization on May 18, 2026, in a historic bid to claim the "digital continent" for the faithful. The conference, titled "Communicating Christ," marked the pioneering regional gathering of Social Communications (SocCo

By Hannah Brockhaus/EWTN News The Vatican announced Monday that Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical will be published on May 25 with the title Magnifica Humanitas. Pope Leo will speak at a presentation for the release of the social encyclical — a papal letter to the Church — at 11:30 a.m. Rome time on May 25 in the Vaticanʼs Synod Hall. The Vatican also confirmed that the full title of the encyclical is Magnifica Humanitas: “On the Protection of Human Dignity in the Age of Artifi

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat Over 230 participants gathered last May 18 at the Archbishop Legaspi Hall of the Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia in Naga City for a regional conference and workshop organized by the Archdiocese of Caceres for Social Communications Ministries. Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (CBCP ECSC), celebrated the mass that capped the whole-day ev

by Fatima Sola Bandin The Caceres Youth Commission of the Archdiocese of Caceres successfully conducted the Archdiocesan Conference of Youth Ministers (ACYM) last May 9-10 at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary. Guided by the theme “Katood: Gabos Kaayon, Gabos May Gibuhon”, the ACYM gathered youth directors, ministers, formators, and leaders across the various vicariates to discern the future of the youth ministry in the Archdiocese. Pagsalingoy On its first day, themed “Pagsaling

By Jonnah C. Abellano Strengthening the spirit of service within the local church, 897 lay liturgical ministers from the Bay District gathered at the Magarao Convention Center on Saturday, May 2, 2026, for the Summer Liturgical Program. The Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission organized the event, which drew a significant turnout of 472 Lectors, 180 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC), 135 Collectors, and 110 members of the Mother Butler Guild (MBG). This gatherin

by Roj Falcon The Archdiocese of Caceres enjoined once again the altar servers from its different parishes for the annual Archdiocesan Camping for Altar Servers (ACAS) with the theme: “Altar Servers called to be Missionary Disciples” from April 14-16, 2026 held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Carolina, Naga City. It was attended by 334 participants from Partido District, 275 from Central District, 241 from Bay District, 405 from Rinconada District with a total of 1265 pa

By Tere Esmeralda-Medina NAGA CITY — The Archdiocese of Caceres through Caritas-Caceres (Naga) Inc., the social action arm of the Archdiocese, has organized a series of orientation seminars on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), Climate Change adaptation (CCA) and Emergency Response for the clergy and parish volunteers. This aims to better equip the Parish Disaster Response (PaDRe) Teams during calamities. Themed “Serving Safely, Responding Faithfully", the first

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat Themed "Together for Families: Rekindling the Mission", the Archdiocesan Family Ministry General Assembly gathered one hundred sixty-three family ministers last April 11, Saturday, at the Sts. Lois and Zélie Martin Auditorium of the Holy Rosary Major Seminary in Naga City. Family Ministry Director, Fr. William Santiago, gave the plenary talk, emphasizing the need to strengthen the Ministry as it approaches its Silver Jubilee. Through the General Assem

by Major Francisco NAGA CITY - The Parish of San Francisco de Asis hosted its first Parish Saradit na Kristianong Komunidad (SKK) Day on Wednesday, March 25, welcoming members from the barangays of San Francisco, Dayangdang and Tinago. The gathering, held at the Parish Hall, aimed to strengthen faith, foster belonging and encourage missionary discipleship under the theme “Believing. Belonging. Becoming.” Organized by Rev. Deacon Mark Kevin Alba, the event brought together 1

By Fr. Francis Tordilla A light yet meaningful encounter with Pope Francis opened the Archbishop of Caceres’ homily during the Chrism Mass on April 1, 2026, at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral—setting the tone for a deeper reflection on mission, anointing, and service. Recalling his Ad Limina visit in 2019, Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon shared how Pope Francis, upon greeting him, remarked: “Che odore!” —seemingly noticing a scent. Initially unsure whether it was the perfume he