Alarcon reflects on 2025 and calls everyone to a Year of Participation as Cacerescelebrates its Diamond Jubilee in 2026

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat

Last December 29, 2025, the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Caceres gathered at Sundaze Hotel for their annual Christmas Party.

Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon celebrated the mass at the start of the gathering. In his homily, he emphasized the importance of celebrating the Holy Eucharist together.

“The Eucharist is at the core of our ministry,” Alarcon said. “It is Jesus whom we celebrate.” The prelate also reflected on the year, 2025, as it comes to an end.

2025 saw the election of a new Pope, Leo XIV. 3 Cardinals from the Philippines joined the Conclave that elected the first American and Augustinian Pope.

2025 was also the Jubilee Year of Hope. Several Churches were designated as Jubilee Churches across the Archdiocese including the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral and the Basilica Minore de

Peñafrancia.

2025 was a year characterized by several initiatives in line with Pope Francis’ call to Synodality. The pastoral thrust of the Archdiocese was “Magsabot pasiring sa Simbahan na nakikisumaro”.

As Alarcon went through the year, he also mentioned several national and archdiocesan events that shaped and continues to form the lay faithful of Caceres. Among these are the National Youth Day held in June 2025 and the annual Peñafrancia celebrations in May and September. The Archdiocese also joined the Trillion Peso March Movement both in October and November.

Pastoral initiatives included Congresses and Safeguarding Seminars for both the Clergy and the Lay. Organized by the Caceres Office for Women and Children Protection, the 1st Archdiocesan Parish Safeguarding Summit was held in February 2025.

The Family Ministry led the Penitential Walk for Life in March, while the Archdiocesan PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) Team initiated seminars and recruitment for volunteers for the midterm elections held in May.

In July, the Grand PREXtahan was done in Fuerte Sports Complex and in August, a Bioethical Conference on End-of-Life Care for Filipinos was organized by the Tomasinong Bikolano, which was

held at the Universidad de Sta. Isabel Auditorium.

Through every calamity, Caritas Caceres extended their relief efforts especially to far-flung areas, including the Diocese of Masbate which was terribly hit by Typhoon Opong in September.

On October 26, the annual Children and Youth Mission Festival organized by the Caceres Office for Mission and Evangelization was celebrated in Goa, Camarines Sur.

4 seminarians were ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in October and 2 deacons were ordained to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on December 12. The Archdiocese welcomed Fr. Joseph Bascuña and Fr. Leoneil Belen.

The Caceres Clergy had their annual retreat in November; and on November 21, it was announced that the Holy Rosary College of Theology will continue to be affiliated with the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Theology until 2030, as approved by the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

Lastly, the Archdiocesan closing of the Jubilee Year of Hope was held last November 30 at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

2026 is set to be the Year of Participation, as mentioned by Alarcon in his Pastoral Letter published on the 1st Sunday of Advent. Themed “Gabos Kaayon. Gabos may Gibuhon”, Alarcon calls everyone to a more participatory Church, which is also one of the key aspects of the 2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II).

As the Archdiocese celebrates its Diamond Jubilee in 2026, the prelate likened the facets of a diamond to a participatory Church.

“Like a diamond that has many facets for it to shine,” Alarcon said, “we too have our own roles to fulfill in our mission to make Christ known to everyone.”