Baguio City — The clergy of the Diocese of Cubao gathered for their annual five-day spiritual retreat, held at the tranquil Sta. Catalina Spirituality Center from October 6-10, 2025.
The gathering served as a profound opportunity for the priests to renew their commitment and reflect on their pivotal role as co-laborers of Christ within the Church’s ongoing journey toward synodality.
THE IGNATIAN WAY
This year’s retreat broke traditional molds by actively embracing the spirit of the synodal call for a “listening Church.” For the first time, the clergy was guided by a lay expert in Ignatian Spirituality, Bro. Mark Sheran Leosala of the Christian Life Community Philippines.
Bro. Leosala steered the retreat direction, providing the clergy with a unique perspective rooted in his expertise. His guidance offered a fresh lens for the priests to listen to the movements of the Spirit, both in their personal lives and in their demanding ministries. This choice highlighted a tangible commitment to the collaborative nature of the Church, where the contributions of the lay faithful are valued in the spiritual formation of the clergy.
OFFICIUM AMORIS
During the retreat’s opening Mass, Most Reverend Elias Ayuban, Jr., CMF, DD, the Bishop of Cubao, set the spiritual tone by reflecting on his episcopal vocation. He emphasized that his role as bishop is fundamentally an “officium amoris,” a Latin phrase meaning “office of loving,” especially directed toward his priests.
Bishop Ayuban articulated that he views the annual retreat not merely as a mandated spiritual exercise but as a vital opportunity to listen and to journey with his co-laborers in the Church. This sentiment underscored a relationship based on mutual care, support, and shared mission, forming a foundation of trust for the week’s proceedings.
A CALL TO NATIONAL REPENTANCE
On the second day, the spiritual introspection extended beyond the personal, shifting toward a national focus. The clergy actively participated in the **National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance**, a call issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
The Holy Hour for the Nation was led by Fr. Robert Reyes, Director of the Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation, and Urban Poor Ministry. The solemn observance provided a moment for the priests to intercede for the country, seeking forgiveness and spiritual renewal for the nation amidst current societal challenges.
REKINDLING CALL
In the central plenary talks, Bro. Leosala focused on the core theme of co-laboring with Christ. He drew heavily from the Gospel episode where Jesus calls his first disciples, prompting the priests to reflect on their primary identity as those chosen to guide, teach, and sanctify the people of God.
Bro. Leosala urged the clergy to rekindle their vocation stories—the specific, defining moments when they first felt God’s call to their beautiful and life-enriching vocation.
Furthermore, he deepened his spiritual challenge by urging the priests to renew their friendship with the Lord. He utilized the scriptural account of the miracle of the great catch as a point of meditation, inviting them to recapture moments of divine encounter in the often-overwhelming reality of their day-to-day ministry.
THE FRUITS OF SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION
The final days were dedicated to putting the principle of synodality into practice among the clergy themselves. In a session dedicated to spiritual conversation—a hallmark of Ignatian retreat work—the priests sat down to listen deeply to one another’s experiences in ministry.
Guided by the inner movements of the Holy Spirit, they engaged in honest and vulnerable sharing. They were invited to pinpoint the graces asked and received throughout the retreat, and to share the moments of consolation (spiritual upliftment and joy) and desolation (feelings of spiritual dryness or discouragement) they encounter in their pastoral work.
SIGNUS UNITATIS
Closing the retreat, the good Bishop of Cubao imparted to his clergy that “our God is a God of communion,” thus, the presence of the clergy should be a sign of unity and communion.
Before returning to their respective parish assignments, Bishop Ayuban reminded the priests in sustaining the three levels of communion: with the bishop, with fellow priests, and with the lay faithful.
Fresh from the press, Bishop Ayuban also emphasized the call of Pope Leo XIV on his aspiration for an intensified love for the poor, especially with the publication of his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te.
“A church of charity—that’s how I envisioned Cubao to be, and your parishes especially,” the Bishop highlighted.
WORDS OF GRATITUDE
Fr. Bong Tupino, the Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy, thanked the Bishop and all the priests who participated in this year’s retreat, especially those who presided the Mass and gave the homily. In a special way, he also expressed his gratitude to the community of Siena Dominican Sisters for their usual hospitality to the clergy of Cubao in their serene retreat house.
This shared spiritual journey reinforced the fraternity among the Cubao clergy, strengthening their unity and sense of shared mission as they returned to their respective parishes.