BISHOP Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan has raised concerns over declining church attendance and called for a renewed devotion to the Holy Eucharist as part of efforts to revitalize the spiritual life of parish communities.
Bagaforo issued the appeal during the Diocesan Eucharistic Revival and Adoration Congress on Dec. 7 that drew an estimated 17,000 participants.
“We want to restore among the faithful of the Diocese of Kidapawan a profound love and appreciation for the Holy Eucharist,” Bagaforo said, adding that the Eucharist “is the center of our Church and of our Christian communities.”
He said the revival effort responds to declining Mass participation, which he estimated at only about 20 percent of the diocese.
Strengthening devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, including promoting parish adoration chapels, has since become a key priority of the bishop.
Bagaforo outlined three main goals for the revival: deepening the faithful’s understanding of the Eucharist, reaffirming its place at the heart of Church life, and forming groups committed to Eucharistic devotion.
“We hope that Eucharistic Adoration will transform and sanctify the lives of the faithful in the Diocese of Kidapawan… May we become more God-centered and develop a deeper and more meaningful love for the Holy Mass,” he said.
