A Philippine bishop has called on Catholic dioceses nationwide to step up support for overseas Filipino workers affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, urging parishes to pray and provide pastoral care.
Bishop Socrates Mesiona, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, urged dioceses to monitor families of overseas workers and ensure they receive pastoral care and practical assistance.
Such support may include spiritual accompaniment, access to sacraments, counseling and coordination with Church charities and local government units, he said.
He also called on dioceses and parishes to organize special prayers for peace in the Middle East, including intentions during Sunday Masses and dedicated prayer gatherings.
“We firmly believe in the transformative power of prayer, as modeled by the Church’s unwavering intercession for peace amid violence,” Mesiona said in a letter to dioceses on Wednesday.
He emphasized the Church’s role in promoting peace and solidarity, especially during conflicts that affect vulnerable communities across borders.
“In these efforts, may we bishops lead by example, embodying the Church’s solicitude as a mother to all her children, especially the displaced and afflicted,” he said.
Mesiona, apostolic vicar of Puerto Princesa, said the prolonged violence continues to inflict suffering on civilians, including more than two million Filipinos in the region.
He said many overseas workers face uncertainty, displacement and separation from their families as tensions persist across several areas.
“It is the ordinary people — civilians, families, and vulnerable workers — who bear the heaviest burden in such tragedies,” Mesiona said.
He added that the Department of Migrant Workers has been monitoring the situation and providing assistance in coordination with other government agencies.
Mesiona commended the agency’s efforts and welcomed its request for closer collaboration with the Church in addressing both spiritual and emotional needs of workers and families.
