The five-day national conference on Blessed John Paul II’s Nuptial Theology held in Bacolod ended yesterday, with participants saying they feel renewed in their mission to continue the Pope’s apostolic work and to strengthen their Family and Life Ministries.

Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, one of the delegates, said, “The conference was very successful. I myself feel renewed with this new evangelization.”

Pueblos said the nuptial theology is not new in its essence but the way it was presented in the conference—giving emphasis to the basic principles on family and marriage— was interesting and very inspiring.

He said he will do a little restructuring of the Family and Life Ministries in his Diocese to re-focus more on the basic principles on nuptial theology.

Retired General Enrique Bulan of the Philippine National Police who came with his wife Celia, said they are newly appointed to the Commission on Family and Life by Military Ordinariate Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, and they have learned more on what to do in their mission.

The Military Ordinariate, a nationwide Diocese based in Camp Aguinaldo, does family ministries to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PNP and the Philippine Coast Guard, Bulan said.

“The nuptial theology was presented academically but then it is now a challenge to us to present it to the soldiers, policemen, including the firemen, coast guards, and jail officers, and their families, in a way that it is simple and it does not deviate from the theology,” he said.

“When we go home, we hope to tell our Military Bishop the good news of Pope John Paul II’s Nuptial Theology, which can revolutionize awareness of the importance of Marriage and Family,” Celia Bulan said.

“The single most beautiful thing that happened in this conference is the gathering of the people of God from 33 Dioceses around the country, each with a degree of maturity of faith, and with a common love to protect the family and marriage,” she added.

The national conference, titled “Blessed John Paul II’s Nuptial Theology: Call to Family Ministry, Agenda for Humanity,” was held February 13 to 17 at the Planta Centro Bacolod Hotel and Residences.

It was attended by more than 150 delegates composed of Diocesan directors and executive officers of the Commissions on Family and Life, heads of Family Life Movements and Catholic schools, Family Life ministers, and clergy.

It highlighted the Totus Tuus! Week, which ends Monday and celebrates the 31st anniversary of the visit to Bacolod of Pope John Paul II, on February 20.*

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