Parish volunteers to get training for IEC security

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Parish Security Group members will undertake an orientation on criminal justice and training on crime prevention to better equip them on how to ensure the safety of parishioners.

This was initiated in preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016, as the PSG volunteers would serve as police force multipliers in safeguarding peace and order in their respective parishes.

“Kami nga nagsige og hangyo sa kagamhanan sa isyudad, dako kaayo among kalipay nga nadungog kini ug ang gipasalig sa siyudad namo nga ipaubos mi og seminar,” said PSG president Genaro Casio, who has served the Santo Rosario Parish, Cebu City for almost 40 years.

The PSG, a registered federation, has over 200 officials and members from over 20 parishes in the Archdiocese of Cebu.

The group started when the city, under the administration of former mayor Tomas Osmeña and with the help of then Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, agreed to form a separate security group for the churches or parishes.

It was prompted by intelligence reports on terrorism threats following a series of bombings in Mindanao.

Casio said that after the PSG was formed only the members from around 10 parishes were able to attend a seminar in 2000 and that even those present that time needed to refresh their learning.

Learning of their concerns, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella met with PSG officials yesterday to plan for the coming IEC next year.

Cebu City is set to host in 2016 the 51st IEC, 79 years after the first holding of the congress in the country in 1935, which was held in Manila.

The seven-day international gathering is an ecclesial event of the Roman Catholic Church focused on stimulating the faith of the Catholics in recognizing the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and on promoting the devotion to the Eucharist outside of the Mass.

Around 15,000 delegates, clergies, pilgrims and visitors are expected to join the event. — (FREEMAN)