THE RELIGIOUS and expert laity were urged to collaborate with exorcism ministries to combat the increasing number of demonic possessions and occult practices in the country, during the Third Conference on the Ministry of Spiritual Liberation at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. building last Aug. 20 to 24.
Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia, chief exorcist of the Archdiocese of Manila, said the spiritual liberation and exorcism ministry should involve Catholic medical professional, psychologists, and psychiatrists.
Echoing Syquia, Fr. Winston Cabading O.P., regent of the College of Education, said teamwork is essential for an effective ministry because it protects priests from “being over-burdened by ministering to spiritually afflicted people of unclean spirits.”
Occult practices and demonic activities can be fought by promoting a deeper understanding of Catholic faith and morals, Cabading added.
“In truth, the ministry is not focused on the Devil and evil spirits. The ministry is focused on bringing a person back to a healthy relationship with the Living God that has been interrupted by the intrusion of the enemy of the human race and our salvation,” he said.
Fr. Michell Joe Zerrudo, exorcist of the Diocese of Cubao, said the conference also promoted communion and brotherhood among priests.
“For the longest time, exorcists seem to work on their own and in their own dioceses. It was evident during the sharing of experiences how enthusiastic everybody was. For the first time, they were talking to a crowd of priests willing to listen because they were speaking the same language,” Zerrudo told the Varsitarian in an interview.
Ninety-one priests who are members of the Philippine Association of Catholic Exorcists (PACE) attended the conference.
PACE will also hold the first Asia-Pacific Conference on the Ministry of Spiritual Liberation in August 2019.
