After more than a year of construction, Caritas Philippines inaugurated its new convention center on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Known as the Mother of Grace Convention Center, the facility is located inside the Caritas Philippines Development Center in Tagaytay City. Its blessing was led by papal nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of the national Caritas, said the new facility symbolizes “faith, love, and a shared mission to serve God’s people.”
“[It’s] more than a building. It is a dream fulfilled, a space consecrated to communion, and a home for renewal and collaboration,” Bagaforo said.
He said the center was conceived in response to the Church’s call to live out synodality — “to walk together, listen to one another, and act as one community of faith.”
“Here, conversations will be rooted in faith. Here, decisions will be guided by the Gospel. Here, hearts will be formed for mission, mercy, and compassion,” he added.
With a seating capacity of up to 700 persons, the facility is designed to host major synodal and pastoral gatherings, as well as serve as a resource hub for diocesan social action centers.
It also forms part of Caritas Philippines’ Seven Legacy Programs and its expanded Alay Kapwa initiative, which aims to sustain the Church’s social action and humanitarian work across the country.
Among those who attended the event were Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP president, and Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus.
Also present were Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, the incoming president of Caritas Philippines, Bishop Ruben Labajo of Prosperidad, and Bishop Herman Abcede of Daet.
Bagaforo said the center will also be linked with the Caritas Academy to offer professional training and capacity-building programs for Church and social action workers.
“We are offering this facility for the CBCP in general,” Bagaforo said. “Many commissions have long desired a venue that can provide better and more affordable services for meetings, assemblies, and training.”
He said the facility could also help generate income to enhance Caritas’ programs and improve service delivery.
The bishop expressed gratitude to those who helped realize the project, including Church leaders, benefactors, and volunteers.
“Each brick here carries the prayer of our volunteers, the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our clergy, and the hope of every Filipino who has ever been touched by the compassion of Caritas,” Bagaforo added.
“May this center truly become what its name proclaims — a Mother of Grace: a nurturing home, a place of encounter, and a source of hope for the Church and for our people,” he also said.
