PHL churches to help Collegio Filipino in Rome

Catholic churches in the Philippines will be subsidizing the Collegio Filippino (PCF) in Rome, the home of Filipino priests pursuing higher studies in Italy. The move was adopted after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) approved the request of the former rector of PCF and and now Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos for annual subsidy from the Church in the Philippines. A news release on the CBCP website said the subsidy was needed to help maintain and operate PCF, strategically located near Vatican City and various ecclesiastical centers in Rome. During the CBCP’s 101st plenary assembly last July, the bishops unanimously agreed to oblige all archdioceses and dioceses in the Philippines to provide monetary contribution for the PCF. “Based on the decision of the bishops, the subsidy to be remitted by each territory is pro-rated according to its capacity to contribute. The subsidy will be remitted every three years to the Commission on the PCF," CBCP assistant Secretary General Msgr. Joselito Asis said in the news release. In the past, the PCF depended on payments from archdioceses and dioceses that send priests to study in Rome and to stay at the Collegio. The Collegio can accommodate some 50 resident-priests. However, incumbent PCF rector Fr. Gregory Gaston said only 18 Filipino priests and eight foreign priests are now staying at the PCF. “We are under-populated right now and any help to the PCF would be useful," Gaston said. According to the PCF, each resident-priest spends a minimum of 10,000 Euros annually for their tuition, board and lodging expenses at the PCF. Gaston said studying in Rome and staying in the Collegio is cheaper than sending priests to other countries and paying $15,000 per semester for tuition alone. - VVP, GMA News