Businessmen urged: ‘Help build God’s kingdom’

Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias concelebrates a Mass during the formal launching of the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference Diocese of Novaliches chapter held at the Obispado Novaliches, June 5, 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF GLENN VELASCO

Novaliches Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, D.D. concelebrates a Holy Mass during the formal launching of the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference Diocese of Novaliches chapter held at the Obispado Novaliches. The prelate stressed the need for entrepreneurs to collaborate with the Catholic Church in building the Kingdom of God through their businesses, Nov. 5, 2018 GLENN VELASCO
June 7, 2018
QUEZON City

At the formal launching of the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference Diocese of Novaliches chapter on June 5, Novaliches Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, D.D. urged entrepreneurs to work hand in hand with the Catholic Church in the work of evangelization.

“My dear friends–I call you friends–businesses in the different professions. That work you do is part of the making of the new heaven and the new earth. Let us build that together and help each other in reaching it,” said the prelate in a Eucharistic celebration that formally opened the said event held at the Obispado de Novaliches in Fairview in this city.

Addressing attendees composed of entrepreneurs from various fields, including architecture, medicine, and leisure, Tobias explained the day’s Gospel from Mark 12:13-17 about “paying Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

‘New heaven, new earth’

“There is a contest between Caesar and God,” he stressed, noting, however, that what is foremost is the “building of God’s kingdom” through what one does in life.

According to the bishop, the early Christians’ belief in Christ’s second coming and his establishment of “a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells” is a better context to root the shared work of evangelization.

“Well, we put together different groups of people because all of us contribute–help out in your own field of concentration, in what you are doing everyday,” he stressed, clarifying the purpose of the event.

Promoting social justice together

Tobias also cited the establishment of guilds in the Middle ages which people joined based on their professions.

“…I believe this is the precursor of the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference,” he revealed.

The Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development (BBC) Diocese of Novaliches chapter was established on Jan. 25, 2018, Tobias’ 35th episcopal ordination anniversary.

As stated in its brochure, the BBC was established in the Philippines by 30 bishops and 30 businessmen in 1971 “to explore areas of cooperation and concern compelled by the socio-political and economic problems at that time” and to “uplift the quality of life of the Filipino through the promotion of social justice and through the increase of the nation’s wealth that is equitably distributed in total rejection of poverty in the country.”

CBCP Website

http://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/

http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/

http://cbcpforlife.com/