Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan on Sunday urged his fellow prelates to adopt greater simplicity and restraint in Church gatherings and to commit to shared financial responsibility.
The prelate warned that costly plenary assemblies and conventions risk burdening poorer dioceses and undermining the Church’s witness.
In a privilege speech delivered during the 131st plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Jan. 25, Varquez called for plenaries, particularly those hosted by dioceses, to be marked by “simplicity, frugality, and restraint.”
“Let our presence be a blessing not only during our stay, but also after we have gone,” Varquez said. “May it never be said that we have burdened our host dioceses financially or caused scandal by accepting lavish hospitality at the expense and inconvenience of the faithful.”
He cautioned that excessive hospitality can create pressure on host dioceses to spend beyond their means and discourage others from hosting future assemblies.
“If we practice moderation, host dioceses will not feel pressured to outdo one another, and more dioceses may be open and willing to welcome future plenary assemblies,” he said.
Varquez extended the same appeal to conventions organized by episcopal commissions, urging that they remain simple, affordable, and accessible, especially for dioceses with limited resources.
“The emphasis should be on what is essential: participation, formation, program, and mission,” he said, expressing hope that such gatherings would allow “even smaller and less-resourced dioceses” to take part fully in the life and work of the Conference.
Addressing concerns about unity among bishops, Varquez defended the presence of sacramental brotherhood within the CBCP, saying it remains alive among those who nurture it.
“We share one Lord, one vocation, and one ministry—the Lord Jesus Himself prays for our unity,” he said. While acknowledging moments of indifference, he added that “even a brother bishop, whether active or retired, is never a burden, for he is our brother.”
Varquez also appealed for diocesan support to help stabilize the CBCP’s operations and sustain its mission, while recognizing the uneven realities faced by local churches.
“Many dioceses carry heavy pastoral and financial burdens, serving communities affected by poverty, disasters, and social challenges,” he said.
Still, he argued that collective support remains vital. “When each local Church contributes according to its capacity—even in a small way—the result is a strong and concrete expression of solidarity and shared stewardship.”
He renewed a proposal for each ecclesiastical territory to contribute, according to its means, “even a modest percentage of its resources to a common fund dedicated to sustaining the mission of our Conference.”
Varquez said he hoped the bishops’ response would reflect “our unity as brothers, our trust in one another, and our confidence that the Lord who has called us will also bless our generosity.”
