ILOILO- Jaro Archbishop and Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Angel Lagdameo is encouraging Filipino Catholics to continue praying for the salvation of the country from its political and economic crisis.

In his message for the International Year for Priests at Jaro Cathedral, Lagdameo stressed the importance of praying for priests for spiritual guidance and heavenly wisdom.

He also told the priests to encourage their respective parishoners to be prayerful.

Aside from the International Year for Priests, Lagdameo said 2009 is also the year of the Two Hearts for Peace-Building and Lay Participation and Social Change as declared by the CBCP.

Pope Benedict XVI last March declared June 2009 to June 2010 as Year for Priests.

According to the CBCP, "the special year for the clergy, which is a year of prayer by priests, with priests and for priests." Its theme is “Faithfulness in Christ, Faithfulness of priests.”

Lagdamaeo said “the primary intention" of the Year for Priests "is to call for the sanctification of priests whose model is St. John Vianney." 

“It is likewise a call to our lay faithful to pray with their priests and for the priests, especially through the Eucharist,” he added.

A website (www.cbcponline.net/yearforpriests) has been set up by the CBCP Media Office "to help mark the Year for Priests by providing prayers and other resources in service of the year’s theme."