MANILA, 25 July 2023. Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, the Prelate of Opus Dei, arrived this afternoon for a 12-day apostolic trip to the Philippines, July 25-August 5. QR 923 from Doha arrived on schedule at 4:30pm. The Prelate was met by Rev. Father Julio Dieguez, the Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines, and families who were at the VIP lounge of NAIA Terminal 3.

Ronnie and Richelle Balbieran introduced their five children (photo above). Paul and Denice Price with their 5 children greeted the Prelate. “Welcome to the Philippines Father!” said Paul. “Thank you! Pray for me as I will pray for your family,” the Father responded.

Msgr. Ocariz will be staying at the center of Opus Dei in New Manila, Quezon City. He will receive members of Opus Dei and families there during these days.

He is scheduled to have special gatherings with young people at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) on July 26 and 27. He will be meeting with those from the centers of Opus Dei who are making ready to attend the August 1-6 World Youth Day gatherings in Lisbon (Portugal).

As father of this spiritual family, Msgr. Ocariz has wanted to visit the sick and elderly in various centers in Manila. He has scheduled trips to the different apostolic undertakings of members of Opus Dei in the Philippines, including two technical schools: Punlaan in San Juan and Dualtech in Canlubang. He will meet with the people running the Educhild family programs and the PAREF schools.

The general audience with families and friends will be on Sunday, July 30, at 10:30 in the morning at the MOA Arena. Some 9,000 are expected.

Msgr. Ocariz will fly to Cebu on August 3 to meet the faithful of Opus Dei, families, and benefactors there. He will visit the Banilad School for Professional Development and the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise, technical schools for young women and men, respectively. These social projects of members of Opus Dei have successfully trained and gained employment for less-privileged youth in the Visayas and Mindanao.

On August 5, the Prelate will fly to Indonesia, then proceed to Sydney and New Zealand.