Course on Exorcism and Deliverance for clergy, religious and laity

PLENTONG: A course on Exorcism and Deliverance was held at the Malacca Johore Diocesan Centre, MAJODI, July 30 to August 3. Conducted by a team from the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism (AMOE) from the Philippines, the five-day session drew 120 participants (mostly Clergy) from across the 11 Arch/Dioceses of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The course was initially part of the Malacca Johore Diocesan Clergy’s yearly on-going formation. Bishop Bernard Paul had, in 2017, introduced the first clergy formation to a session on Spiritual Conversion conducted by Archbishop William Goh of Singapore.

Following this, Bishop Bernard observed that more and more people are disturbed and many quickly narrow this to psychology. From his own personal experience, he wanted his clergy to be aware of other dimensions, especially the realities of demoniacal afflictions and spiritual warfare.

Thus began his search which led him to the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism (AMOE) team in the Philippines. When this course was made known at the Bishops’ Conference, the other Bishops showed interest and it was opened up to their clergy, including some laity recommended by their bishops. This course was timely as, in July, the Vatican had called on all dioceses to name an exorcist for every diocese.

The team from AMOE comprised of Fr Jose Francisco C. Syquia, Fr Winston Cabading OP and two lay members. Fr Jose, the Director of the AMOE, is an exorcist in Manila for the last ten years and a member of the International Association of Exorcists based in Rome. He completed the Vatican Course on Exorcism and Deliverance at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University. He is also the Head of the Commission on Extraordinary Phenomena for the Archdiocese of Manila and author of the bestselling book, Exorcism: Encounters with the Paranormal and the Occult (Shepherd’s Voice Publication), Exorcist: A Spiritual Journey and Exorcist: Spiritual Battle Lines the first and second of the three volumes published by St Paul’s.

He is a full-time formator, spiritual director and professor of spirituality and psychology at the San Carlos Major Seminary in Makati City, Metro Manila. Fr Winston Cabading OP has been a member of the team of mandated exorcists from the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism since October 2013 and a member of the Commission of Vision and Phenomena of the Archdiocese since 2015.

The topic of exorcism is nothing new to Deacon Paul Sia from the Malacca Johore Diocese who was involved in the Charismatic movement. He remarked that many attribute evil to Satan but do not see the subtleties that arise in everyday lives. Fr Winston’s first session set the mood for the sessions which he found to be very informative, educational, practical and pastoral.

Andre Ong, who heads the Penang Diocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal, also found the sessions “very enlightening, practical with a balanced approach — the presenters were experienced and clarified a lot of questions. We were blessed to have them.”

The Course on Exorcism was a course that Sr Theresa Chew FdCC from the Penang Diocese would have avoided except for her curiosity. As someone already engaged in the ministry of Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Growth, she needed to understand more about the influence of evil in the discerning process and subsequently learn how to assist in the deliverance and exorcism when necessary.

“The Course certainly deepened the theological understanding of my faith and strengthened my relationship with God. It also helped me to be aware of how the devil is real and active in our world. I witnessed for myself how priests, through the power of ordination, can exercise this ministry of deliverance and exorcism. The course will be of great help to me in my ministry of pastoral care,” shared Sr Theresa. She strongly recommends this course to priests, religious and the lay-faithful so that “duly enlightened, they will be able to better guide and direct others from being misled by misconceptions and by the devil,” she commented.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online