Filipino Clergy Take the Court for 7th Parilympics Sportsfest in New Jersey

Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (holding the microphone in the left photo) addresses Filipino Catholic priests from across the United States and the Caribbean (right), honoring their service and commitment to the Filipino diaspora in their places of assignment. (Photos by Rev. Fr. Manolo Punzalan and Consul General Mangalile)

NEW YORK CITY, 07 August 2025 — Over 140 Filipino Catholic priests from 31 archdioceses and dioceses across the United States and the Caribbean gathered in Jersey City from 5 to 7 August 2025 for the 7th Parilympics, a summer sports festival that celebrates faith, camaraderie, and Filipino culture through friendly competition and shared ministry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony at the St. Aloysius Church gymnasium in Jersey City, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile thanked the Filipino clergy for their steadfast pastoral work and community leadership. He commended their respective ministries, saying, “By bringing the Filipino brand of malasakit and kapwa-tao into your service, you bring honor to the country of your birth.”

Throughout the three-day gathering, clergy members competed in various sports, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, chess, and traditional Filipino games such as patintero, batuhang bola, and dama. The event also served as a venue for reflection and spiritual nourishment, with each day concluding in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and guided reflections by selected speakers.

Held annually, the Parilympics continues to stand as a joyful testament to the strength, solidarity, and spiritual commitment of the Filipino clergy in their mission to serve God and uplift communities wherever they are assigned. END