Church asked to help OFWs in Switzerland

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine officials in Switzerland have asked Roman Catholic Church officials there to help care for overseas Filipino workers based there.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Philippine Ambassador Maria Theresa Lazaro made the request at a special dinner for the senior officials of the Swiss Catholic Church.

"Ambassador Lazaro discussed with the Swiss Catholic officials the strengthening of the role of the Filipino community in Switzerland in terms of migration and integration, the support and assistance provided by the Swiss Catholic Mission and Bishop’s Conference for Migration to the Filipino migrants, and the various collaborative endeavors between and among the Philippine Embassy in Berne, the Swiss Catholic Church, and the Filipino-Swiss migrants," the DFA said on its website (www.dfa.gov.ph).

It said the dinner was held at Lazaro's residence in Berne.

Guests included Fr. Franz Stampfli, vicar general for the Canton of Zurich and Glarus; Marco Schmid, national director of Swiss Bishops Conference for Migration; Fredy Isler, member of the Roman Catholic Central Commission for the Canton of Zurich; Fr. Johan Dumandan, chaplain of the Philippine Catholic Mission in Switzerland; Sr. Merlyn Arsolon, pastoral coordinator of the Philippine Catholic Mission for Geneva; Minister and Consul General Edsel Barba; and First Secretary and Consul Margarita Ibayan. - GMANews.TV

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