|
8 KEY CONCERNS OF ECCCE
Continuing the momentum created by the Joint Jubilee
Congress, the ECCCE, together with the Catholic Educational
Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the Manila
Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA),
prepared a three-year Strategic Plan (2001-2003) which
focuses on 8 key concerns, namely:
- The revision of the
National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines
(NDCP), a book which contains sets
of principles, doctrinal orientations, and practical
guidelines on all that pertains to the religious instruction
and catechetical apostolate in the Philippines. First
prepared by the ECCCE in 1979-1983, approved by the
Vatican in 1984, and published in 1985, this Directory
needs to be updated because of the many changes that
have taken place in all areas of Philippine life,
particularly catechesis. It also needs to be brought
into line with the General Directory for Catechesis,
which was published by the competent Vatican authorities
in 1997.
- The dissemination
and correct use of the Catechism for Filipino Catholics
(CFC) and the Katesismo para sa mga Pilipinong Katoliko
(KPK). These are the National Catechism
in English and Filipino. The former was completed
in 1997 and approved by the Vatican in 1997, while
the latter is its translation into the national language
and was published in the year 2000.
- The preparation and
development of the Essential
Elements of Minimum Learning Competencies in Religion.
This is a set of specific guidelines concerning the
content of the religious education programs and textbooks
to be used in elementary, high school, and college
levels. These guidelines are useful not only for authors
of Religion textbooks, but also for school Administrators
and Religion teachers in evaluating pedagogical materials
for Religion classes and existing religious education
programs.
- Establishment of Phil-CARE Foundation. The
Catechists' Welfare and Development
is a very urgent necessity in the Philippines. In
spite of the fact that catechists are among the most
important agent in the Christian formation of the
People of God, especially children and youths, they
are very poor remunerated, and their specific training
is often inadequate. As a first step towards improving
the situation, the ECCCE and CEAP have set up the
"PhilCARE Foundation," whose main purpose
is to raise funds that will enable ECCCE to improve
the status of the catechists and provide them with
pedagogical tools for their apostolate. PhilCARE will
also extend its assistance to Teachers who teach Religion
in public schools and in the parish setting where
they find themselves in the same situation as the
volunteer catechists. Funding for PhilCARE comes from
voluntary donations from individuals and organizations.
- The Formation
of Catechists and Religion Teachers
through the upgrading of the "Catechists’
Basic Formation Program" (CBFP) and the preparation
of the "Religion Teachers' Basic Formation Manual"
(RTBFM). The RTBFM will spell out the standardized
content of the formation of Religion Teachers, which
up to now has been left to the individual institutions
offering such formation courses. Such standardization
will ensure that all those teaching Religion in Catholic
schools will have the required theoretical and practical
know how.
- A smooth relationship
between ECCCE and other related institutions such
as CEAP, MAPSA, ACM, the Diocesan Catechetical Offices,
and Catechetical Training Centers, as well as the
DepED. A regular sharing of information
is indispensable in view of the needed collaboration
in the areas of common concerns.
- Catechetical development
in trans-parochial communities and other settings.
It has been noted that many of these organizations
do not make use of the National Catechism and other
resources prepared by the ECCCE for their formation.
Better coordination and a more systematic use of the
official; approved resource materials for the formation
of adult Catholics is necessary and can be achieved
through proper coordination with these groups and
the Bishops or priests in charge of them.
- Advocacy.
A regular flow of information fed to national and
local media is to be promoted, in order to achieve
an effective and stable presence of the catechetical
ministry in the public schools. This flow of information
will also help to enlist the necessary support for
different activities undertaken by the ECCCE, and
to secure the proper understanding and acceptability
for its projects and programs.
|
