Clearly, this situation demands that we improve both the quantity, i.e. the number
of our catechists, and quality of our catechesis.
It challenges us to shift paradigm in our catechesis,
particularly to the youth. Among others, it requires
exploring new strategies to reach the youth, both
within and outside the classrooms, e.g. renewed strategies in campus ministries, community based catechesis, and family apostolates. If the youth perceive that
the Church is an institution, then the youth should
experience the Church as a community through catechesis
that calls for a social response, and is participative,
not merely cognitive.
We encourage our colleagues to reflect on these two conclusions and help determine
the strategies which would best address them in their
respective pastoral responsibilities.
On the part of ECCCE, we consider these conclusions as major considerations as
we pursue the 8 Key Concerns of our Strategic Plan
for 2001-03, and indeed when we re-iterate this plan
for 2004 onwards.
8 Key Concerns
We have continued to make progress on these
8 Key Concerns, on which I now wish to briefly update
you.
1. Revision of the National
Catholic Directory of the Philippines (NCDP).
The draft of the revision is still on going,
but is nearing its completion. We expect to distribute
the draft for your comments by September or October
this year. I look forward to your review and consequent
approval of the revised NCDP which I believe you will
find contemporary and inculturated, more focused on
the key topics, while being more user- and reader-friendly.
2. Dissemination of the
actual and correct use of the Catechism for Filipino
Catholics / Katesismo para sa mga Pilipinong Katoliko
(CFC / KPK)
In addition to the 12 seminar/workshops
conducted involving close to 800 participants as of
June 2002, we conducted 7 more seminar/workshops with
385 participants nationwide. (Go to schedule of CFC / Seminars
Conducted)
There are also still several pending requests
from various CEAP Schools.
3. The development of
the Elements of Minimum Learning Competencies (EMLC)
in Religion.
This refers to identifying the indispensable
CONTENT of the Religious Education curriculum, syllabus,
and program for any given level of classes in the
school setting, or formation program in the pastoral
setting. Its purpose is to assist authors of Religious
Education textbooks in preparation of content, school
administrators and Diocesan Censors in evaluating
textbooks, and parish priests and leaders in preparing
Christian Formation programs.
After completing the EMLC for Kinder to Grade
3 last year, we also completed these for all levels
of elementary, secondary and college. These are now
ready for submission to the assembly. (Go to EMLC)
4. Catechists' Welfare
and Development.
For tax purposes. we applied for the status
of donee-institution with the PCNC (Philippine Council
for Non-Governmental Organization Certification).
A visit was conducted by the Philippine Council for
NGO Certification (PCNC) in May 2003, and we are awaiting
a favorable outcome.
As of May 31,2003, the fund's balance is
P 11.5 million, resulting mainly from donations of
De La Salle University of P10.5 million, and a combined
donation of P2.4 million from Catholic Educational
Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Manila Archdiocesan
Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA), and the Archdiocesan
Catechetical Ministry (ACM). Expenses have been mainly
the cost of the 1st National Convention for Diocesan
School Superintendents (further discussed see below),
honoraria, publication of DOCETE, and financial assistance
to the Vicariate of Sulu- Tawi- Tawi to purchase audio-visual
materials. (Go to PHILCARE
FOUNDATION, INC.)
5. Formation of Catechists
and Religion Teachers.
We are still in the process of drafting an upgraded version of the Catechists
Basic Formation Program (CBFP), as well as an initial
draft of the Religion Teachers' Basic Formation Manual
(RTBFM), geared for teachers of diocesan, parochial
and congregational schools. The completion of these
two documents will, necessarily, await the final approval
and adoption of the NCDP. In the meantime, we will
continue to refer to the CFC for catechetical content.
(¨Go to CBFP)
6. Relationship between
ECCCE and CEAP, MAPSA, ACM and Diocesan Catechetical
Offices and Catechetical Formation Centers.
A major accomplishment in this regard is
the holding of the 1st National Convention for
Diocesan School Superintendents in Cebu City on February 5 to 7, 2003, as sponsored by the CEAP Superintendents Commission. The
goals of the Convention are:
As to the Diocesan Catechetical Offices,
it should be recalled that we now have Regional representatives
of the various Diocesan Catechetical offices to facilitate
communication and coordination between them and ECCCE.
On the other hand, we have not been able to meet with
the various Catechetical Formation Centers, but we
aim to do so within this year.
7. Catechetical development
in transparochial communities and other settings.
Since the launch of the Adult Catechesis
Workshop Series in February 2002, we have not been
able to make further substantial progress in this
area given the transfer of Fr. Edwin Mercado, the
chair of the committee responsible for this, to another
assignment.
8. Advocacy.
We continue to monitor the passage of House
Bill 137, sponsored by Congresswoman Villaflor Angara-Castillo,
which is an "Act to Rationalize the Teaching
of Religion in Public Schools." When passed into
law, this will make Religious Instruction mandatory
in all public schools, in line with our Philippine
Constitution. Public hearings on this bill have been
held with very positive views expressed by the participants.”
Also, we held a Regional ECCCE Advisory Board
Meeting in November 2002 which was attended by the
various Catechetical Regional Representatives to discuss
common concerns pertaining to educational policies
and issues.
CEAP
Let me now turn to what we are doing in the Catholic Educational Association
of the Philippines (CEAP), where our coordination
continues to grow stronger. CEAP representatives continue
to be part of the ECCCE Core group and were all actively
involved in the accomplishments outlined in our 8
Key Concerns. In addition, we would like to cite the
following various development programs that address
the functional as well as religious needs of the members.
A CEAP Superintendents Assembly was held in September 2002 in Cagayan de Oro
City. The key concerns highlighted by the assembly
were the on-going formation of superintendents and
school heads for professional competence, forming
strategic alliances among diocesan and congregational
superintendents and institutions, and the development
of a 3-year strategic plan.
This was followed by an Executive Board Sharing and Planning Sessions in October
2002 to develop concrete plans on how the needs of
the earlier assembly would be addressed.
Finally, a CEAP National Convention was held in November 2002 in Cagayan de Oro
City with the theme "Looking Within, Seeing Beyond:
Process, Purpose and Passion in Catholic Education
Today." In attendance were 1,354 participants.
I would also like to thank the Secretariat of the Commission which provides the
communication and coordination efforts behind many
of the activities I mentioned above.
+ LEONARDO Z. LEGASPI, O.P.,
D.D.
Chairman - ECCCE
