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ANNUAL REPORT ON ACTIVITIES
July 2003
to June 2004
Situationer
In less than a decade ago we might have been alarmed
by the destructive influence of media, particularly
the tri-media (Radio, TV and Print) on our children
and youth. Time flies so fast these days and before
we know it, our children and youth are already engulfed
by the new technology cropping up each day ever since
the dawning of this new millennium. One of this is
the ever-growing craze of exploring the cyberspace.
There was already a slight manifestation of this as
revealed in the Youth Study in the year 2001-- a study
conducted nationwide by NFO – Trends for the
Global Filipino Foundation, the Philippine Province
of the Society of Jesus and other entities, which sought
to profile the Filipino Youth at the beginning of the
21st Century. The Study, which was also part of my
predecessor’s (Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi) Report
to Rome , showed that during that time (year 2001):
“Media and Technology are already considered
the “other big things” in the life of
our Filipino Youth -- with TV and radio having the
highest reach. Technology is still a function of
class, but the Internet cafés mushrooming
in our midst will democratize their availability
to the youth. Globalization will happen faster in
this generation as the world opens up through media
and technology. According to the youth, with the
Internet, they can learn about anything.”
Similarly, in the year 2003 a survey was also conducted
by an online entertainment network based in Glendale
, California known as the Neopet, Inc. The corporation
owns and operates the most popular youth-oriented website
in the world, neopets.com. While the survey may have
been conducted for the network’s own advantage,
still, the results presented alarming figures especially
on the influence of media to our children. A portion
of the report states that:
“ … The Internet continues to be
a hugely pervasive medium amongst America ’s
youth, with a full 69% of respondents choosing it
as their medium of choice and 35% reporting that
they spend 11 hours or more per week using it.
Despite it not being as well perceived as an
advertising medium, there is evidence that the Internet
is catching up to Television across a range of attributes.
Respondents
across all age groups report a marked increase
in their parents’ efforts
and successes in limiting the amount of time they
spend interacting with media, possibly indicating
increasing levels of concern from parents about
their children's exposure to media and its influences
on them.”
We cannot ignore these facts altogether just because
the said survey was conducted in America alone or by
an online entertainment network. This is in fact an
implication of a global trend… a global phenomenon!
And the Philippines is not an exception, as what was
forecasted in the result of the Youth Study conducted
three years ago here in the Philippines .
All of these things transpiring before our eyes during
the onset of this new millennium mark an even greater
challenge for us especially in the Catechetical Ministry
and more specifically to our collaborators in the Spreading
of the Good News – our catechists and religion
teachers. If we will ignore these facts, we might just
end up losing our children and youth with “JUST
ONE CLICK”!
That is why the Commission is trying, in the best
way we can, to be up to date. Let me now present to
you what is “going on” in ECCCE as we try
to meet the demands of our society:
I. First, allow me to present to
you a run-down of what our Commission has accomplished
vis-à-vis
the eight (8) Priority Concerns extracted
from our Strategic Plan for 2001 – 2003.
A. Starting off with the
Revision of the National Catholic Directory of the
Philippines (NCDP) – with the objective
of bringing it in line with the changing pace of
our time… updating it, the National Catechism
was completed on the 3 rd year of our 3-year Strategic
Plan. Gratefully enough, after it was presented to
this Assembly, the book was approved on January 23,
2004 . And without much delay I brought it to Rome
few days after. Right now we are still waiting for
the Vatican ’s approval.
B. On the Dissemination
of the actual and correct use of the Catechism for
Filipino Catholics / Katesismo para sa mga Pilipinong
Katoliko (CFC / KPK ) we are proud to report
that we practically covered all the regions in the
country or a total of 19 seminars conducted from
the period March 2001 up to April 2004. Requests
are still coming from the dioceses, universities,
as well as trans-parochial communities. Copies of
the CFC were distributed to the members of the El-Shaddai
and Couples for Christ. I personally conducted the
introductory seminar on the correct use of the CFC
to the leaders of these two movements.
While we have organized a Speakers’ Bureau,
the increasing demand for the seminar encourages us
to shift to a more “high-tech form” of
dissemination.
C. The development of the
Elements of Minimum Learning Competencies (EMLC)
in Religion was envisioned to assist authors
of Religious Education textbooks, guide school administrators
and Diocesan Censors in evaluating textbooks, and
as well as aid parish priests and church leaders
in preparing Christian Formation programs.
The complete set of the DRAFT was sent to Directors
/ Heads of Diocesan Catechetical Formation Centers
and Heads of Colleges and Universities offering Religious
Education for critique.
D. Catechists’ Welfare and Development – Last
December 15, 2003, the Philippine Catechetical Apostolate
and Religious Education (PhilCARE) Foundation, Inc.
was granted by the Philippine Council for Non-Governmental
Organization Certification (PCNC) Office the certificate
as a donee-institution, a pre-requisite for the BIR
application. And on January 20, 2004 , the BIR awarded
the Certificate of Registration to PhilCARE as a
Donee-Institution.
As a Donee-Institution, the donation/s received
shall entitle the donor/s to FULL or LIMITED DEDUCTION
and EXEMPTION FROM DONOR’S TAX.
We still continue to tap potential donors, and contributions
coming from Catholic Schools are well-acknowledged.
E. Formation of Catechists and Religion Teachers – Once
the Revised NCDP is approved by the Vatican , we
can proceed with the completion of the two documents
namely, the Catechists’ Basic Formation Program
(CBFP) and the Religion Teachers’ Basic Formation
Program (RTBFM). Both documents will be essential
tools for the formation of our catechists and religion
teachers.
Their formation is very vital during these times
when their listeners are very much visual and media-oriented.
F. The Relationship between ECCCE and CEAP,
Archdiocese of Manila ’s
Ministry of Catechesis and Catholic Education,
the different diocesan catechetical offices and
Catechetical Formation Centers is further
enhanced with 4 consultation meetings which took
place during the first quarter of this year namely:
- The Second National Catechetical
Consultation held
last January 7-10, 2004 at St. Michael’s
Retreat House in Antipolo City with 95 registered
delegates. The objectives of the convention
were to evaluate the ECCCE 2000 – 2003
Priorities, and to identify its priority
programs and projects for the next three
years. A series of workshops aimed at: a)
identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities
and Threats, and b) based on these, nominating
the key concerns and priorities of ECCCE
and revolving around the theme: Starting
Afresh from Christ, Catechesis for the Third
Millennium.
- The Second National Superintendents
Convention was
held on February 17-19, 2004 at the Cebu Midtown
Hotel. There were 40 participants who attended
the gathering, coming from all regions, except
ARMM and CAR. I gave the Keynote Address on
the theme: “School
and Church partnership in Evangelization.”
- Likewise, I had a dialogue with the CEAP
board of Directors on February 26, 2004
which was held at the Maria Antonina Paris Retreat
House in Quezon City . There were 17 members
who attended the meeting and among the relevant
decisions made were: a) a joint ECCCE and CEAP
Publication, and b) a Certification of Religious
Education Programs (or an Accreditation Program
of Religious Education in Catholic Schools ,
Colleges and Universities).
- And finally, a Forum of Catechetical Centers and
Colleges offering Religious Education (Manila
Group) was also held last February 24, 2004 at
the ACM-MAPSA Boardroom at Paco Catholic School
. There were 22 attendees in the said meeting
and relevant concerns which came out were: a)
to develop a technology on the supervision of
catechists; b) to develop a framework on Catechesis
for Children, Youth and Adults; c) to review
the formation curriculum of all the catechetical
centers and colleges offering religious education;
and lastly, d) to write a Paper on “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” which
will serve as the framework for the accreditation
of Catholic Schools and Catechetical Centers
in the Philippines.
G. Catechetical development in trans-parochial
communities and other settings – Results
of the 4 consultation meetings mentioned confirmed
the increasing demand for adult catechesis.
With the changes happening in our social situation,
the formation of adults should not be taken
for granted. This need is currently being filled
by leaders of trans-parochial communities.
However, a lack of systematic approach was
also sighted.
H. Advocacy – This is
another area which needs attention, as confirmed
during the said consultation meetings. There
is still a growing need to advocate for the inclusion
of Religion as a mandatory subject in all public
schools. We have resubmitted a modified version
of the bill. When passed into law, this will
make Religious Instruction mandatory in all public
schools, in line with our Philippine Constitution.
Likewise, assistance and moral persuasion are needed
to obtain more support from the Bishops and Clergy,
particularly in the areas of funding and leadership
in local formation programs. There is a specific need
to have a closer collaboration with the catechists
and their respective Bishops, diocesan catechetical
offices, and as well as the different institutions
in the catechetical apostolate and area of catholic
education.
Putting it in a simple yet direct manner:
II. And as a result of the 4 consultation
meetings held this year with the Heads of Catechetical
Centers and CEAP Officials, additional priority areas
surfaced which we integrated in our existing concerns
presented to you earlier. And from these we came up
with our updated “CATECHETICAL AND CATHOLIC
EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2004 and BEYOND” which
I may say, is still very much attuned with the first of
the 9 Pastoral Priorities of the Church envisioned
by PCP II, which is Integral Faith Formation. I
will now present to you our additional concerns:
A. Strengthen Networking & Sharing of
Resources among Catholic Schools & Catechetical
Centers – There is already a periodic
interaction among heads of Catechetical Canters
and Colleges and Universities offering Religious
Education.
Significantly, there will be 2 upcoming major assemblies
being organized by our commission:
1) the National Assembly
of Heads of Catechetical Centers and Colleges and
Universities with Religious Education which
will be held this coming October 4-6, 2004
at St. Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality
in Tagaytay City; and
2) on January 10-14, 2005
we will have our Third
National Catechetical Consultation at
the Capuchin Renewal Center in Batangas City
.
For these two assemblies, the agenda will be:
a)
the presentation of instruments for the Accreditation
of:
i) Catechetical Centers, and
ii) Colleges / Universities
Offering Religious Education
b) discussion of
the final draft of the Elements of Minimum Learning
Competencies (EMLC)
c) the Presentation of the “Catechetical
And Catholic Education Strategic Plan For 2004
and Beyond ”
d) the Revision of the Formation
Manual for catechists and Religion teachers
if the Revised NCDP has been sent back approved
prior to this assembly
e) other Catechetical-related
concerns
B. Update of Formation Curriculum
- On the forthcoming two consultation meetings
on October and January, the finalization of the EMLC
and the Revision of the Basic Formation Program is
on the top list of our agenda.
C. Establishment of a Research
Desk - With the creation of a Research Desk
just last February 2004, we were able to create an
official website (www.eccceonline.org)
in coordination with CBCPWorld under the supervision
of Msgr. Pedro Quitorio. The website was officially
launched last April 2, 2004 at the ECCCE Office in
Intramuros, Manila .
The commission's formal entry into the worldwide
web signals its commitment to more effectively link
together all those who work for the ministries of catechesis
and catholic education, by providing all the information
and communication tools they need to perform their
mission with more ease and greater knowledge.
The launching ceremony was graced with the presence
of our CBCP President, His Excellency Archbishop Fernando
R. Capalla, together with ECCCE Vice- Chairman Bishop
Sofronio A. Bancud and other guests.
The Research Desk is also tasked to compile, organize
and disseminate the various modules coming from the
different dioceses.
D. Training the Trainers – There
is a need to develop a formal training program
for Catechetical Coordinators. The Catechetical Institutes
as well as identified Heads of Colleges and Universities
offering Religious Education in the NCR-Region
were tasked to develop this program.
E. Training
Catechists for life-long catechesis particularly
for adults – with
the great demand for adult catechesis coming from
the BECs and trans-parochial communities, a research
team was assigned to look into this concern.
F. Closer
Partnership between Catholic Schools and the Diocese will
be realized through an Accreditation program of Religious
Education in Catholic Schools , Colleges and Universities,
using “ Ex Corde Ecclesiae” as
framework. The Accreditation Program will be done
in coordination with the Catholic Educational Association
of the Philippines (CEAP).
G. Strengthen
the Outreach-Extension Programs of Catholic Schools through:
a. advocacy for poor schools by taking their
point of view in developing programs;
b. through
involvement of both teachers and students in
public school catechesis and immersion programs;
and
c. strengthening of BEC curriculum towards heavier
emphasis on social transformation.
H. Attention to other Catechetical-Related
Issues – there is a plan to establish
a budgeted office and training programs for Diocesan
School Superintendents. A continuous dialogue is
taking place between ECCCE and CEAP regarding this
matter.
I. And finally, as a result of
the challenge posed to us by the situationer I presented
to you earlier, one of our Commission’s major
concern is to Strengthen
Evangelization among our Youth and Children– the
task may seem to be a bit extensive, but we
will try to dwell on it through specific programs,
starting off with an establishment of a functional
Campus Ministry Program especially for non-sectarian
schools in coordination and regular interaction
with the Heads of Catechetical Centers and
Colleges and Universities with Religious Education
Program.
+ SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D.
Chairman,
ECCCE
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