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Annual Report (July 2004 - June 2005)
Accomplishments vis-à-vis the Eight Priority Concerns and Strategic Plan for 2004 and Beyond
- The New National Catholic Directory for the Philippines (NCDP) – The Congregation for the Clergy sent its comments and suggestions to the Commission. Corresponding corrections and improvement were done and ready for submission to the Congregation for the Clergy.
- A Speakers’ Bureau is still available to disseminate the proper and correct use of the Catechism for Filipino Catholics / Katesismo para sa mga Pilipinong Katoliko .
To continue propagating the CFC and ensure its transmission to more Catholic families, schools and communities, there is a plan to produce a project entitled , “ONE—An Audio Visual Anthology on the Catechism on Filipino Catholics. Intended as learning tool, training kit and educational material, this anthology will include the beginnings of the CFC, 30 episodes based on the 30 chapters of CFC and supplementary documentaries in collaboration with the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA).
- Update of Formation Curriculum – The final draft of the Basic Content of Christian Formation (formerly called the Elements of Minimum Learning Competencies) is approved in principle by the CBCP Assembly.
- Advocacy Program on the legislations affecting religious instruction in public schools and submission of the GASTPE or the voucher system in basic education. These proposed legislations are the inclusion of Religion as a mandatory subject in all public schools and the lobby for the eventual adoption of a voucher system in the basic education level of our Catholic Schools.
A meeting was held with Congressman Edmund Reyes, the sponsor of the two bills. As follow-up, a letter was sent to Mrs. Maria Isabel Tobias, the Secretary General of the Presidential Council on Values Formation requesting her assistance to solicit endorsement of members of the PCVF and asking her to bring to the attention of the President the urgency of the first bill.
- The strengthening of networking and sharing of resources among Catholic Schools and Catechetical Centers .
- Last October 4–6, 2004, the heads of Catechetical Formation Centers and of the various Catholic colleges and universities offering Religious Education all over the Philippines gathered for a national assembly at the St. Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City.
- The Joint National Convention of Diocesan Catechetical Coordinators and Diocesan/Congregational Superintendents was held on January 10-13, 2005 at the Capuchin Retreat Center , Lipa City , Batangas. The aim of this activity is to coordinate the various pastoral priorities of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in the area of Catechesis and Catholic Education. A total of 165 Diocesan Catechetical Directors and Coordinators, Heads and Coordinators of various Catechetical Formation Centers and Religious Department of the different Colleges and Universities, and as well as Diocesan/Congregational School Superintendents, representing (68) different archdioceses, dioceses and prelatures all over the country participated in the event.
- The Accreditation Instrument for Catechetical Centers and Colleges/Universities offering Religious Education, prepared by Fr. Rene De Guzman, SDB is now for final approval of CBCP Assembly. However, the Accreditation Instrument for Religious Education in Catholic Schools is still being finalized by a core group of educators and catechists. The Bishops of Alaminos and Malabalay and the Archbishop of Capiz have already signified their interest to have their schools and catechetical center be pilot tested.
- Continuous Updating of the Research Desk at the ECCCE Office, CBCP Bldg.
- Continuous support is given to the Philippine Catechetical Apostolate and Religious Education (PhilCARE) Foundation by the CEAP and other church groups and NGOs.
Thanks to our new co-publisher, the Pastoral Bible Foundation—the Catechism for Filipino Catholics will be available to the catechists at a subsidized price (P70), provided they meet the following conditions: a letter from a letter from their respective Diocesan/Parish Catechetical Director or Head of Catholic Institution; a purchase for a minimum of 50 copies, and payment in cash.
- Upcoming ECCCE activities
- Joint publication of DOCETE by ECCCE and CEAP on a quarterly basis and printed by the different book publishers. The new edition will start its first issue in September.
- As a donee institution, the PhilCARE Foundation, Inc. will be revisited by the Philippine Council on NGO Certification on July 29, 2005 .
+ Socrates B. Villegas
Chairman
21 June 2005
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