Four Directional Thrusts of Catechesis and Catholic Education
This ECCCE Report 2006 consists of Four Directional Thrusts
which resulted from the strategic planning held on January 9-11, 2006 at
Crown Royale Hotel Balanga, Bataan. The participants were the ECCCE Advisory
Board Members and CEAP Religious Education Commission Members. This is submitted
to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, January 2006.
I. To cultivate and to strengthen the Spirituality of
Catechists and Religious Educators.
The formation,
above all, nourishes the spirituality of the catechists, so that his/her
activity springs in truth from his/her own witness of life. Every theme
covered by formation should feed, in the first place, the faith of the
catechist. It is true that catechists catechize others by firstly catechizing
themselves (GDC 239).
- Spirituality of Prayer
- Spirituality of Communion
- Spirituality of Service and
Ministry
- Spirituality of Creation and
Social Transformation
II. To provide a common direction in the various Catechetical
and Religious Education Programs.
To ensure the working of the catechetical
ministry in a local church, it is fundamental to have adequate pastoral
care of catechists (GDC 233).
A. In-service training of catechists (Basic, on-going
and the formation of catechetical coordinators/supervisors)
Diocesan pastoral programmes
must give absolute priority to the formation of lay catechists, a fundamentally
decisive element must be the catechetical formation of priests both at
the level of seminary formation as well as at the level of continuing
formation (GDC 234).
B. Assessment of Religious Education Programs in Catholic
Educational Institutions and Catechetical Centers and the “Catholic” identity
of Catholic Schools based on the directives of Ex Corde Ecclesiae (John
Paul II).
C. Proper and correct use of the Catechism of the Catholic
Church (CCC), the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC), the Catechism for
Filipino Catholics (CFC) and the National Catechetical Directory for the
Philippines (NCDP).
Three principal traits characterize
every catechism... its official character, its organic and fundamental
synthesis of the faith, and the fact that, along with Sacred Scripture
it is offered as a reference point for catechesis (GDC 132).
D. To intensify the program of research in the field of
Catechesis and Religious Education
These institutions,
i.e. seminaries, houses of formation and catechetical schools should devote
themselves to a congruent level of research in catechesis (GDC 251).
III. To forge strategic alliances with Church institutions
and other organizations in order to promote the ministry of Catechesis and
Catholic Education.
The coordination
of catechesis is an important internal responsibility of the local Church (GDC 272).
The Philippine Catechetical
and Religious Education Foundation (PhilCARE)
Joint Publication of the Research – News
Journal: DOCETE-CEAP Perspective
Linkage with Social Research
Centers for continuous updating of the catechetical scenario
Transparochial Communities
IV. To undertake advocacy programs in the service of catechetical
instruction and Catholic Education towards the program of holiness.
The definitive
aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch, but also in communion
and intimacy, with Jesus Christ. All evangelizing activity is understood
as promoting communion with Jesus Christ (GDC 80).
A. Support and collaborate with
Episcopal Commissions/Offices and groups advocating the following special
concerns: Marriage, Family Life and Youth, JPIC Program, Media Education,
Women’s Issues, Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue.
B. Legislative Agenda
Mandatory Religious Education
and Voucher System be elevated as national issues
A study of the MADRASA curriculum
so as to assist our own religious instruction in public schools
In Summary, the Four Directional Thrusts of ECCCE are
the following:
I. Spirituality of Catechists and Religious Educators
II. Programs of Catechesis and Religious Education:
a. In-service training of catechesis:
Basic and on-going formation and supervision of catechists
b. Accreditation Program of
Catechetical Centers and Religious Education Degree Program of Colleges and
Universities
c. Proper and Correct use of
CCC, GDC, NCDP and CFC
d. Research Program
III. Networking and Collaboration among partners in catechesis:
a. PhilCARE Program
b. Joint Publication of DOCETE – Perspective
c. Transparochial Communities
d. Social Research Center
IV. Advocacy Program
a. The Diocesan School Superintendents
Office
b. Legislative Agenda: Religious
Instruction in Public Schools
c. Justice, Peace and Respect
for the Integrity of Creation
d. Subsidy Scheme to Private
Elementary and Secondary Schools
e. Marriage and Family Life
and Youth Catechesis
f. Media Education
