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TRIBUTE TO THE “ARCHITECT OF PHILIPPINE
CATECHESIS IN OUR TIME”
Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D.
 "Surge,
grandis tibi restat via!" Arise! A long journey
lies ahead of you! (1 Kgs 19:7-8). These words were
used by Archbishop Legaspi during the liturgical celebration
at the opening of the Second Plenary Council of the
Philippines in January 1991. They may also be the words
that we could use to describe his passion for Catechesis
that characterized his role as Servant Leader/Chairman
of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic
Education in the periods 1977-88 and 1994-2003.
Arise! This is has been the clarion call of Archbishop
Legaspi to the Church in the Philippines in the areas
of Catechesis and Catholic Education. A man of vision
and action, he was able to articulate his vision in
clear terms that captured the imagination and goodwill
of capable collaborators with the help of whom he gradually
transformed the vision into reality.
The impressive achievements in the catechetical domain
during his periods of service speak for themselves and
have made the Philippines a subject of admiration and
imitation even in other parts of the Catholic world.
The planning and completion of the National Catechetical
Directory for the Philippines (NCDP); the Manual for
Family Catechesis (The Filipino Growing in Faith); the
Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC), together with
their translation into Filipino; the publication of
the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC); the founding
and constant improving of the catechetical review Docete,
are definitely among the most outstanding and enduring
achievements of Archbishop Legaspi's leadership service
at ECCCE. They all show his desire not only to keep
abreast of the development of the catechetical work
not in the Philippines, but also to be in constant contact
with the much wider Catholic world in the fields of
catechesis or religious education.
 Nor
should we forget the establishment of the yearly celebration
of the National Catechetical Week (NCW); the holding
of several national surveys to ascertain the factual
situation of the catechetical ministry in the country,
as well as the forging of ever-closer ties and collaboration
with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines
(CEAP). It is such collaboration which led to the holding
of the Joint Jubilee Congress on Catechesis and Catholic
Education in the year 2000, the establishment of the
PhilCARE Foundation, and the drafting of the three-year
Strategic Planning that binds together the ECCCE, CEAP
and MAPSA (Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools
Association), in the common effort to work in synergy
in tackling the priorities dictated by the contemporary
situation of the Church in the Philippines.
 The
transformative leadership of Archbishop Legaspi has
opened the way to the development of catechesis and
Catholic education in our country. Precious catechetical
tools have been created; structures have been established
and strengthened. A direction has been set. Now a long
road lies ahead of us. As we continue walking this road,
the ministry and life of Archbishop Legaspi, with his
commitment to work tirelessly- for the "integral
faith formation" of our people, will still inspire
and guide us.
Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos
Executive Secretary, ECCCE
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