MESSAGE of the CBCP PRESIDENT

Homily by Archbishop Fernando Capalla

Archbishop of Davao

I consider very important and relevant the four (4) stated objectives of this National Catechetical and Catholic Education Consultation which is being sponsored and organized by our Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education under the leadership of our Bishop­ Chairman, Bishop Socrates Villegas and his staff.  I would like to commend them and the officers of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines under the presidency of Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD. I would like also to commend the presence and collaboration of the different superintendents of our dioceses and congregations. I also take cognizance of the presence of resource persons whose expertise is needed in this Consultation.

Brothers and Sisters, in today's gospel, the hardy fishermen are called to follow Jesus “to catch men – and women – for the kingdom.  In reality, they were not just called or summoned. They were "caught" by Jesus to work for God for the spread of the Gospel, the Good News. This Good News, as we all know, is Jesus Christ, His Life and Teachings.

To transmit, communicate, or share effectively this Good News is the fundamental objective of Pastoral Catechesis and Catholic Education. To do this effectively the transmitters, communicators, and sharers - who are our Catechists and Educators - must first be "caught" by the Lord Jesus. And I am sure everyone here - bishops, priests, religious, catechists - knows what it means to be "caught" by Jesus like the Apostles. They left everything and followed Him. In this following or journey of intimacy, we know the difference between knowing Jesus intellectually and experientially.  We know the difference between imparting what we know about Him and how we experience Him.

This is a crucial issue in evangelization which you carry out through Catechesis and Catholic Education. Over the years you have been involved in making plans; putting up structures, and undertaking activities to promote effectively both the intellectual and experiential contents of formation and education in the faith and its relevance to daily life.

Today, more than ever before, we have to re-examine and re-evaluate all our plans, structures and activities in the light of what is happening in our country and around the world. This is what our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has been telling us since we began the Third Millennium of Redemption in the year 2000.

Looking and reflecting on the four (4) objectives of this Consultation, I am reminded of the advice of the Holy Father contained in his Apostolic Letter Novo Millennia Ineunte. He says that due to the present social, economic, political and cultural situation, all pastoral initiatives from now on, which of course include the educational and catechetical initiatives, must be set in relation to Holiness and Communion.

On Holiness the Holy Father states that "it is necessary therefore to rediscover the full practical significance of Chapter 5 of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium," dedicated to the "universal call to holiness." He adds that holiness is both a gift and a task. As a duty it concerns everyone, citing No. 40 of Lumen Gentium: "All the Christian faithful of whatever state or rank are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity" (N. 30).

Regarding Communion, the Pope says that we have "to make the Church the home and the school of communion." He adds that this is "the great challenge facing us in the millennium which is now beginning, if we wish to be faithful to God's plan and respond to the world's deepest yearnings" (N.4B). Then he turns practical when he says: Before making practical plans regarding communion, "we need to promote a spirituality of communion, making it a guiding principle of education wherever individuals and Christians are found, wherever ministers of the altar, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers are trained, wherever families and communities are being built up" (N. 43).

For John Paul, the spirituality of communion has four (4) elements: 1) contemplation of the Trinitarian mystery; 2) awareness of being part of the Mystical Body; 3) ability to see goodness in others; 4) willingness to carry one another's burden.

It is therefore my hope and prayer that this Consultation, which is already a sign of deepening communion among catechists, educators and bishops, become also a unique experience of the mysterious presence of Jesus Who, though made incarnate two thousand years ago, is at work even today. I pray especially for discerning eyes in all of us to see this and, above all, to have a generous heart to become the instruments of His work. Amen.