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Assembly of Heads of Catechetical and Religious Formation Institutes Held
 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 . This rare nationwide gathering of directors and directresses of the various catechetical institutions was organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines - Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education (CBCP – ECCCE) headed by its Chairman, His Excellency Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD and in coordination with the Ministry of Catechesis and Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Manila.
During the Assembly, two important documents were presented and discussed in the workshops: 1) the Draft Document on the Accreditation of Catechetical Centers and Colleges / Universities offering Religious education, presented by Fr. Renato de Guzman, SDB and 2) the final draft of the Elements of Minimum Learning Competencies (EMLC) as presented by Fr. Salvatore Putzu, SDB. The Accreditation program, once approved, will help the formation centers develop quality formation for our catechists and religion teachers, while the EMLCs will serve as guide for authors of Religious Education textbooks, tool for school administrators and Diocesan Censors in evaluating textbooks, and as well as an aid for parish priests and church leaders in preparing Christian Formation programs. Msgr. Gerardo Santos, ECCCE Executive Secretary also presented to the 68 participants “ECCCE’s Catechetical and Catholic Education Strategic Plan For 2004 and Beyond” and set the mood for the Assembly. A “Forum with the ECCCE Chairman” transpired during the last day in order to discuss and clarify other catechetical needs and concerns.
Aside from Bishop Villegas, Bishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona also lightened up the event through his presence all throughout the assembly. CBCP Secretary General Msgr. Hernando “Ding” Coronel also came to visit the participants during the last day.
There was also an exhibit of the different catechetical
centers coming from the various dioceses all over the
country, facilitated by the Communication Foundation
for Asia.
Read Proceedings, click here.
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