THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL ASSEMBLY
State of the Diocese Address (S.O.D.A.)
Declaration to Open the Pastoral Assembly
Parish Church of St. Joseph the Worker, Numancia, Aklan
State of the Diocese Address (S.O.D.A.)
Declaration to Open the Pastoral Assembly
Parish Church of St. Joseph the Worker, Numancia, Aklan
His Excellency
MOST REV. JOSE ROMEO O. LAZO, D.D.
Bishop of Kalibo
MOST REV. JOSE ROMEO O. LAZO, D.D.
Bishop of Kalibo
Every year, many new events happen, new things are made, new gadgets are displayed. It seems that changes in the world especially its technology is very fast. This fits the song of Jose Mari Chan entitled, “Constant Change.”
Ten years is good enough to look back, revisit the First Diocesan Synod and say, “where are we going to… from here?” The gift of the SYNOD in 1996 has given us the framework to move on as a local Church, as a community of disciples.
We have made great strides since then. The Diocese has a third bishop, 67 priests (1 retired, 11 outside the Diocese, on studies, or on loan), 24 parishes from 22; structures are in place as mandated by the Synod of ’96 except a few. Our seminary, vocation wise, is still strong. Almost half of the priests in the Diocese have passed the gates of the Santo Nino Seminary. Next year 2007, S.N.S. will be 25 years. This Academic Year S.N.S. has 143 High School seminarians and 30 College seminarians. As our priests grow in number, they also grow in age, wisdom and holiness. It’s a constant struggle to live a celibate life in the service of God and people, “to be configured to Jesus Christ as Head and Shepherd of the Church,” (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 21). There have been efforts to concretize and to bear witness to the sacramental brotherhood of priests. A program for the on-going formation of priests is put in place. The religious brothers and sisters have contributed a lot in the Diocese through their own charisms.
The laity have been given importance in the Diocese. They are encouraged to take an active role in the parish and in the Diocese. The lay organizations, movements, associations and societies (LOMAS) are given opportunities to exercise their different charisms for the good of the community and they have been given priest-spiritual directors to walk with them, to accompany them. Two very important thrusts of the lay apostolate are the Family and the Youth. These are the areas where a lot of interest and involvement of the laity are most needed. The Family and Life Apostolate is reaching to married couples through seminars. Much has still to be done since the Filipino family today is being bombarded with many anti-family values coming from many sectors of our society.
The Youth Apostolate is picking up and there had been a number of youth encounters in the diocesan as well as parish level. Like the family the youth of today is very vulnerable to the inroads of mass media and the environment which are not always value-oriented. Our youth need direction and guidance to be able not only to thwart the evils in society but also to sharpen their capacity to be “useful” and value, person and community oriented.
The Diocesan Commissions have been very helpful in the implementing the Synod’s mission which is the renewed integral evangelization. The chief means are catechesis, worship or liturgy and social apostolate.
There had been an increase of lay participation in the liturgical life of the local church. The Diocesan Liturgical Commission, together with the Diocesan Catechetical Commission made a lot of difference in the liturgical and catechetical celebrations and the faith-life of the people. Sacraments now are received / celebrated with instructions. The choir and the new Akeanon songs enhance the participation of the faithful especially during Sunday masses. The emergence of the liturgical ministries helped to highlight the role and responsibility of the lay in the liturgy. The Diocesan Catechetical Ministry has been printing catechetical materials for the use of the catechists in the schools in the diocese. Regular meetings and seminars have been held. By and large the liturgical and catechetical life of the people is very much active and interactive but surely many things still have to be put in place.
The social-economic concerns of the people are being addressed through the different areas under the Commission on Social Action: Health Care, Socio-Economics, Politics, Environmental Concerns, Migration, Tourism, Women and Children, Indigenous People, Social Justice, BEC. The Diocese has made her stand in a number of issues like gambling (STL), casino, mining, cha-cha and others. People are becoming more aware of their role and responsibility in the community and in solidarity with the bigger community. The Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) is a very opportune vehicle to touch base with the grassroots. Our IP’s, because of Boracay, a tourist destination, have been in the frontline. They have no place to go which they can call their own. They need our support.
The Word of God is very important in the faith-life of the people. The Biblical Apostolate is working on this area of promoting, appreciating, studying, praying and living the Bible. Recently, the Family Bible Quiz, held here in the Diocese, is an opener for families to study, pray and live the Bible as a family. The Bible is a very beautiful instrument to keep the family together. Yes, Jesus, the Word is very much present in the family.
Because of the increasing number of chapels, there is a need to title the land donated for this purpose. There is an ongoing action of titling all the land donated to the Church. Arancel system is still the predominant means of the peoples’ support. There is a growing shift towards the pledge and/or tithing systems, making the people respond not only to the needs of the clergy and the Church but also their response to God’s generosity and providence, and cultivating the value of giving and love for the Church.
The Diocese is not only for quality education but also for catholic education. Catholic education is a distinctive mark of a catholic school but there are only two in the Diocese. There are private schools and this is where we in the Diocese can reach out (41 private pre-school and elementary schools, 31 private secondary schools and 8 private higher/tertiary schools (DepEd-Ched data Aug.2006). This is where values formation and Christian orientation/formation can take place.
There is in us a growing missionary spirit. We have Aklanons working outside the Diocese as priest or as lay worker. There are groups of Aklanons in the different parts of the US and Canada and elsewhere and their presence there have brought the devotion to the Sto. Nino and San Lorenzo Ruiz. This area could be explored more. In the Diocese we have been supporting missionary activities and missionaries through our annual mission contributions. There is still room for more involvement in this area of mission.
Aside from our revisit of the 1996 Synod, the 30th anniversary of the foundation as Diocese, the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Kalibo celebrates the 425th year of existence, founded in 1581. This is vintage wine, so to say, old and precious. Included in this antiquity is the cultural heritage passed on to us by our ancestors. This we have to give due consideration and attention as part of our diocesan contribution in preserving and conserving the Cultural Heritage of our local Church.
Today we see the malls or department stores displaying different gadgets like cell phones of all sizes, shapes, amount, brand; radio, tv, cd’s and dvd’s. Mass media of today is, what they call, hi-tech. This is one area wherein the Church can harness her capacity to evangelize, to spread the word of God. It is very important for us in the Church to recognize the value of mass media for evangelization, to reach out to our people, to make present the God who cares and loves.
My dear brothers and sisters I just gave a short profile of what is going on in the Diocese. I am happy to say that the Diocese is healthy and moving towards her Vision. Indeed to be a true disciple of Christ entails a lot of sacrifice, on-going formation and purification.
Now I formally open and celebrate the gift that is The Diocesan Pastoral Assembly.
Santo Nino, bless us,
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us,
St. John the Baptist, accompany us.
Ten years is good enough to look back, revisit the First Diocesan Synod and say, “where are we going to… from here?” The gift of the SYNOD in 1996 has given us the framework to move on as a local Church, as a community of disciples.
We have made great strides since then. The Diocese has a third bishop, 67 priests (1 retired, 11 outside the Diocese, on studies, or on loan), 24 parishes from 22; structures are in place as mandated by the Synod of ’96 except a few. Our seminary, vocation wise, is still strong. Almost half of the priests in the Diocese have passed the gates of the Santo Nino Seminary. Next year 2007, S.N.S. will be 25 years. This Academic Year S.N.S. has 143 High School seminarians and 30 College seminarians. As our priests grow in number, they also grow in age, wisdom and holiness. It’s a constant struggle to live a celibate life in the service of God and people, “to be configured to Jesus Christ as Head and Shepherd of the Church,” (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 21). There have been efforts to concretize and to bear witness to the sacramental brotherhood of priests. A program for the on-going formation of priests is put in place. The religious brothers and sisters have contributed a lot in the Diocese through their own charisms.
The laity have been given importance in the Diocese. They are encouraged to take an active role in the parish and in the Diocese. The lay organizations, movements, associations and societies (LOMAS) are given opportunities to exercise their different charisms for the good of the community and they have been given priest-spiritual directors to walk with them, to accompany them. Two very important thrusts of the lay apostolate are the Family and the Youth. These are the areas where a lot of interest and involvement of the laity are most needed. The Family and Life Apostolate is reaching to married couples through seminars. Much has still to be done since the Filipino family today is being bombarded with many anti-family values coming from many sectors of our society.
The Youth Apostolate is picking up and there had been a number of youth encounters in the diocesan as well as parish level. Like the family the youth of today is very vulnerable to the inroads of mass media and the environment which are not always value-oriented. Our youth need direction and guidance to be able not only to thwart the evils in society but also to sharpen their capacity to be “useful” and value, person and community oriented.
The Diocesan Commissions have been very helpful in the implementing the Synod’s mission which is the renewed integral evangelization. The chief means are catechesis, worship or liturgy and social apostolate.
There had been an increase of lay participation in the liturgical life of the local church. The Diocesan Liturgical Commission, together with the Diocesan Catechetical Commission made a lot of difference in the liturgical and catechetical celebrations and the faith-life of the people. Sacraments now are received / celebrated with instructions. The choir and the new Akeanon songs enhance the participation of the faithful especially during Sunday masses. The emergence of the liturgical ministries helped to highlight the role and responsibility of the lay in the liturgy. The Diocesan Catechetical Ministry has been printing catechetical materials for the use of the catechists in the schools in the diocese. Regular meetings and seminars have been held. By and large the liturgical and catechetical life of the people is very much active and interactive but surely many things still have to be put in place.
The social-economic concerns of the people are being addressed through the different areas under the Commission on Social Action: Health Care, Socio-Economics, Politics, Environmental Concerns, Migration, Tourism, Women and Children, Indigenous People, Social Justice, BEC. The Diocese has made her stand in a number of issues like gambling (STL), casino, mining, cha-cha and others. People are becoming more aware of their role and responsibility in the community and in solidarity with the bigger community. The Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) is a very opportune vehicle to touch base with the grassroots. Our IP’s, because of Boracay, a tourist destination, have been in the frontline. They have no place to go which they can call their own. They need our support.
The Word of God is very important in the faith-life of the people. The Biblical Apostolate is working on this area of promoting, appreciating, studying, praying and living the Bible. Recently, the Family Bible Quiz, held here in the Diocese, is an opener for families to study, pray and live the Bible as a family. The Bible is a very beautiful instrument to keep the family together. Yes, Jesus, the Word is very much present in the family.
Because of the increasing number of chapels, there is a need to title the land donated for this purpose. There is an ongoing action of titling all the land donated to the Church. Arancel system is still the predominant means of the peoples’ support. There is a growing shift towards the pledge and/or tithing systems, making the people respond not only to the needs of the clergy and the Church but also their response to God’s generosity and providence, and cultivating the value of giving and love for the Church.
The Diocese is not only for quality education but also for catholic education. Catholic education is a distinctive mark of a catholic school but there are only two in the Diocese. There are private schools and this is where we in the Diocese can reach out (41 private pre-school and elementary schools, 31 private secondary schools and 8 private higher/tertiary schools (DepEd-Ched data Aug.2006). This is where values formation and Christian orientation/formation can take place.
There is in us a growing missionary spirit. We have Aklanons working outside the Diocese as priest or as lay worker. There are groups of Aklanons in the different parts of the US and Canada and elsewhere and their presence there have brought the devotion to the Sto. Nino and San Lorenzo Ruiz. This area could be explored more. In the Diocese we have been supporting missionary activities and missionaries through our annual mission contributions. There is still room for more involvement in this area of mission.
Aside from our revisit of the 1996 Synod, the 30th anniversary of the foundation as Diocese, the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Kalibo celebrates the 425th year of existence, founded in 1581. This is vintage wine, so to say, old and precious. Included in this antiquity is the cultural heritage passed on to us by our ancestors. This we have to give due consideration and attention as part of our diocesan contribution in preserving and conserving the Cultural Heritage of our local Church.
Today we see the malls or department stores displaying different gadgets like cell phones of all sizes, shapes, amount, brand; radio, tv, cd’s and dvd’s. Mass media of today is, what they call, hi-tech. This is one area wherein the Church can harness her capacity to evangelize, to spread the word of God. It is very important for us in the Church to recognize the value of mass media for evangelization, to reach out to our people, to make present the God who cares and loves.
My dear brothers and sisters I just gave a short profile of what is going on in the Diocese. I am happy to say that the Diocese is healthy and moving towards her Vision. Indeed to be a true disciple of Christ entails a lot of sacrifice, on-going formation and purification.
Now I formally open and celebrate the gift that is The Diocesan Pastoral Assembly.
Santo Nino, bless us,
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us,
St. John the Baptist, accompany us.
1 comment:
Where are all the flower's gone? Where are all the laity's gone? The laity comprises the vast majority of the faithful of Aklan. With a population of about half a million and with a clergy of only 67, (and not all are present in the diocese) one could imagine that the diocese could not go ahead without the laity.
But look at what the SODA of the beloved bishop indicate. Although they "have been given importance," "are encouraged to take an active role in the parish and in the Diocese," and "are given opportunities to exercise their (different) charisms," --- "much has still to be done."
This is especially true in the area of the family "today being bombarded with many anti-family values coming from many sectors of our society."
Statistically, we cannot totally rely on the priests, but on the laity, perhaps under the priest's guidance. The best persons who could help the laity are the lay personsthemselves.
Perhaps, liturgical participation is not enough, though it is very important. Perhaps, only prayer is not enough though it strengthens us to face the ever more dark world.
The laity, who are in fact beginning to be aware, that hey have to help one another concretely, is the best visible sign of being Church.
Where are the laity's gone? Yes they mabe be inside the church, but the visible love, help, cooperation, mutual understanding of common problems they face, in short, their mutual love for one another in whatever or wherever field of work are in, be it in politics, education, journalism, sports, culture, music, etc, is the best flowering of the presence of Christ in Aklan. And this is a good sight!
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