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| Sr. Ma. Gemma Moralita, SPC, the Christian Formation and Community Extension Services Head, addresses the GS and HS Faculty during the 1st Regular Catechesis at the Iluminada R. Mendoza Little Theater yesterday, July 18. |
"There are two fundamental aspects of the vocation of the laity," she said. "These are the full belonging of the lay faithful to the Church and its mystery, and its secular character where the world is the milieu and means for the lay faithful to fulfill their vocation," she mentioned.
Sr. Gemma led the faculty into the many ways where the lay people could get involved in the Church, particularly in the parishes.
She explained that the whole Church is missionary, and that the work of evangelization is a basic duty of the people of God.
"All the lay faithful are called to heal and transform society," she quoted the four aspects of the laity's role and life, "whether rich or poor, employed or unemployed, professional or non-professional to prepare the temporal order for the final establishment of the Kingdom of God."
This entails that the faithful have to depend on one another and that they must carry one another's burdens, she deepened.
The challenge of New Evangelization is to do it with "new ardor, new expressions, and new forms," she emphasized.
When asked to share their thoughts on the Year of the Laity and its challenges to the faculty, Mrs. Luzviminda Estrella, on of the HS Religious Education teachers shared that there are a lot of ways where one could get involved in the parishes. She mentioned of the different ministries and commissions where one could join and get involved.
Mr. Ernesto Guillermo, Jr., the HS Academic Chair expressed that there is joy in serving the Lord, especially here in the Philippines where it is not so bothered by what other countries are experiencing. Despite the stories of graft and corruption and the other problems that beset the country, "they are incomparable to what other countries are facing," he shared. He went on to mention the celebrated case of a young girl named Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban in her fight for the rights of the girls in Pakistan for education. "Such was a courageous act of this girl who stood for the rights of others," he said. "But how many among us could be like Malala who could fight for the sake of others, speaking of the rights of children?" he asked.
He mentioned of Syria where the people are beset with deaths due to armed conflict almost everyday. He cited also the latest terrorist attack on yet another Malaysian Airlines when passing by the Ukraine. "And so, there are a lot of reasons to thank God for for the Philippines," he reflected. And one of the best ways to thank Him is to get involved in the Church in the Year of the Laity, he added.
"This is a challenge for Catholic teachers like us who are from St. Paul College of Bocaue because we come from a Catholic school," he said.
Miss Imelda Baltazar, the GS Academic Chair shared a similar thought as with Mr. Guillermo. She narrated that it is ironical that when she eventually came to a Catholic school, she eventually lost touch with her involvement in her parish. "It is not enough to just simply attend the Sunday Masses," she realized. "We must get involved," she exhorted.
Mr. Alejandro Manuel, the HS MAPEH Team Leader, also shared how difficult it could be to serve in the Parish. He said it even reached that point where he missed important family commitments just to be able to serve. He is thankful, though, that "the Lord had never abandoned us with our needs."
Miss Maricar Bargado, the English STL expressed thanks that she is able to serve as one of the choir members through the invitation of Mr. Manuel. She said she is happy that she is in the parish.
Mr. John Christopher Gutuman, a HS Mathematics teacher and also a Lay Minister of the Holy Communion in his parish, also shared the joy of serving the Church, even as he is also a member of a choir.
Sr. Gemma expressed her desire that more faculty should be involved in the different parishes as a response to the missionary character of the laity.
She went on to ask, "What now, Laity of the Church in the world?"
After talking about the Year of the Laity, she presented the concept of Basic Ecclesial Community which eventually led to the formation of the different cells among the faculty.
The BEC will take the place of the DEPTHS, she bared, and that it will be taken care of by the Religious Education teachers during their meetings with their students.
Meanwhile, it was decided that the afternoon of the first day of Summative Tests will be the general sharing for the BEC among the faculty, while the afternoon of the first day of Periodic Tests will be devoted to catechesis.
With regard to the BEC reflection guide, Mr. Guillermo suggested that the Mass Reflection Guide found at the Tagalog Missal published monthly by the Diocese of Malolos be used.
Sr. Gemma expressed hope that the BEC that will be formed in school, which are quasi-BEC, will heighten the love of the Word of God and will form caring communities among the members of the academic community.
Sr. Gemma led the faculty into the many ways where the lay people could get involved in the Church, particularly in the parishes.
She explained that the whole Church is missionary, and that the work of evangelization is a basic duty of the people of God.
"All the lay faithful are called to heal and transform society," she quoted the four aspects of the laity's role and life, "whether rich or poor, employed or unemployed, professional or non-professional to prepare the temporal order for the final establishment of the Kingdom of God."
This entails that the faithful have to depend on one another and that they must carry one another's burdens, she deepened.
The challenge of New Evangelization is to do it with "new ardor, new expressions, and new forms," she emphasized.
When asked to share their thoughts on the Year of the Laity and its challenges to the faculty, Mrs. Luzviminda Estrella, on of the HS Religious Education teachers shared that there are a lot of ways where one could get involved in the parishes. She mentioned of the different ministries and commissions where one could join and get involved.
Mr. Ernesto Guillermo, Jr., the HS Academic Chair expressed that there is joy in serving the Lord, especially here in the Philippines where it is not so bothered by what other countries are experiencing. Despite the stories of graft and corruption and the other problems that beset the country, "they are incomparable to what other countries are facing," he shared. He went on to mention the celebrated case of a young girl named Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban in her fight for the rights of the girls in Pakistan for education. "Such was a courageous act of this girl who stood for the rights of others," he said. "But how many among us could be like Malala who could fight for the sake of others, speaking of the rights of children?" he asked.
He mentioned of Syria where the people are beset with deaths due to armed conflict almost everyday. He cited also the latest terrorist attack on yet another Malaysian Airlines when passing by the Ukraine. "And so, there are a lot of reasons to thank God for for the Philippines," he reflected. And one of the best ways to thank Him is to get involved in the Church in the Year of the Laity, he added.
"This is a challenge for Catholic teachers like us who are from St. Paul College of Bocaue because we come from a Catholic school," he said.
Miss Imelda Baltazar, the GS Academic Chair shared a similar thought as with Mr. Guillermo. She narrated that it is ironical that when she eventually came to a Catholic school, she eventually lost touch with her involvement in her parish. "It is not enough to just simply attend the Sunday Masses," she realized. "We must get involved," she exhorted.
Mr. Alejandro Manuel, the HS MAPEH Team Leader, also shared how difficult it could be to serve in the Parish. He said it even reached that point where he missed important family commitments just to be able to serve. He is thankful, though, that "the Lord had never abandoned us with our needs."
Miss Maricar Bargado, the English STL expressed thanks that she is able to serve as one of the choir members through the invitation of Mr. Manuel. She said she is happy that she is in the parish.
Mr. John Christopher Gutuman, a HS Mathematics teacher and also a Lay Minister of the Holy Communion in his parish, also shared the joy of serving the Church, even as he is also a member of a choir.
Sr. Gemma expressed her desire that more faculty should be involved in the different parishes as a response to the missionary character of the laity.
She went on to ask, "What now, Laity of the Church in the world?"
After talking about the Year of the Laity, she presented the concept of Basic Ecclesial Community which eventually led to the formation of the different cells among the faculty.
The BEC will take the place of the DEPTHS, she bared, and that it will be taken care of by the Religious Education teachers during their meetings with their students.
Meanwhile, it was decided that the afternoon of the first day of Summative Tests will be the general sharing for the BEC among the faculty, while the afternoon of the first day of Periodic Tests will be devoted to catechesis.
With regard to the BEC reflection guide, Mr. Guillermo suggested that the Mass Reflection Guide found at the Tagalog Missal published monthly by the Diocese of Malolos be used.
Sr. Gemma expressed hope that the BEC that will be formed in school, which are quasi-BEC, will heighten the love of the Word of God and will form caring communities among the members of the academic community.
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