Manila (AsiaNews) – The Philippine bishops have officially approved the establishment of the National Institute for Catechetics and Evangelisation Advancement (NICEA) for the formation of catechists and missionaries.
During the 132nd plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), held in Misamis Occidental from 8 to 10 July, the Episcopal Commission for Evangelisation and Catechesis (ECEC) presented the new initiative to the bishops, and it was approved.
The project was presented by Bishop Daniel O. Presto, chairman of the Commission; Fr Jason H. Laguerta, executive secretary; Fr Rex John Palmos, coordinator of the Missionary Committee for Formation and Programmes; and Dr Pilar Romero, dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, run by the Dominicans.
NICEA aims to become a national centre of excellence for catechetical formation, evangelisation, leadership development, research, collaboration and innovation. Its task – as explained by Bishop Presto – will be to support the local Churches in the Philippines in responding to the pastoral challenges of our time by forming missionary disciples and competent catechetical leaders for a truly synodal Church.
There are currently 86 million Catholics living in the Philippines: it is the largest Catholic country in Asia and the third-largest Catholic nation after Brazil and Mexico. This is another reason why the creation of a national centre for catechesis and evangelisation is an extremely significant development.
The proposed institute will focus on three main areas of service: comprehensive and progressive formation for evangelisers and catechists; training and development for catechetical leadership and supervision; and collaboration with catechetical centres and institutes.
Among the fundamental objectives of the NICEA Centre will be to assist local Churches in implementing the institutionalised ministry of catechists within individual dioceses. It will train catechists who have themselves been evangelised and evangelisers who joyfully bear witness to the Gospel, whilst at the same time supporting catechetical centres and institutes throughout the Philippines. It will prepare current and future catechetical leaders through comprehensive formation and ongoing accompaniment, and will renew evangelisation and catechesis in the Philippines in response to the signs of the times and the Church’s missionary call.
“It is the realisation of a long-cherished dream: at last we will have a national institute that will support not only catechetical ministries, but also the various ministries of our local Churches,” said Bishop Presto.
NICEA will subsequently establish regional satellite centres, making high-quality catechetical formation more accessible to dioceses and ecclesial communities across the country. It will not replace existing catechetical centres or institutes, but will seek to promote collaboration, communion and mutual enrichment amongst the many institutions that have faithfully served the Church for decades.
By fostering partnerships, sharing resources, encouraging research and building formation networks, NICEA hopes to strengthen the Philippines’ rich catechetical heritage, whilst creatively responding to today’s pastoral needs.
“Together we continue the Church’s mission,” commented Fr Laguerta, executive secretary of the ECEC, “walking in communion, participation and mission, forming evangelised catechists and evangelisers for a synodal Church.”
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