Conducting a Holy Retreat for Priests

I arrived from Zamboanga the other day after conducting a retreat for 37 priests belonging to the diocese of Romblon. The retreat which was held at the seaside hotel of Lantaka near the old fort of Pilar started on Monday afternoon and ended Wednesday evening.

This is the seventh clergy retreat that I have given so far. I have given 3 retreats for priests from 3 Mindanao dioceses (Tandag, Pagadian, Dipolog), 1 Visayas diocese (Borongan) and 3 Luzon dioceses (Infanta, Baguio and Romblon).

As usual, the focus of the retreat was their life and ministry as priests with special emphasis on building and leading the parish as a network of Basic Ecclesial Communities. The framework that I used is based on the Vatican II and PCP II vision of the ordained ministry: the ministry of communion (koinonia) and pastoral leadership, the prophetic ministry, the liturgical/sacramental ministry and the social ministry. I also added the last topic: facing the darkside and the call to conversion.

Each session has a three-fold component: a) a talk/conference by the retreat director (that's my part), b) a period of individual reflection/meditation, c) a time for small group sharing (by vicariate).

The aim of the retreat is to make the priests aware that a Renewed Church requires a Renewed Clergy, and that a New Way of Being Church (BECs) requires a New Way of Being Priest.

BEC Committee Report to the CBCP Plenary Assembly

This has been a very busy week for me. The Catholic bishops of the Philippines gathered for their plenary assembly and I had to prepare and deliver orally the report of the Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities to over 80 assembled bishops last Sunday. A couple of days before that, I also gave a short briefing to the Mindanao bishops who were having their meeting. Yesterday, I attended the lunch-meeting of the bishops who compose the Committee on BEC and this was followed by a meeting of the National BEC team. During the plenary assembly, I met Archbishop Palma who gave me a letter of invitation to be a guest speaker of the Visayas Regional Pastoral assembly which will be held in Cebu this coming October 2013. I also received invitation from the host of the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference to make a synthesis of the conference also during the last week of October.
This is the content of my report to the bishops:

CBCP_BEC Committee Report to the CBCP 107th Plenary Assembly

(July 2012- June 2013)

 The National BEC Team (composed of  the CBCP-BEC Committee chairman Bishop George Rimando, executive secretary Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, and the three consultants - Msgr. Manny Gabriel, Msgr. Joemarie Delgado and Dr. Estela Padilla) met 3 times during this period for assessment  and  planning.

 The team monitored the progress of the implementation of the 2008 National BEC Assembly recommendations and plans which were crafted by the regions during the 2011 National Gathering of Diocesan BEC Directors.

 Regional Networking and Cooperation

 1. National Capital Region Conference.  Delegates from 6 dioceses of the metropolitan province of Manila and the dioceses of Malolos and Antipolo gathered on September 29, 2012 in Pasig to share their experiences on forming BECs in the urban areas - "BECs in the City." The executive secretary attended the event as  guest speaker. He also participated in the gathering.

 2. Mindanao-wide BEC Gathering.  Delegates from 21 Arch/dioceses in Mindanao gathered in Tagum on November 20-23, 2012. Both the chairman and the executive secretary were present.  The sub-regions shared their experiences of forming and sustaining their BECs. The executive secretary gave a talk on the state of BECs in the Philippines, presenting it region by region and its challenges they are facing.

 So far, 3 regions have already gathered: Northern Luzon (February 2012), National Capital Region (September 2012) and Mindanao region (November 2012). We are still waiting for the other regions to implement their plans. The Southern Tagalog Region and the Bicol Region were planning to have their assemblies sometime in 2013. So far there is no given definite schedule. The Visayas region has scheduled a regional pastoral assembly in Cebu this coming October 2013.

 Diocesan/District/Vicariate  BEC Assemblies

 The executive secretary was the guest speaker of the gathering of the following dioceses, districts and vicariates:

 1. Isabel (Leyte) BEC assembly and silver jubilee celebration - August 18, 2012

2. Malolos diocesan BEC assembly - September 1, 2012
3. Digos Diocesan BEC Congress and 25th anniversary - October 20, 2012
4. Kalookan Diocesan BEC Assembly - October 27, 2012
5. Daet Diocesan BEC Assembly - November 6, 2012
6. Cebu South Disctrict (II) BEC Assembly - December 15, 2012
7. Cebu South-East District BEC Assembly - December 19, 2012
8. Palo Archdiocesan Assembly of Lay Organizations Movements and Associations (their role in the formation of BECs) - January 26, 2013
9. Butuan Diocesan BEC Assembly - February 8, 2013
10. Tuguegarao Vicariate BEC Assembly - February - February 16, 2013
11. Romblon Diocesan BEC Assembly - April 30, 2013
12. Malaybalay Diocesan BEC Congress - May 27-29, 2013
13. Pasig BEC Assembly - June 1, 2013
14. Antipolo Diocesan BEC Big Day - June 25, 2013

 

Collaboration with other CBCP Commissions

1.  The office was represented in the National Formators' Institute on October 22-25, 2012 in Cebu City which was organized by the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Seminaries. The executive secretary presented a paper on "BEC and Seminary Formation." He included in his presentation the findings of a survey he conducted about how far the major seminaries and college seminaries have integrated BEC in seminary formation. The findings are very positive. To the question whether BECs are part of seminary formation, 20 out of 25 college seminaries who responded answered yes (80%) and 13 out 13 major seminaries who responded answered yes (100%). 19 out 25 college seminaries are structured as BEC cells, and 12 out 13 major seminaries have adopted the BEC cell structure. 19 out of 25 college seminaries have BEC exposure/immersion program, while 12 out of 13 major seminaries have their own BEC exposure/immersion.

2. Upon the invitation of the executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Canon Law (Msgr. Tulabing), the CBCP-BEC Committee executive secretary attended the meeting of the ad hoc committee on BEC Guidelines of the Canon Law Society of the Philippines which was held in Cebu City on June 10, 2013. The final draft will be submitted to the CBCP for approval. The guidelines address the issue of the canonical status of BECs.  It also questions the so-called “sanctions-policy” adopted by some dioceses whereby active membership in BECs is a requirement for the reception of the sacraments (baptism, matrimony, funeral mass). Such policy is considered discriminatory and violates the rights of the faithful. This is the same position of the BEC office. Active membership in BECs should be the fruit of new evangelization and personal conversion, rather than a product of coercive policies. Perhaps what maybe helpful is a more systematic and effective program of new evangelization and catechesis. The guidelines on BECs from a canonical perspective can form part of a broader BEC guidelines which our office wishes to develop.

Collaboration with other Institutes

1. The office collaborated with the Socio-Pastoral Institute (SPI) in conducting a seminar on the Spirituality of Stewardship to the bishops during the CBCP Assembly in January 22-23, 2013. The executive secretary gave a talk on "Spirituality of Stewardship in BECs."

2. In a seminar-workshop on "Pastoral Perspective on New Evangelization" organized by the Bukal ng Tipan on April 8-12, 2013 in Taytay, Rizal,  the executive secretary conducted a workshop on "BECs and New Evangelization."  On April 22-26, 2013,  Msgr. Jomarie Delgado conducted a seminar on "BEC and New Evangelization" in Bacolod, also organized by Bukal ng Tipan.

3.  The members of the national BEC team also collaborated with the Asian Social Institute (ASI) in their program of accompaniment for 5 dioceses in the Bicol Region. On March 18-21, 2013, Mgr. Manny Gabriel conducted a seminar on Pastoral Management to the diocesan pastoral workers, including priests and religious, coming from 5 dioceses in the region. On May 20-23, 2013, the executive secretary conducted a seminar-workshop to the same group on "BECs and New Evangelization."

Case Studies on BECs

The executive secretary and two staff members have started conducting case studies on specific BECs in some parishes of Paranaque, Manila, Cubao and Cebu. The following are the areas of interest: BECs and livelihood programs and their engagement with government agencies, BECs and Cooperatives, BECs in depressed areas, BECs in upper class areas (condominium and gated subdivisions), etc. We will expand the areas of coverage to the other parts of the country in the near future. Video-documentaries on exceptional BECs will be done later. 

We are also gathering case studies and write-ups on BECs that have already been done by others. We are also encouraging dioceses to conduct their own studies and documentation on best practices in the formation of BECs. These studies will be made available in our office library and will be posted in the website (www.cbcpbec.com).

Diocesan/National BEC Profile & Assessment

            We are in the process of coming up with a national BEC profile and assessment. We have come up with questionnaires and tools of assessment which can be used by the dioceses and parishes. We have already sent the questionnaires to the diocesan BEC directors (or in-charge) for an initial diocesan BEC profile as part of the preparation for the National Gathering of Diocesan BEC directors and coordinators. A more detailed assessment can later be carried out. We hope that we will be able to come up with a data-base which can provide a more accurate picture of the BECs in the Philippines.

National Gathering of Diocesan BEC Directors and Coordinators

            A National Gathering of Diocesan BEC Directors and Coordinators will be held this coming September 16-19, 2013, at the Holy Family Retreat House in Cebu City. Last May 2013, a communication was already sent to the bishops and to the diocesan BEC directors. For this gathering, we are inviting two delegates from each arch/diocese, namely the priest-in-charge/diocesan BEC director and a lay or religious BEC coordinator. The arch/dioceses are expected to shoulder the travel expenses as well as registration fee for board and lodging.  Please take note of the following:

• Registration fee is  ₱2,200.00 per delegate for three days.
• Arrival:  September 16, 2013 with afternoon merienda (no lunch served).
• Departure:  September 19, 2013 after breakfast.

Objectives of the gathering:

1. To review decisions made in October 2011 Gathering; 

2. To update the participants of diocesan BEC profile;

3. To identify concerns, challenges and aspirations in view of their own experiences and in the light of New Evangelization;

4. And lastly, to brainstorm ideas in preparation for the BEC National Assembl,y slated sometime on 2015 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II.

BEC Resources/Materials

            We continue to gather books and other resource materials on BECs, some of which are in our office book-shelves. They are also posted in our website. Books that are out of print will be scanned and stored as pdf file that can be downloaded.  We are also gathering and developing modules  and manuals on BECs, on new evangelization as well as related topics that can be used by BEC animators and formation teams. These will be posted in the website and will be published later.

         

Prepared by:

Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR

Executive Secretary

 

Noted by:

+ George B. Rimando, DD

Chairman

CBCP-BEC Committee

The Hermit of Busay

Here I am once again in my sacred space - in my "hermitage" up in the mountain of Busay. I came up here a week ago. I actually arrived in Cebu on March 8, but I had to go first to Marigondon to interview the parish priest, the parish BEC coordinators and some BEC leaders for the case study on the BECs in the parish.

As usual, I am here for four weeks - spending time in solitude, silence, prayer, reflect, reading and writing. I am doing a lot of running and walking on the mountain trails around here. For the first two weeks, I will be fasting during the day and have a light dinner (just salad). Then, on the third week - Holy Week - I will have an absolute fast (no food - only water and a cleansing liquid drink) from Palm to Easter Vigil.. Then back to one meal a day on Easter week.

I've been especially praying for the cardinals gathered in Rome for the papal conclave to choose the successor of Benedict XVI. I was glad to hear that they elected Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio who took the name Pope Francis. Now, I am praying for him as he begins his ministry of shepherding the universal Church.

Staying here for a month each year has become part of the rhythm of my life - a habit which I have been doing since becoming a priest 31 years ago. I intend to continue doing this for the rest of my life. I've spend longer periods here before - 3 months in 1989, 5 months in 2005 and 3 months in 2010. Perhaps, I will have another longer period during my next sabbatical in 2016. When I reach 75 years old, this is where I will spend my retirement.

This is such a beautiful place. I love it here.

Benedict XVI's "Creative Minorities"

Today, Pope Benedict XVI will formally step down as  pope. One of his most fascinating ideas is the Church  becoming a creative minority which I believe can be appropriated for Basic Ecclesial Communities. I would like to share this article which I wrote for my regular column in the CBCP monitor, published this week:

 

BECs as Creative Minorities

Before he was elected pope, Benedict XVI already envisioned a Church that would act as creative minority, appropriating the idea of the historian Arnold Toynbee:

“Here we must agree with Toynbee that the fate of a society always depends on its creative minorities. Christian believers should look upon themselves as just such a creative minority, and help Europe to reclaim what is best in its heritage and to thereby place itself at the service of all humankind.” (Ratzinger & Pera, Without Roots).

This idea was already present in his book (Faith and the Future,1971), when he chose the image of a mustard seed for the Church: “Perhaps the time has come to say farewell to the idea of traditionally Catholic cultures. Maybe we are facing a new and different kind of epoch in the Church’s history, where Christianity will again be characterized more by the mustard seed, where it will exist in small, insignificant groups that nonetheless live an intensive struggle against evil and bring the good into the world – that let God in.”

He again referred to this term during an interview as he was on his way to Prague in 2009 for a papal visit:  “it is the creative minorities that determine the future, and in this sense the Catholic Church must understand itself as a creative minority that has a heritage of values that are not things of the past, but a very living and relevant reality. The Church must actualize, be present in the public debate, in our struggle for a true concept of liberty and peace.”

The pope used this term as a prognosis for how the Church whose membership has become a minority in Europe should act in face of secularism and de-Christianization. The clergy, lay organizations and renewal movements would have an important role in this.

In his broad historical study of major civilizations, Arnold Toynbee observed that the growth and transformation of many societies depend on creative minorities whom the majority eventually follow. This is similar to Vilfredo Pareto’s 20-80 principle or the law of the vital few: the 20 percent of any group or institution account for 80 percent of the effect. Thus, 80 percent of our efforts should be focused on the 20 percent that can make a difference.

This is how the Church should function according to Benedict XVI. While this can be applied for the Church in Europe, is this also applicable for the Philippines where Catholics make up the majority?

I believe that the concept of “Creative Minorities” is relevant in our country. Although 81 percent of the population are Catholics, the majority are either nominal or seasonal Catholics. There is a tiny minority – around 15 percent – that are active.

There is no need to despair as long as the small percent of those who are active act as “creative minorities.” This means that they live as genuine disciples of Christ in community. Having undergone conversion and filled with dynamism they actively participate in the Church’s prophetic, evangelizing mission, in the work for justice, peace and social transformation, and give witness by their holiness of life.

The lay organizations, renewal movements and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) have a vital role to play as creative minorities in the midst of a Christian majority who are mostly nominal and who need to be evangelized.

Since, 1991, the PCP II and the CBCP have promoted the growth of BECs all over the Philippines. In most of the dioceses and parishes in the country, there are already BECs. The parishes are becoming  networks of small Christian communities or BECs. The percentage of Catholics actively involved in the BECs are still small but they function as creative minorities – as light, leaven and salt, or as the mustard seed. In them, the ordinary lay-faithful, including the poor members actively participate in the life and mission of the Church.

Over the decades the BECs have made a difference in making the Church fully alive and contributing to the transformation of society. These communities have been engaged in renewed evangelization in the neighborhood communities and villages. Many of these have introduced programs to alleviate poverty (sustainable agriculture, livelihood projects, cooperatives, micro-finance, etc.). In response to the armed conflict, there have been BECs  involved in peace advocacy -- in the establishment of peace zones or spaces for peace. There are BECs that have defended the environment  through their efforts to stop logging, mining and coal-fired power-plants. There are also BECs involved in campaign for good-governance and political education. Other BECs are involved in pro-life campaign and introducing Natural Family Planning methods and responsible parenthood. Their numbers may not be significant yet but they are growing and  are already making a difference. Thus, in the BECs, Benedict XVI's vision of the Church as a creative minority is being realized at the grassroots, in the neighborhood and the barangay. As we say good-bye to our beloved pope, we will remember his ecclesial vision of the creative minority as one of his legacies.

The Church's Stance vis-a-vis the Present Government

I wrote this article which was published in the CBCP Monitor this week

The Church's Stance vis-a-vis the Present Regime

 

In the minds of many people, the passage of the RH bill was a defeat for the Church - a sign of the declining influence of the Church in the political arena, a failure of the Church to assert her moral and political power.  This assessment is questionable. But what is clear is that the President and his allies have succeeded in passing a law which they claim can help solve the problem of poverty and ensure the "reproductive health" of women by providing free contraceptives and compulsory sex education.

The question is what should the Church’s stance be vis-à-vis the present government in view of this recent development?

In my opinion, there are various options. The first is to keep silent and withdraw from engagement in the social and political arena. Let things be, focus on the spiritual and religious matters. This means being in the sidelines and not “meddling” in politics. This is probably what the government and elements of civil society influenced by Western liberal-secular agenda would like.  This would be an abdication of the Church’s social mission.

Another option is to build up and re-assert the Church’s influence in the political sphere. In view of the coming election, this means making the “Catholic vote” a reality, campaigning against pro-RH politicians and supporting pro-life candidates. This implies becoming a power-broker.  Easier said than done. The Church cannot follow the act of the INK. The clergy cannot tell the faithful who to vote for. The lay leaders coming from mandated organizations and movements do not have the capability of creating a critical mass. Catholics may constitute the majority of the population, but those who follow the teachings of the Church are a minority. The majority are nominal Catholics who do not listen to the clergy – especially when it comes to political matters.

Campaigning on a single issue (RH law) could put the Church on the side of  politicians who may not be paragons of good governance. It would be too much to expect the electorate to vote on the basis of a single issue. Being pro-life should not be the only criteria for voting candidates into office. It would be inappropriate to vote for candidates who are claim to be pro-life and yet have records of corruption, abuse of power, violence, human rights violation  and destruction of the environment.

The option which I find preferable is that of the humble servant and prophet.

This means avoiding the image of the Church as a powerful institution trying to throw her weight around or imposing her will in the political arena, acting like a bully. The Church will continue to function as a humble servant continuing the various programs and initiatives that concretely manifest her care for the poor, the sick and the weak. This means working for justice and for peace, defending the integrity of creation – the environment. This also means promoting and defending the basic rights of all – including the right to life of everyone, especially the unborn. Thus, the Church needs to embrace a consistent ethic of life that integrates these various concerns.

The Church should be willing to engage and collaborate with the government and civil society in promoting the common good – especially in poverty alleviation, promotion of peace and good governance, and environmental protection. In doing so, the Church should not act as Messiah or liberator but as a genuine humble servant cooperating with other people of good will. Thus, the Church must live up to her identity as Church of the Poor.

As a prophetic community, the Church has two-fold function: to announce and denounce.

Prophetic annunciation means proclaiming the Gospel message and Christian values. This is the task of new evangelization especially in light of the fact that majority of the people are nominal Christians, many of whom do not accept and live the Church’s teachings. This is also the task of renewed catechesis. There is much to be done to deepen the understanding of the faithful of the basic Christian doctrines, about the social and moral teachings of the Church. The teachings of the Church about marriage, sexuality, family, responsible parenthood, natural family planning method and the value of life should be inculcated in the schools, parishes and Basic Ecclesial Communities. An ongoing political education based on social teachings of the Church should lead the members to vote wisely and to participate in the crusade for good governance.

The task of prophetic denunciation includes the exercise of the Church's role as  conscience of society. This means struggling against the culture of death and corruption.

While collaborating with the government in initiatives that promote the common good – such as poverty alleviation, good governance, peace and environmental protection - the Church must at all times maintain a critical stance. The Church will continue to denounce the government policies and laws that are contrary to common good, that promote the culture of death and that weaken the family. The negative effects of the RH Law needs to be exposed and denounced.  This includes  exposing how billions of pesos of tax payers money are spent on birth control and sex education, and less on actual poverty alleviation programs, better health care and affordable quality education for all, especially the poor.  The Church should not hesitate to exercise the critical function when the government fails to alleviate poverty, to protect the environment, achieve just and lasting peace, to implement genuine agrarian reform, to eradicate graft and corruption at all levels.

This servant and prophetic mission of the Church should be carried out not just by the bishops, priests and religious, but also the lay-faithful as well, especially by the renewal movements and the Basic Ecclesial Communities.

Seminar on "Spirituality of Stewardship" for the CBCP

This week the Catholic bishops of the Philippines are gathering for their week-long assembly which started yesterday. I was part of the team (made up of  the staff of  the Socio-Pastoral Institute) that prepared and conducted a seminar on "Spirituality of Stewardship (SoS)" for the bishops. In the morning of  the first day, Bishop Broderick Pabillo opened the seminar with a talk on "Spirituality of Stewardship and New Evangelization." This was followed by the sharing of experiences by lay leaders (Merlita Sibal and Adelyn Tores) and their parish priest (Fr. Manny Catral) from Tuguegarao who have been implementing the SoS in the BECs of their parish. Then the Clergy stewardship program of the Diocese of Legaspi was presented by Mayee Abear. After the lunch break, Bishop Antonio Tobias and Fr. Tony Labiao shared their experience of implementing the SoS in the diocese of Novaliches. I then shared my observation and theological reflection on "The Spirituality of Stewardship and Basic Ecclesial Communities." This was followed by a series of short talks by the guests from the United States who have been promoting the Spirituality of Stewardship (Fr. Andrew Kemberling, Rick Jeric, Tim Gray, Sharon Hueckel, Terry Polakovic). This morning, after the recap by Joey Clemente, Bishop Mylo Vergara shared his experience of promoting the SoS in the dioceses of San Jose (Nueva Ecija) and Pasig. The last part of the seminar was the workshop and open forum.

Welcoming the New Year

I arrived here in Iligan last Dec. 28 to welcome the new year with my siblings and their children. Only my 4 sisters are around (Nonie, Myrna, Mely and Cely). As usual my three brothers are out of the country. Sam is in San Francisco (USA), Angel is in New Jersey (USA), and Agustin is on a ship somewhere in  the Atlantic Ocean. It's been a very long time that my brothers in the US have come home. The last time we were complete as a family was during the funeral of my mother in December 1985. We've never had any family reunion. I wonder when we can have one. My three sisters (Nonie, Mely and Cely) have taken up running and are becoming very fit. They want to walk the Camino de Santiago three years from now and they are thinking of inviting the other sibling along so that we can have our reunion in Spain and do the Camino as a family. I think the Leon to Santiago de Compostela (312 km) can be done in 15 says (20 km per day). Three years is enough time to get fit and save money for the expenses. I hope we can make that dream come true.

My first Christmas in Baclaran

I've been spending Christmas in Davao for the last 16 years. Now that I am working at the CBCP, this is the first time that I am spending Christmas in Baclaran. The photos were taken during the Christmas eve mass last night. I am posting the homily I gave at the 8 pm mass this evening.

The Light that Shines in the Dark

Homily for Christmas 2012, Redemptorist Church Baclaran

 

"The light shines in the dark, and the darkness could not overcome the light"

 Merry Christmas! This is the greeting that we give each other on Christmas day. But what makes our Christmas merry? What is it that brings joy to Christmas?

Many will say that if we have money to buy new clothes, good food, new gadgets, etc. our Christmas would indeed by merry.

But what about those who have less or none at all? What about the victims of calamity like those in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental? What about those whose loved ones have died? What about the poor who consist the vast majority of our people? Will their Christmas be merry?

Is it possible to celebrate Christmas amidst tragedy, suffering, poverty, violence, etc? Can we have a Merry Christmas when we do not have enough money? When we do not have enough food? When we are sick?

The natural response is no. But our readings tell us that Yes we can celebrate Christmas even in the midst of a seeming dark world, when we feel hopeless and helpless.

The Good News that the Gospel proclaims which we celebrate joyfully:

The Word was Made Flesh and Dwelt among us. God has entered human history, God is with us. He is near to us.

 The coming of Jesus is the coming of light. The light shines in the dark and the darkness could not overcome the light.

 Christmas is for people who are in the dark, for people who are suffering, for people who are looking for hope. Christmas tells us that God has given us the greatest gift -- his only Son who brings salvation into the world, who will overcome all evil -- all darkness.

For people of faith, for those who believe that the child born on a manger to a poor family was indeed the Son of God who became one of us and who brought salvation into the world -  Christmas is a time to be merry.

A Christmas without Christ in our hearts and in our lives is an empty meaningless Christmas even if we have all the money to buy what we desire.

It is Christ who brings joy to Christmas. It is also our love, generosity and capacity to share as followers of Jesus that can bring joy to others – and to ourselves too.

Running Back to San Fernando, Bukidnon

 

 

Last week (Oct. 29-30), I visited  San Fernando, Bukidnon. It has been 24 years since I left this place. This was the mission area of the Redemptorist mission team from 1987 to 1989. The parish priest at that time (Fr. Pat Kelly) invited our team to build-up and strengthen the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in his parish. When we arrived, logging was rampant in the area and the people complained that the forest, including the watershed were fast disappearing. We helped mobilized the BECs to protect the environment together with the support of Bishop Gaudencio Rosales and the clergy, the NGOs and the local government units. After two years of struggle, with the people barricading the the highways against the logging trucks, the government declared a total log ban in the whole province.

 

I left San Fernando on December 15, 1988, a few weeks after the people's successful campaign against logging. Although the mission would go on until April 1989, I left earlier since I was asked by my superiors to go for further studies in Berkeley, California and then Rome.

 

I left San Fernando with a backpack, running to Malaybalay - which was 55 km away - it took me 5 hours and 15 minutes. That was my last memory of  San Fernando.

 

So last week, I finally came back - walking-running 32 km from Valencia to San Fernando, with a 8 kilo backpack. The last 16 km was mostly uphill and it rained twice. I used to run the route in 2 hrs and 45 minutes when I was training for the marathon 24 years ago. This time it was over six hours with plenty of stops and rest. Well, I did a lot of walking - especially during the first 16 km. I was careful because I had an attack of gouty arthritis two weeks earlier. But once I was up the mountain I was running slowly, with tears of joy, remembering the long runs I did on this road and trail when I was 24 years younger. I knew I was older and slower, but I could still do it and that is what matters most.

 

When I reached San Fernando, I meet some of the BEC leaders.  I also met Rev. Frank Vendor, whose ordination I came to attend. He is the son of the BEC leader in Kawayan. Frank was 5 years old when I occasionally visited his village and he used to guard my motorbike. When I met him many years later when he applied to the diocesan seminary, he told me that the desire to become a priest started during our mission in San Fernando. I helped looked for a benefactor so that Frank could realize his dream. Frank was ordained by Bishop Manny Cabajar - who used to be the coordinator of our mission team. Bro. Karl Gaspar also attended the ordination. He was just a newly-professed Redemptorist at that time and this year he is celebrating the silver jubilee of his profession.

 

After the ordination, I hitched  a ride with Bishop Cabajar up to Cagayan and then proceeded to Iligan to celebrate All Saints & All Souls' day with my siblings. 



Thank God! A Framework for Peace Agreement between the MILF and the GPH. What about with the NDF?

This is the moment that I have longed for. I was filled with joy seeing on TV and reading the news on the internet and newspapers about the signing of the framework for peace in Malacanang.
I'm glad that the MILF leadership and the government negotiators after a long process have been able to come up with this agreement. They have heard the clamor of the ordinary people who are tired of all the killings that have cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
Congratulations and thanks are due to the peace negotiators as well as the third-parties who brokered the process - the other countries, the civil society groups and ordinary citizens - Muslims, Lumads and Christians, Mindanaons and Filipinos alike.

Like many peace advocates, I have experienced a lot discouragements and frustrations in the past especially when expected breakthroughs that were sabotaged by extreme forces on both sides.

For over a decade I have always prayed and fasted for life and peace - while biking across the Philippines in 2000, around Mindanao in 2006 and around the Philippines in 2008 and running and walking across Spain in 2010 and across the Philippines in 2011.

Of course, there is still much to be done and support is still necessary for the final peace agreement will be signed and implemented fully.

The guns will be silent in Mindanao - but not fully. The armed conflict between the government forces and the CPP/NDF/NPA continues all over the country. There is still another peace process that has to be resumed - between the NDF and GPH. This process has been going on and off since 1987 - that's too long. I hope the government leaders and the CPP/NDF leaders will seriously listen to the clamor of the people. We want peace based on justice. We are fed up with all the killings and the never-ending war. Majority of the people do not suppor the "people's war" and the combatants in both sides are tired of the fighting ,while the leaders are aging. It  is unrealistic and foolish to expect a military victory.

I continue to  pray that the guns will totally be silent and peace will reign all over the Philippines.

Meanwhile, we give thanks to God for this recent achievement.

Celebrating my 58th Birthday

           I turn 58 today - two more years to go before legally becoming a senior citizen. But I do not feel that old. I set my alarm clock for 4:45 am but I ignored it and slept longer. I finally had my morning meditation and mass at 7 am. It was already 9:30 am when I set out for a long-distance run/walk around Metro-Manila. I was just reflecting prayerfully about my life-journey and giving thanks to God for all the blessings. I stopped by  a fast-food restaurant  for a bite at 1:30 pm and continued on. I got back to Baclaran at 5:30 pm.
            No birthday party for me. The confreres in Baclaran community didn't know  that it's my birthday but I got a lot of birthday greetings in the  cyberspace  from my Facebook. friends. How, ironic.
            I feel very contented with where I am now - working outside the congregation and making a major contribution to the whole Philippine Church in promoting the formation of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) all over the country. This month for example I will be the guest speaker for the silver jubilee celebration of the Basic Ecclesial Communities in the diocese of Digos. Then immediately after, I fly to Cebu and will be one of the speakers during the National Institute of Seminary Formators (there three speakers - Archbishop Chito Tagle, Bishop Gerry Almazan and I). I will be speaking about BECs and Seminary Formation. After that I have to fly back to Manila and will be the guest speaker during the Kalookan Diocesan BEC assembly. Next month I will be the guest speaker during the Daet Diocesan BEC assembly. This will be followed by the Mindanao-wide BEC assembly and then the Novaliches diocesan BEC assembly.
            I feel that I am fulfilling my life's destiny. I am making a maximum impact. There is still much to be done. I have to finish writing and editing the manuscripts for publication. The following are my book projects: The Beloved (Memoirs, Diaries and Letters of a Priest), The Vision of a Renewed Church (Ecclesiology of Vatican II and PCP II ),  Manual  for  Developing BECs, Ministry and Orders, Pastoral Leadership and Management.  When published I know that I will make a greater impact. I don't know how much time I have remaining .  I have to make sure that these will be published as soon as possible.

Remembering Martial Law (PD 1081)

I will never forget that Saturday morning of Sept 23, 1972.  I was a 17-year old 2nd year college seminarian of St. Alphonsus' Seminary studying at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City. I was a non-commissioned officer (NCO) of  the ROTC Scout Ranger Company and on that day I was on my way to Camp Lapulapu for our weekend training in counter-insurgency operations. I wore the black ranger uniform. When I arrived at the camp I noticed that there was a red alert and army trucks filled with troops were leaving the camp. The guard told me to go home - there won't be any formation. President Marcos had declared martial law. PD 1081 was signed two days earlier. I immediately rushed back to the seminary and hid the reading material and documents considered subversive by the dictatorial regime.

More than a year later I was back in Camp Lapulapu as a political prisoner (or detainee- as we were referred to). I was actually arrested on the first anniversary of Martial Law, tortured for a week in Camp Sergio Osmena and after a month in the Lahug Detention Center I was transferred to Camp Lapulapu Detention and Rehabilitation Center. This was to be my home for the next six months. How did I end up here? Well, after the declaration of martial law I became secretly involved with a group struggling against the dictatorial regime. I formed a cell within the seminary and made use of the mimeographing machine to produce anti-Martial law leaflets and newsletters. I was involved in writing, producing and distributing these materials. I knew what we were doing was dangerous and I got caught on the first anniversary of Martial Law.

My experience of torture and detention during martial law was a defining moment in my life. It was a rite of passage--  an ordeal. When I went out of prison I was no longer a young boy or adolescent but a man. I became fearless and more committed to the struggle for freedom, justice and human rights. After going through a crisis of faith I became a true believer. And I decided to continue to respond to the call to the priesthood. It also broadened and deepened my understanding of what it means to be a priest - not just leading the Christian community in worship but in denouncing evil in society, proclaiming the Gospel of liberation and working for justice, peace and freedom

This also means living a simple life-style and being close to the people - especially the poor. This was exactly how I lived after my ordination several years later.

 The tattoo on my left shoulder with the image of a clenched fist with the numbers 1081 is a constant reminder of martial law and how it shaped my life.

 

Bike for Life and the Environment around Laguna de Bay

My muscles are still sore two days after biking 194 km around Laguna de Bay. Last Saturday, August 4, I left Baclaran at 4:15 am in spite of the heavy rain and the howling wind and biked towards Laguna. Afte 64 km of solo riding, I was met by a group of bikers from Los Banos and Tiaong who accompanied for over 30 km. Most went as far as Pangsangjan while two biked with me as far as Pakil. After an early lunch, they went back on their way and I continued ascending the mountain overlooking Laguna de Bay and connecting with the province of Rizal. The rain continued to pour intermittently. I finally reached Baclaran at 8 pm. The time spent on the bike, without the breaks and rest stop, was 13 hours 14 minutes. I slowed down due to the ascents and descents on wet road.

I dubbed this as Bike for Life (an expression of my solidarity with those who were rallying against the RH bill at EDSA shrine and different parts of the country) and for the Environment (as an expression of my support for the efforts to save Laguna de Bay).

Seminar on BEC as Paradigm for Community Living

Several days ago (August 2-3), I gave a seminar on "Basic Ecclesial Communities: Paradigm for Community Living" to 14 priests and religious of the ARFI batch 35 (Asian Religious Formators' Institute) at the SAIDI in Antipolo. The participants wh are preparing for their task a formators came from various Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Fiji and the Philippines). This is the outline of my presentation:

August 2
8:30 - 10:00 am BECs: Phenomenological Perspective
10:30 -12:00      BECs as Locus of Communion (Koinonia)
2:30 -4:00 pm    BECs as Prophetic/Witnessing Communities (Kerygma)

August 3
8:30- 10:00 am  BECs as Priestly/Worshipping Communities (Litourgia)
10:30 12:00        BECs as Serving Communities (Diakonia)
2:30 - 4:00 pm    The Clergy and Religious vis-a-vis BECs

Report to the CBCP Plenary Assembly

This morning, I attended the plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and gave a report of the Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities to over 90 bishops who were present. This was the content of my report.

Report to the CBCP 105^th Plenary Assembly

(July 2011-June 2012)

After the CBCP plenary assembly in July 2011, preparations were made for a National Gathering of Diocesan BEC Directors. Invitations and survey forms were sent to all the 85 dioceses of all over the Philippines. The BEC directors were requested to fill up the survey form and send it back to the CBCP-BEC office for tabulation and interpretation.

On October 13-14, 2011, the National Gathering of Diocesan BEC directors  took place in the Bukal ng Tipan center in Taytay, Rizal. 58 out of 85 dioceses (68.2%) were represented (34 from Luzon, 13 from Visayas, and 11 from Mindanao).

The result of the survey (with 58 respondent-dioceses) was presented to the participants and they were able to have an initial/overall picture of the BEC programs in the various dioceses. The survey  showed that the formation of  BECs is a high pastoral priority in 75.6% of the dioceses. The BECs have also became the  basic pastoral unit of 68.3% of the dioceses. BECs in 90.2% of the dioceses have gone through a renewal in faith-life through Word & Sacraments. BECs are involved in renewed social apostolate (social transformation, justice and integrity of creation) in 63.4% of the dioceses. 100% of the dioceses recognize the role of the clergy in the growth of BECs. Where the clergy are actively involved in their promotion, the BECs grow and thrive. Without their support and initiative, BECs fail to emerge and grow. Thus, the need was expressed for the clergy (with their bishops) to own and implement the BEC thrust that PCP II decreed.

This gathering also provided an opportunity for the BEC directors from all parts of the country and the members of the National BEC team to get to know one another and to develop a bond of fellowship. Part of the process was to bring together the directors of neighboring dioceses or sub-regions and ask them to come up with concrete plans for networking and cooperation for the next two years. These plans were to be followed-up by the directors and the National BEC team. The gathering generated a lot of enthusiasm among the participants and encouraged them to continue their task of promoting the growth of BECs in their respective dioceses and sub-regions.

 The period following the national gathering was spent in implementing the plans of the sub-regions. The BEC directors of Northern Luzon met in Baguio in November 2011 to plan for the Northern Luzon BEC exchange. The BEC directors and practitioners of Southern Tagalog Region met in January 2012 in Calamba, Laguna. During the middle of February, the Diocesan BEC directors of Mindanao met in Cagayan de Oro.  By the end of  February , the Northern Luzon BEC Exchange was held in Sinait, Ilocos – attended by 160 delegates (including 5 bishops and 23 priests) coming from 10 dioceses. On June 26-27, 2012 the Mindanao BEC directors had another gathering in Davao City. The recommended a Mindanao-wide BEC assembly (this was approved by the Mindanao bishops and will be held on Nov. 19-22, 2012)

Within the next two years, more activities that would enhance regional networking, cooperation and gatherings are expected.

Other activities/gatherings which the CBCP-BEC office, represented by the executive secretary/or chair, was engaged in for the last 12 months:

 International Meeting: Asian Continental Meeting on BECs (Taipeh, Sept. 2-5, 2011)

Diocesan BEC Celebrations:

Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocesan BEC Exchange (July 29-30, 2011)

Kalookan Diocese BEC Week (Aug. 8-13, 2011)
Kabangkalan Pastoral Assembly (Oct 2011)
Sorsogon Diocese BEC Day (Feb. 4, 2012)
Consolacion (Cebu) parish BEC Congress (May 5, 2012)
 Boac Diocese 30^th BEC anniversary (May 7, 2012)
 Cubao Diocese BEC Day (May 26, 2012)

BEC Seminar-Workshops for Religious & Lay Pastoral Workers:

BEC seminar-workshop for religious/lay missionaries & parish formation teams held in the Holy Family Redemptorist Retreat House, Cebu (April 12-15, 2012)

Workshop on Word of God & Laity (BEC Perspective) for Catechists & Youth Ministers – Blessed John Paul II Summer Institute (Makati, May 18, 2012)

BEC Workshop for BEC parish formation teams of Kalookan Diocese (May 19, 2012)
BEC Seminar  for lay formators of Cagayan de Oro archdiocese (June 21-23, 2012)

BEC Talks/Seminars to Clergy

BEC Seminar to Newly-Ordained Priests of Cebu archdiocese (July 14-16, 2011)
Word of God and BECs to CBCP assembly (Jan. 29, 2012)
BEC Forum for Kalookan Diocesan Clergy (March 14, 2012)
 Lenten Recollection to members of Clergy Discernment Group on "BEC as Force for Integral Development" (March 16, 2012)
BEC Seminar for the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (June 18-20, 2012)

Ongoing Tasks/Projects

Assisting dioceses in BEC assessment and evaluation (Daet, Mindanao)
CBCP-BEC website development – news & updates, resource material, etc.
Building up the BEC library in the CBCP-BEC office (gathering of BEC books, articles and resource material for scholars doing research)

Incoming Projects

Building up national BEC data-base (regional, diocesan, parish levels)
Research & Documentation of BECs (case studies & best practices), BEC video-documentaries (joint project with CBCP Media Office)
BEC & New Evangelization (papers, symposia, etc)

Composition of the Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities

Bp George B. Rimando – Chairman

Bp  Broderick Pabillo  – Vice-Chairman
Bp Pablo David
Bp Antonieto Cabajog
Abp Socrates Villegas
Bp Gabriel Reyes

Bp Julius Tonel

Bp Jesse Mercado
Bp Joel Baylon

Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR – Executive Secretary

National BEC Team:

Bp George Rimando, DD
Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD
Mgr. Manny Gabriel, STD
Mgr. Jomari Delgado
Dr. Estela Padilla, PhD

Prepared by:    Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD 
Executive Secretary, ECBEC

Noted by:        Most Rev. George B. Rimando, DD
Chairman, ECBEC

Running Beyond Age Limitations

Over a year ago, I reached Aparri, the northern tip of the Philippines, after running/walking 2,060 km across the Philippines -starting in Davao - southern end of the Philippines. I did it in 57 days - solo and unsupported. I would be celebrating my 57th birthday a few months later. It was the 3rd part of an ultra-run/walk trilogy in a span of one year which started in the Holy Week of 2010 with a 400 km trans-Mindanao run/walk (Davao to Iligan), followed 3 months later by an 800 km barefoot run/walk Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago - from the foothills of the French Pyrenees to the North-Western Spanish City of Santiago de Compostela.

I still find it hard to believe that I could accomplish these in my late 50s - a few years before I become a senior citizen. Thirty years ago, when I was a young marathon runner with a PR of 3:33, this would have been an impossible dream. I did it after making a marathon comeback in 2009 (which I did in 6:30, long after the cut-off time).  Fourteen years earlier, after a knee-injury during the Rome marathon, I had decided that my running days were over and it was time to shift to mountain-biking. The biking kept me fit and enabled me to bike around Mindanao and around the Philippines. As I grew older and I was diagnosed with myocardial ischemia and atherosclerosis in 2007, I thought that I would never experience the joy of long distance running again. But I kept on trying - a kilometer at a time - mixing walking with running no matter how slow, until the impossible dream became possible. At an older age, I was able to accomplish what I failed to do as a young, faster marathoner. And I was able to do these even without finishing any ultramarathon race.

For the last 12 months, after finishing my Trans-Philippines run/walk, I have been doing less running and more biking due to my tight schedule and also some recurring pain in my knees. After these months spent in recovery the time has come to pick up my running once again.

So what's on the remaining "bucket list"?  I have ran out of challenges as far as ultra-distance running is concerned. I don't like to join ultra-marathon races. (I don't like to compete against others, or prove to myself or to others that  I can finish 100 km or 160 km). My present work with the CBCP with all the busy schedules which bring me to various parts of the country does not give me enough time to train for ultra-distance races.

My remaining running dream is to fulfill a promise I made to my younger self (over 30 years ago) that I will still be running marathons annually in my 80s and 90s. It is not really  running marathons (which I do not enjoy), but the solo long-distance runs while preparing for the marathons, which I enjoy so much and puts me in an altered state of consciousness (that's why it is addictive).

I also dream of running faster marathons, while avoiding injury. Someday, I will be able to break my marathon PR which I set 28 years ago. Beating my younger self seems to be an impossible dream (conventional wisdom says that we slow down as we grow older). That is something no one has done before - and that is a challenge that excites me - like Solo Running/walking across the Philippines  I did last year.

So, I start my training for the Quezon City International Marathon. If I can lose 30 pounds, that would make me faster. A sub-5 hr marathon would be possible this year.