DIOCESAN POLICIES ON COWL AND ITS Ministries
(Based on DPA-I Decrees)

Nature: highest diocesan body assisting the bishop in matters pertaining to worship and liturgy in the diocese.

Functions:

1.       To set direction on worship and liturgy in the Diocese.

2.       To help formulate guidelines and policies regarding Worship and Liturgy

3.       To ensure implementation of guidelines and policies by all concerned.

Nature: Secretariat of COWL and diocesan service center of the parish LLL Ministry and LL Ministry.

Functions:

1.       To formulate plan and programs that will implement direction, policies and guidelines set by COWL.

2.       To implement, monitor, and evaluate plans and programs it has formulated

3.       To establish linkages with other groups, agencies, and institutions of related concerns.

4.       To facilitate and/or provide basic services to liturgical ministries in the parishes.

Nature: A ministry that provides liturgical leadership in the GKKs as defined by the diocesan bishop.

Functions:

1.       To recruit, train and support Lay Liturgical Leaders.

2.       To design, implement and monitor effective training program and sustained Christian formation program for the LLL.

3.       To provide trained LLL ministers for the following functions:

1.       LLL minister to have domicile in parish or GKK he intends to serve.

2.       There should be a uniform formation program for LLL ministers in all parishes.

3.       One may not serve as LLL minister unless he finished 4 phases seminars and been installed.

4.       LLL minister to wear decent attire when conducting Bible Service or giving out communion. Such attire includes a white shirt with collar, or polo barong with a wooden cross, which is the distinctive mark of an LLL minister in the Diocese of Marbel.

5.       LLL minister to renew commitment every 2 years.

6.       LLL minister whose term has expired and has not renewed commitment to no longer function as one.

7.       Main functions of LLL minister: to preside at Bible Service, to help distribute communion and to celebrate sacramentals as allowed by local ordinary.

8.       Bible Service outside Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation needs permission of parish priest. Bible Service not allowed on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil.

9.       Offerings for Cemetery Blessings on Nov. 1 and 2 belong to parish and not to LLL ministers.

10.    Bible Service “intentions” not allowed. LLL ministers strictly prohibited to solicit or accept intentions.

11.    Bible Service “fees” or “donations” for funeral and fee or donations for blessing are likewise strictly prohibited.

12.    LLL ministers not allowed to bless water to make it "holy water”.

13.    LLL ministers to use new Bible Service Guides in conducting Bible Service.

14.    Only liturgical services with no communion can be allowed on wakes and funerals.

15.    LLL ministers may get newly consecrated hosts after Mass on Sundays. If not, on some other days. LLL ministers, however, not allowed to reserve consecrated hosts in private house or chapel. Only chapels specially assigned by parish priest are allowed to reserve consecrated hosts for longer time.

LAY LITURGICAL MINISTRY (LLM)

Nature: A ministry that facilitates and assists in making the liturgical and para-liturgical celebrations meaningful, participative and lively.

Functions:

1.       To prepare and assist in celebration of Eucharist or Bible Service on Sundays, Holy Days of Obligations, Fiestas and other events in liturgical calendar of the Church.

2.       To prepare and assist in liturgical and para-liturgical celebrations of community, such as Foundation Day, Harvest Festivals, and the like.

3.       To assist in and coordinate liturgical and para-liturgical celebration of other ministries, programs and groups.

4.       To recruit, train and support lay liturgists.

5.       To design, implement and monitor effective training program and sustained Christian formation program for lay liturgists.

6.       To regularly monitor and assess liturgical and para-liturgical celebrations.

 
PROVISIONS ON LL MINISTRY - None

PROVISIONS ON THE SACRAMENTS

 1.       PARENTS

·         To have their child baptized within the first few weeks (c. 867)

·         To register child for baptism one month before

·         To be married in the Church. If they cannot be validly married, parish priest decides.

·         To attend pre-baptismal seminar

·         To be present during baptism

·         To choose names not foreign to Christian sentiment (c. 855).

2.       GODPARENTS

·         Catholics and at least be 18 years of age

·         Only names of godparents to appear in baptismal registry. But obliged to pay required fees. Be properly instructed.

·         1 godparent, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one for each sex (c. 873)

·         Rest are witnesses. Names may appear in baptismal certificate, but should pay the required fees. Not obliged to attend pre-baptismal instruction.

3.       PLACE OF BAPTISM

·         Proper place is parish of the parents. For adult, his own parish.

·         Solemn baptism in private homes or private chapels not allowed.

·         If child is to be baptized in another parish, parents to ask permission from their parish priest.

4.       BAPTISM OUTSIDE THE REGULAR SCHEDULE

·         Considered only in emergency cases or valid reasons (late).

·         No fines or extra fees to be required in such cases.

5.       SPECIAL CASES

·         Child of non-Catholic parents may be baptized if somebody takes responsibility to bring up the child in the faith.

·         Adult candidates or those who completed 14^th year should undergo catechumenate and be baptized using rites for adult baptism.

6.       REGISTRATION FOR BAPTISM

·         Parents fill in Information Sheet provided by parish free of charge. Copy of child’s live birth certificate and parents’ marriage contract to be attached to IS.

·         Format of IS is the same for all parishes.

·         After filling in, data to be certified by proper authorities.

·         Those authorized to certify are GKK officials and others as determined by the parish.

·         One signature may suffice for certification.

·         Such signature is needed only to certify that information given in IS is correct.

7.       PRE-BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTION

·         Basic course of instruction the same for all parishes. But to be evaluated every two years.

·         Attendance card to be issued free of charge and valid for 3 years.

8.       STOLE FEES

·         Fees for baptism to follow strictly the approved Diocesan List of Stole Fees.

·         Additional fees are strictly prohibited.

1.       Proper age is 12 years old and above.

2.       Candidates

·         to register 1 month before confirmation

·         to attend pre-Confirmation instructions

·         to be encouraged to go to confession before confirmation.

3.       Sponsors: at least 18 years old, and Catholics.

4.       Registration

·         IS to be filled in by candidate

·         Same format for all parishes

·         To be certified by proper authorities

·         Those authorized are the GKK officials

·         One signature may suffice

·         Such signature is needed to certify the information is correct.

5.       Confirmation Certificate may be given with no extra charge.

6.       Stole Fees to follow Diocesan List.

7.       No additional fees allowed.

 1.       To be kept simple and within means of host parish.

2.       Fund raising to be kept within the bounds of host parish.

3.       Funds collected to be used strictly for ordination.

4.       Remaining balance to be forwarded to Chancery plus Financial report of Receipts and Disbursements.

1.       Priests to make themselves available for confession

2.       Each parish to have regular schedule for confession

3.       Communal celebration of Penance to be provided during Lent, Advent, or fiesta preparation

4.       Confessional box may be remodelled for face to face confession

5.       Inviting other priests to help in confession must have permission of parish priest.

COUPLE TO BE MARRIED:

·         Proper age is twenty (20) for the groom and eighteen (18) for the bride.

·         Under such ages, dispensation has to be obtained (CBCP).

·         Registration with the parish one (1) month before marriage.

·         Attend pre-Cana instructions

·         Submit the necessary documents for marrige

·         To be announced orally or in print to the faithful for three consecutive Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation,

·         May also be announced on other days where there is a great convergence of the faithful.

·         Should be at least twenty (21) years old.

·         At least two witnesses are required during the ceremony.

·         Proper place is either the parish of the bride or the parish of the groom.

·         If marriage is celebrated in another parish, permission of the parish priests of both bride and groom are needed.

·         No solemn marriage is allowed in private homes, private oratories or semi-private chapels.

·         Couple fill in the “Information Sheet” provided by the parish free of charghe.

·         Data are to be certified by proper authorities.

·         Such proper authorities are any of the following GKK officers: GKK President, GKK Vice-President, GKK Secretary, GKK Treasurer and GKK Auditor (or any other as termined by the parish).

·         One (1) signature may suffice for certification.

·         Purpose of signature is only to certify that the information given in the IS is correct.

·         Initial interview may be done by the parish secreatry.

·         Final investigatiom should be done by the priest.

·         Should be kept simple.

·         It may be celebrated within the Mass.

·         Acceptance of such weddings is left to the discretion of the parish priests.

·         If allowesd, rites and songs to be used are to be approved by the officiating priest.

·         Fees for weddings should follow strictly the approved “Diocesan List”.

·         Additonal fees are strictly prohibited.

1.      Priests should always make themselves available for sick calls.

2.      A communal celebration of the Anointing of the Sick is to be encouraged in every parish.

HOLY EUCHARIST

1.      Proper age is 10 years old.

2.      First communicants: be given proper instructions, and be encouraged to go to first confession,

3.      Parents: should be properly instructed, and should be present during the ceremonies.

MASS

MASS STIPENDS

1.      Only 1 stipend can be acepted by a priest daily. The parish priest, however, is obliged to offer a mass “pro populo” once a week.

2.      Stipends for binations and trinations are to be submitted or remitted to the Chancery “pro seminario”.

3.      Pooling of several stipends is strictly prohibited.

4.      Mass stipends for fiestas, weddings and funerals should follow the approved “Diocesan List”.

PRIEST-VISITOR (Priest not working in the parish)

1.      Priest-Visitor may be allowed to say Mass with permission of the parish priest.

2.      If invited to say Mass and preach to a group, he should have permission of the Bishop.

1.      Priests are not allowed to attend or preside at ecumenical celebration of the Eucharist or of other sacraments without explicit permission of the Bishop.

2.      For other forms of ecumenical celebrations, a priest may attend but with caution.

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Thursday, September 13, 2001 03:48:24 PM