NATIONAL PASTORAL CONSULTATION ON CHURCH RENEWAL (NPCCR)

Three hundred and sixty-nine (369) delegates gathered at Makati City on 22-27 January 2001 to discern where God’s Spirit is leading us.  There were 176 priests, 89 lay, 85 bishops and 19 religious sisters.

In 10 years’ time we have not gone very far in becoming a Community of Disciples and a Church of the Poor.  Our efforts in renewed integral evangelization did not bear much fruit.

Some successes we did have.  And we are emboldened to go ahead by Christ’s words to Peter “duc in altum”, “put out into the deep” for a catch (Lk. 5:4).

What to do?  Nine priorities: (1) integral faith formation; (2) empowerment of the laity toward social transformation; (3) active presence and participation of the poor in the Church; (4) family as focus of evangelization; (5) building and strengthening of participatory communities that make up a parish as a community of communities; (6) integral renewal of the clergy; (7) journeying with the youth; (8) ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; and (9) animation and formation for mission “ ad Gentes”.

1.   Integral Faith formation is at the heart of pastoral renewal.  We must have Integral Faith to fulfill our vocation and  mission. Integral faith is one that does justice and liberates. It has to be a discerning faith that sees God’s action in our lives and in our communities. A tool for this priority is the Catechism for Filipino Catholics.

2.   Empowerment of the laity toward social transformation. We shall promote and support the exercise of the God-  given gifts and charisms of lay people. Lay people must take the lead in social transformation. In particular we shall consult a wide range of women’s experiences in different life situations and explore new possible roles of women in Church and society.

3.   Active presence and participation of the Poor in the Church. If we are to become a Church of the Poor, we must be evangelically poor. We shall learn from the poor and seek to liberate ourselves from values, behavior and lifestyles that discriminate against the poor. As poor among the poor, struggling with them toward integral liberation, we shall live, celebrate, and share our common faith in Jesus, crucified and risen.

 4. The family as focal point of evangelization. Because the family is the basic cell of the Church and society, the Gospel has first to be shared in the family. Many cultural distortions originate in the family. Integral faith formation must, therefore, take place in the family for all members. Through a more intensive evangelization focused on the family, the family has to become a key agent of proclaiming the Gospel.

5.   Building and Strengthening of Participatory Communities that make up the Parish as a Community of Communities. We shall support the growth and strengthening of BECs and other forms of faith communities as vehicles of renewal. We shall strive to integrate them in parish life and activities and develop structures of coordination and participatory decision-making

6.   Integral Renewal of the Clergy. To address the lack of witnessing by some of the clergy, we shall ensure deeper dialogue of life between the clergy and the poor so that lifestyles may conform to that of the poor Christ. For genuine servant-leadership, we shall provide effective clergy formation in human development, spirituality, scripture, theology, pastoral care and mission.

7.   Journeying with the Youth. The youth are the most numerous in our population. They are some of the most active workers of renewal in the Church and in society. But they are also the most vulnerable to the negative developments in our rising technological society. We affirm their gifts and immense capacity to pursue the Christian ideal in their lives and in society. We shall dialogue with them. Enter their world, and journey with them toward the maturity of Christ to which we all aspire.

8.   Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue. To achieve the unity that Christ willed, we shall strive to eradicate prejudices, grow a deeper understanding and appreciation of other faiths and religious traditions, especially Islam. We shall engage in a dialogue of life, faith, prayer and common action with them. As a way to healing, reconciliation and national unity, we shall encourage dialogue among all sectors of society.

9.   Animation and Formation for Mission “ad Gentes”. We shall respond to the Holy Father’s challenge that Filipinos become “the foremost missionaries for all Asia”. Therefore, we shall ensure that mission animation and formation will be integral to religious formation in the family, schools, and other institutes of formation.

An Appeal. We enjoin our sisters and brothers in the faith to appropriate these nine general pastoral priorities, and reflect, discern, plan, and act together on these priorities, We all have to heed the call to conversion and prayer that alone makes renewal possible.