CBCP holds national consultation

By Julma Narvadez

Tagaytay City --- On July 4, 16 archdioceses, 58 dioceses, 1 military ordinariate, 4 prelatures, 7 apostolic vicarates – the ecclesiastical territories of the Philippines - began a national consultation in preparation of the Synod on Synodality in 2023. The consultation concludes on July 7.

Convened by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, this is the third tier of consultations which began at the diocesan level, followed by the regional consultation.

The metropolitan province of Caceres which includes the Archdiocese of Caceres and her six suffragan dioceses – Legazpi, Sorsogon, Masbate, Daet, Virac and Libmanan – held the regional assembly on May 23 at Legazpi City. The regional synthesis was presented during the national consultation.

Thereafter, the national report will serve as input during the continental gatherings from September 2022 to March 2023 to come up with the synthesis of Catholic Churches in Asia.

The continental reports will be submitted to Rome, in preparation for the Synod on Synodality in October 2023.

Delegates of the seven dioceses of the Metropolitan Province of Cáceres at the CBCP National Synodal Consultation. The ecclesiastical province includes the Archdiocese of Caceres and her six suffragan dioceses – Legazpi, Sorsogon, Masbate, Daet, Virac and Libmanan. The regional synthesis was presented during the national consultation at the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City, July 4-7, 2022. (/MB Photo credit: Synod Philippines)

CBCP President Bishop Virgilio Ambo David, Bishop of Kalookan challenged the delegates to “identify the doors that need to be opened so that we can go forward…”

Attended by bishops, priests, consecrated men and women and lay people, the series of inter-diocesan and inter-sectoral workshops and reflection sessions are anchored on the realities, challenges and aspirations of the local Churches.

Synodality comes from the Greek word “syn-hodos” which literally means “the same way.” In calling for the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis introduced changes in how a synod is conducted.

Previously, only the bishops participated. Through the consultations, the synod is no longer exclusive to the bishops. Secondly, the synod will not discuss a particular concern. Instead, it will focus on how the Church “journeys with” and “listens to” the baptized.

These changes have been warmly received by many lay men and women who felt the CHurch’s desire to be inclusive.

In Caceres, the consultation of various parishes and sectors was launched on October 21, 2021.