ICP SKK organizes General Assembly

By Ma. Asuncion P. Quimlat, MD

NAGA CITY --- At least twice in a year, the Immaculate Conception Parish (ICP) Saradit na Kristiyanong Komunidad (SKK) organizes a General Assembly, a gathering of parishioners active in their Buklod and respective communities. This year, the event was held last Dec 14 at the St. Peter Baptist Covered Court of the Holy Rosary Major Seminary and was attended by 100 parishioners.

It opened with a prayer led by Fr. Roy Gueriña, Parochial Vicar, followed by the Opening Song to the Holy Spirit and a Discernment prayer led by Evangeline B. de Guzman, head of Faith Instruction. Messages were delivered by ICP Parish Priest Fr. Marcel Emmanuel DP Real and Parochial Vicars, Fr. Elmer Pandes and Fr. Roy Gueriña as well as Parish Pastoral Chairperson Marie Kristine Salvino.

Archdiocesan Pastoral Thrust

Dr. Ma. Asuncion P. Quimlat, Parish SKK Coordinator, gave a re-orientation about the SKK, which is one of the many ways to becoming a Synodal Church. The speaker debunked frequent misconceptions about SKKs which include SKKs being another organization, ministry or committee in the Parish. According to the Parish SKK Coordinator, all baptized Catholics are part or members of the BECs/SKKs in a Parish. In addition, at ICP Naga, SKK members are also Parish Renewal Experience (PREX) graduates.

The Parish SKK’s journey for the last 13 years was also presented. In 2010, then Parish Priest Fr. Mario Arnulfo Gaite conceptualized the creation of SKKs in the Parish. Sorsogon Bishop Jose Alan Dialogo gave the first SKK orientation, who at that time, also started building communities in his parish in Makati. Currently, there are 32 SKKs in ICP Naga, each with 1-3 Buklods.

In his recent pastoral letter, Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon announced the Archdiocesan Pastoral Thrust for the Jubilee Year 2025, i.e., “Education towards Communion” (“Magsabot pasiring sa Simbahan na nakikisumaro”). Alarcon promoted SKKs and campaigned for support for the current SKKs in the Archdiocese, also mentioning that he hopes to be able to create a “BEC model suitable” for the Archdiocese.