How about the youth?

About sixty percent of the population of Aklan are young. The figures could be higher in as much as a twenty eight year old man/woman is considered some years ago by the CBCP as “young”. This is understandable since the development of young persons today, especially the generation X is slower. Age of maturity becomes higher and higher. Consider that Canon Law, about some decades before, considered the age of fourteen as a marriageable age.

The State of the Diocese Address (SODA) of the bishop of Aklan has this to say regarding its youth Apostolate: “The Youth Apostolate is picking up and there had been a number of youth encounters in the diocesan as well as parish level. Like the family the youth of today is very vulnerable to the inroads of mass media and the environment that are not always value-oriented. Our youth need direction and guidance to be able not only to thwart the evils in society but also to sharpen their capacity to be “useful” and value, person and community oriented.”

Outrightly, this “picking up” is due to the efforts of a priest who is himself young: Fr. Glen Magpusao. This this does not mean that it was going down in the past. The sheer number of young people of Aklan makes it almost physically impossible for any Diocesan Youth Director to meet all these young people. Yet, thanks to Fr. Glen, since “there had been a number of youth encounter.” These “encounters” are very good capsulated formation course for three to four days designed by the Episcopal Commission on the Youth Apostolate for our Filipino youth. It is substantial in doctrine, relational in its approach and very actual in its response. But how many of the 60% of almost half a million population of Aklan attended this? Certainly, only a fraction.

Thanks to the youth themselves who retain their ideals in the their hearts and foment their relationship with God through other means: fraternity is one, respect for parents – another, joining advocacy groups is a good sign among others, participating in the liturgical celebrations in the church is a very good help. Another interesting sign among the youth are the involvement in actions for the sake of the common good under the leadership of some by our NGO’s. Volunteerism seems to be on the rise. But the bishop admits they are “very vulnerable to the inroads of mass media and the environment which are not always value oriented.” It is encouraging to note that some youth involved in the media (like the group responsible for this online news) take unto themselves in presenting not only the bad sensational news but those that could be called “good” news.

As a whole the bishop admits “our youth need direction and guidance.” Christianity in the first centuries of growth in Rome, became an agent of change and influenced their pagan society and environment for the better, rather than being influenced by them for the bad. Their faith in Christ urged them to have a vision of society according to the values and principles of their Master, who is the Lord of the universe and at the same time, is continuously going along with them in their desire to build a better world. And they succeeded, not without pains and sacrifices, sometimes, heroism – to the point of martyrdom. We cannot deny, in spite of contradictory signs, the roots of Europe is Christian. Even our Christianity comes from her.

As the he bishop aptly said, they need guidance so that they “be able not only to thwart the evils in society but also to sharpen their capacity to be “useful” and value, person and community oriented.” Social evils in Aklan need social and concerted solutions. The youth have this capacity for a fraternal and group commitment, if guided accordingly. They have the great capacity to be of service through volunteerism, inner capacity and sensibility to human dignity and the common good. So what are the youth waiting for?

The Laity may be well inside the church in Aklan

In continously reading the State of the Diocese Address of Bishop Lazo, it is edifying to note “an increase of lay participation in the liturgical life” in Aklan. And this is not only qualitative but also qualitative.

Thanks to the help of Rev. Fr. Mark Beloso: the young chairman of the liturgical commission of the Diocese. Though at the same time the chancellor the “Diocesan Liturgical Commission, together with the Diocesan Catechetical Commission made a lot of difference in the liturgical and catechetical celebrations and the faith-life of the people,” SODA affirms.

This is a happy reality. “Sacraments now are received / celebrated with instructions. The choir and the new Akeanon songs enhance the participation of the faithful especially during Sunday masses. The emergence of the liturgical ministries helped to highlight the role and responsibility of the lay in the liturgy.

The Diocesan Catechetical Ministry has been printing catechetical materials for the use of the catechists in the schools in the diocese. Regular meetings and seminars have been held. By and large the liturgical and catechetical life of the people is very much active and interactive.” Since the Word of God and the Sacraments are inexhaustible treasures of the church, the bishop added “many things sill have to be put in place,” as if to ask: “what could we generously offer to make our province more near to God and to man, especially the poor and the marginalized?”

About 30 years ago, in a nationwide survery only 15% of Filipino catholics go to the church during sundays. Now, in Aklan mass attendance is on the rise. Maybe thanks to the faithfulness of her ministers and to Fr. Mark Beloso who in spite of all the odds and an increasing secularization, continue to be faithful to the gift and grace of the priesthood.

We would like to express our gratitude for this gifts of God bestowed on our province!

Where are all the laity’s gone?

Where are all the flower’s gone? Where are all the laity’s gone?

The laity comprises the vast majority of the faithful of Aklan. With a population of about half a million and with a clergy of only 67, (and not all are present in the diocese) one could imagine that the diocese could not go ahead without the laity.

But look at what the SODA of the beloved bishop indicate. Although they “have been given importance,” “are encouraged to take an active role in the parish and in the Diocese,” and “are given opportunities to exercise their (different) charisms,” — “much has still to be done.”

This is especially true in the area of the family “today being bombarded with many anti-family values coming from many sectors of our society.”Statistically, we cannot totally rely on the priests, but on the laity, perhaps under the priest’s guidance.

The best persons who could help the laity are the lay persons themselves.

Perhaps, liturgical participation is not enough, though it is very important. Perhaps, only prayer is not enough though it strengthens us to face the ever more dark world. The laity, who are in fact beginning to be aware, that hey have to help one another concretely, is the best visible sign of being Church.

Where are the laity’s gone? Yes they mabe be inside the church, but the visible love, help, cooperation, mutual understanding of common problems they face, in short, their mutual love for one another in whatever or wherever field of work are in, be it in politics, education, journalism, sports, culture, music, etc, is the best flowering of the presence of Christ in Aklan. And this is a good sight!

State of the Diocese Address (Diocese of Kalibo Aklan, Philippines)

If you want to know that state of the diocese where I belong, here is my bishop’s address.

State of the Diocese Address
(S.O.D.A.)His Excellency MOST REV. JOSE ROMEO O. LAZO, D.D.
Bishop of Kalibo

Every year, many new events happen, new things are made, new gadgets are displayed. It seems that changes in the world especially its technology is very fast. This fits the song of Jose Mari Chan entitled, “Constant Change.”

Ten years is good enough to look back, revisit the First Diocesan Synod and say, “where are we going to… from here?” The gift of the SYNOD in 1996 has given us the framework to move on as a local Church, as a community of disciples.

We have made great strides since then. The Diocese has a third bishop, 67 priests (1 retired, 11 outside the Diocese, on studies, or on loan), 24 parishes from 22; structures are in place as mandated by the Synod of ’96 except a few. Our seminary, vocation wise, is still strong. Almost half of the priests in the Diocese have passed the gates of the Santo Nino Seminary. Next year 2007, S.N.S. will be 25 years. This Academic Year S.N.S. has 143 High School seminarians and 30 College seminarians. As our priests grow in number, they also grow in age, wisdom and holiness. It’s a constant struggle to live a celibate life in the service of God and people, “to be configured to Jesus Christ as Head and Shepherd of the Church,” (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 21). There have been efforts to concretize and to bear witness to the sacramental brotherhood of priests. A program for the on-going formation of priests is put in place. The religious brothers and sisters have contributed a lot in the Diocese through their own charisms.

The laity have been given importance in the Diocese. They are encouraged to take an active role in the parish and in the Diocese. The lay organizations, movements, associations and societies (LOMAS) are given opportunities to exercise their different charisms for the good of the community and they have been given priest-spiritual directors to walk with them, to accompany them. Two very important thrusts of the lay apostolate are the Family and the Youth. These are the areas where a lot of interest and involvement of the laity are most needed. The Family and Life Apostolate is reaching to married couples through seminars. Much has still to be done since the Filipino family today is being bombarded with many anti-family values coming from many sectors of our society.

The Youth Apostolate is picking up and there had been a number of youth encounters in the diocesan as well as parish level. Like the family the youth of today is very vulnerable to the inroads of mass media and the environment which are not always value-oriented. Our youth need direction and guidance to be able not only to thwart the evils in society but also to sharpen their capacity to be “useful” and value, person and community oriented.

The Diocesan Commissions have been very helpful in the implementing the Synod’s mission which is the renewed integral evangelization. The chief means are catechesis, worship or liturgy and social apostolate.

There had been an increase of lay participation in the liturgical life of the local church. The Diocesan Liturgical Commission, together with the Diocesan Catechetical Commission made a lot of difference in the liturgical and catechetical celebrations and the faith-life of the people. Sacraments now are received / celebrated with instructions. The choir and the new Akeanon songs enhance the participation of the faithful especially during Sunday masses. The emergence of the liturgical ministries helped to highlight the role and responsibility of the lay in the liturgy. The Diocesan Catechetical Ministry has been printing catechetical materials for the use of the catechists in the schools in the diocese. Regular meetings and seminars have been held. By and large the liturgical and catechetical life of the people is very much active and interactive but surely many things still have to be put in place.

The social-economic concerns of the people are being addressed through the different areas under the Commission on Social Action: Health Care, Socio-Economics, Politics, Environmental Concerns, Migration, Tourism, Women and Children, Indigenous People, Social Justice, BEC. The Diocese has made her stand in a number of issues like gambling (STL), casino, mining, cha-cha and others. People are becoming more aware of their role and responsibility in the community and in solidarity with the bigger community. The Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) is a very opportune vehicle to touch base with the grassroots. Our IP’s, because of Boracay, a tourist destination, have been in the frontline. They have no place to go which they can call their own. They need our support.

The Word of God is very important in the faith-life of the people. The Biblical Apostolate is working on this area of promoting, appreciating, studying, praying and living the Bible. Recently, the Family Bible Quiz, held here in the Diocese, is an opener for families to study, pray and live the Bible as a family. The Bible is a very beautiful instrument to keep the family together. Yes, Jesus, the Word is very much present in the family.

Because of the increasing number of chapels, there is a need to title the land donated for this purpose. There is an ongoing action of titling all the land donated to the Church. Arancel system is still the predominant means of the peoples’ support. There is a growing shift towards the pledge and/or tithing systems, making the people respond not only to the needs of the clergy and the Church but also their response to God’s generosity and providence, and cultivating the value of giving and love for the Church.

The Diocese is not only for quality education but also for catholic education. Catholic education is a distinctive mark of a catholic school but there are only two in the Diocese. There are private schools and this is where we in the Diocese can reach out (41 private pre-school and elementary schools, 31 private secondary schools and 8 private higher/tertiary schools (DepEd-Ched data Aug.2006). This is where values formation and Christian orientation/formation can take place.

There is in us a growing missionary spirit. We have Aklanons working outside the Diocese as priest or as lay worker. There are groups of Aklanons in the different parts of the US and Canada and elsewhere and their presence there have brought the devotion to the Sto. Nino and San Lorenzo Ruiz. This area could be explored more. In the Diocese we have been supporting missionary activities and missionaries through our annual mission contributions. There is still room for more involvement in this area of mission.

Aside from our revisit of the 1996 Synod, the 30th anniversary of the foundation as Diocese, the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Kalibo celebrates the 425th year of existence, founded in 1581. This is vintage wine, so to say, old and precious. Included in this antiquity is the cultural heritage passed on to us by our ancestors. This we have to give due consideration and attention as part of our diocesan contribution in preserving and conserving the Cultural Heritage of our local Church.

Today we see the malls or department stores displaying different gadgets like cell phones of all sizes, shapes, amount, brand; radio, tv, cd’s and dvd’s. Mass media of today is, what they call, hi-tech. This is one area wherein the Church can harness her capacity to evangelize, to spread the word of God. It is very important for us in the Church to recognize the value of mass media for evangelization, to reach out to our people, to make present the God who cares and loves.

My dear brothers and sisters I just gave a short profile of what is going on in the Diocese. I am happy to say that the Diocese is healthy and moving towards her Vision. Indeed to be a true disciple of Christ entails a lot of sacrifice, on-going formation and purification.

Now I formally open and celebrate the gift that is The Diocesan Pastoral Assembly.

Santo Nino, bless us,
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us,
St. John the Baptist, accompany us.

My salvaged brother never believed in elections, should I?

During the Marcos era, my only brother Antonio Mijares was suspected to be a violent subversive.  One of the reasons is: he never believed in the elections staged by the Marcos regime.  He was seen to be stealing ballot boxes in the far flung barrios.  Ultimately his cry for justice was cut short by his torture and his murder by the military.  Now his cadres succeeded to include his name in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, together and at the same time with Cardinal Sin and Haydee Yorac.

Now, elections are coming.  Would I believe in its process?  Would this be another zarzuela?  Theoretically, in a democratic election the winner should gather 50 percent of the votes plus one. Only one! So only one could determine a fate of a democratic country.  (The church wisdom is manifested when it elects the Pope by a two thirds majority, not a simple majority). Laying all the past political electoral methods done in this country, many times determined by popularity, pogi/maganda points, and much more with campaign money, or “Garci scandals” I could out rightly decide: enough with elections! Let’s do a revolution instead!

But I have still hope. The bishop’s letter to the dioceses and parishes consider it an important political exercise.  Important not only as a means to change the present state of affairs but also important to deviate violence.  Violence is never the way for chance except violence to ourselves.  Hope is also a political category, like justice, equality, and brotherhood.  The Filipinos are peaceful people by nature but we love freedom and justice.  Perhaps in this election, to thrive towards a peaceful, just and honest election, all those concerned in this “advocacy,” needs “brotherhood” as a political category.  Changes, even violent ones were caused by equality, justice and fraternity as a starting point.  Maybe the first two were more emphasized as it happened in the French revolution.

In our country, hope in a fraternal advocacy for clean and honest elections in all the members of any political party seems to me not a bad alternative for a violent revolution.  Certainly, fraternity and brotherhood is more universal, and therefore a higher value than that to belong to a political party and guard the ballots of its candidates! Long live fraternity!