NAME OF STUDENT: REV. FR. FRANCIS MARK G.

GUZMAN
DIOCESE: Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa (Philippines)
TITLE OF PROJECT: A CATECHETICAL PROGRAM FOR THE APOSTOLIC
VICARIATE OF PUERTO PRINCESA (open for change)

I. INTRODUCTION

The City of Puerto Princesa is the capital of the province of Palawan, Philippines, about three
hundred sixty-two (362) miles from Manila, which is composed of two (2) ecclesiastical
jurisdictions, namely, the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa and the Apostolic Vicariate of
Taytay. From one (1) ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the division into two (2) came in the year 2002 with
the bull Diligentem Sane Curam creating Taytay as new ecclesiastical jurisdiction and the Apostolic
Vicariate of Palawan became known now as Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa (AVPP).

AVPP is composed of thirty-one (31) parishes and three (3) chaplaincies with forty-two (42)
diocesan priests and priests from four (4) religious congregations, namely, Order of Augustian
Recollects (OAR), Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Oblates of St. Joseph (OSJ), Passionists
Fathers. The number of Catholics comprises sixty-eight (68) percent of the population.

For almost four hundred (400) years of Christianity in the island which was brought to the shores by
the Augustinian Recollects, the mission has remained to be engaging and becomes even more
invigorating. One of the aspects that needs to be prioritized in terms of its programs of activities,
under the ambit of evangelization initiatives, is its catechetical formation programs. There is an
existing catechetical program which is under the Commission of Christian Formation but, taking
into consideration the economic status and the lack of volunteer catechists, the implementation is
always a grand consideration. Furthermore, the existing catechetical program needs to be upgraded
so much so that the current trends on pedagogical approaches and modern means of social
communication must be integrated in the entire catechetical program of the apostolic vicariate.

With the Motu Proprio Antiquum Ministerium of Pope Francis establishing the Lay Ministry of
Catechist, there is a pressing need to look closely into the catechetical program of AVPP, that is to
say, adequate formation and preparation for persons to be instituted in the ministry of catechist. As
it is clearly emphasized in the Motu Proprio:

It is fitting that those called to the instituted ministry of Catechist be men and women of
deep faith and human maturity, active participants in the life of the Christian community,
capable of welcoming others, being generous and living a life of fraternal communion.
They should also receive suitable biblical, theological, pastoral and pedagogical formation
to be competent communicators of the truth of the faith and they should have some prior
experience of catechesis. It is essential that they be faithful co-workers with priests and
deacons, prepared to exercise their ministry wherever it may prove necessary, and
motivated by true apostolic enthusiasm. (Antiquum Ministerium, 8)

With this move from the Holy Father, the work of catechists should not only be seen as
volunteerism. It is a ministry which needs proper preparation and formation. This paper hopes to
come up with a catechetical curriculum which would cater to the aforementioned need for the lay
ministry of catechist in the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa and eventually professionalize
them.

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Motu Proprio gives the Church direction as to how shall the Ministry of Catechist be put in
place and prioritize in the Local Churches. Pope Francis even emphasizes the importance of
“genuine interaction with young people,” as well as “the need for creative methodologies and
resources capable of adapting the proclamation of the Gospel to the missionary transformation that
the Church has undertaken.” Following the aforesaid and the growing presence of other religious
sects in the province and their aggressive approach to converting Catholics impose a greater
challenge in the catechetical program of AVPP. Thus, this project aims to look into the following
questions or areas of concern:

1. From the existing Catechetical Program, what are the areas that need to be updated?
a. Modules and instruction paraphernalia
b. Schedule of training
c. Organizational structure

2. What are the new approaches to be employed in the Catechetical Program in congruence to
the guidelines provided by the Motu Proprio, Antiquum Ministerium?
a. Curriculum development
b. Training and Formation
i. Requirements and qualification
ii. Duration
c. Rite of institution
d. Renumeration

3. How can this program be incorporated into the seminary formation curriculum of Seminario
de San Jose?
a. How is it possible that at a certain period of seminary formation seminarians would
be instituted as Catechists of their respective parishes?
b. How to incorporate in the pastoral formation program of the seminary the exercise of
the ministry of catechist?
c. How to ensure seminarians readiness to the ministry?
i. Comprehensive examination before the rite of institution

III. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This endeavor is very significant to the Local Church of Puerto Princesa for the following reasons:

a. THE NEED TO LEVEL UP AND INNOVATE.

There is an exodus of the young people to Christian sects because of the laxity [in terms of attitude
of the clergy and the lay faithful towards evangelization] on Christian formation in the schools and
parishes. Further, this has never been a priority. This project will direct them to a different approach
and revisit the existing catechetical program of AVPP. Eventually,

b. FAITH-SHARING FORMATION IN SEMINARY FORMATION.

One thing that is always being emphasized in the pastoral program of the seminary is exposure, i.e.
seeing and experiencing life’s realities. The proponent believes that formation is more than just
exposure but faith sharing. Hence, to form the candidates to the priesthood to be catechists
themselves would prepare them to the big work of evangelization that lies ahead of them when they
become ordained ministers. This project, as it aims to incorporate this in the seminary curriculum,
would awaken in them the desire to teach the faith to people. Further, it would prepare and form
them to become heralds of good news in their respective communities, in their areas of apostolate.
This will also give them knowledge of the new methodology in teaching the faith.

c. PROFESSIONALIZATION.

One of the things that the proponent sees vis-à-vis the catechetical program in the local church of
Puerto Princesa is the lack of up to date training and formation among the catechist volunteers.
Oftentimes, this occupies the least of the priorities in the parish. More so, there are no sufficient
catechist volunteers. This project hopes to professionalize the catechists to be able to encourage
more lay faithful in this ministry in the church.

IV. METHODOLOGY AND PROJECT DESIGN

The project will commence with a need assessment and evaluation of the existing Catechetical
Program of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa. The proponent believes that innovation does
not come out from nowhere but out of the existing system that is open for evaluation and
enhancement. Thus, a careful assessment must really be conducted. In like manner, it requires an
action plan which might necessitate the use of such tool as SWOT analysis. Likewise, SWIM lanes
will be essential in the process of coming up with the curriculum design.

The project will be divided into the following:

a. Chapter 1 will present the need assessment

b. Chapter 2 will present the criteria for evaluation
c. Chapter 3 will present the Curriculum Design
d. Chapter 4 will present the Road Map of the entire training and formation
e. Chapter 5 will present the conclusion of the project

V. REFERENCES/ SOURCES OF INFORMATION

a. AVPP Catechetical Program

b. Curriculum of the Institute of Catechetics of the Archdiocese of Manila