(Milaor, Camarines Sur) October 14-16, 2024. After one year of implementation of the Diocesan Administrative and Pastoral Program during 2023-2024, the clergy of the Diocese of Libmanan flocked to this municipality to draw out a similar plan for 2024-2025. The gathering was presided by the Episcopal Vicar for SKK Synodality, Rev. Fr. Edgardo Abogado. It started on the first day with a paraliturgy, followed by the general instructions, the orientation and the presentation of the theme:
The gathering had a twofold objective: 1. To evaluate each of the five dimensions and their specific concerns in relation to the Year 1 objectives and strategies and the six years strategic plan; and, 2. To formulate their corresponding plans of action for the Year 2 implementation.
Before drawing out the plan, in all its details, the different councils and commissions were asked to make a report. The content of such a report included the following: each of the council’s or commission’s target programs/activities for the current year (Year 1), the council or commission’s objectives (based on the previous year’s planning), notable milestones and accomplishments during the first year of implementation, the key impacts of the 5-dimensional pastoral program and tripartite perspectives with respect to the council/commission’s program (i.e., its effects on the Saradit na Kristianong Komunidad), suggested activities and/or strategies with corresponding dates for Year 2, and suggested objective/s for Year 2.
After the reporting, the data (gathered from the comments and suggestions generated by the reports) were collated and members of each of the councils and commissions were asked to offer proposals for inclusion in the Year 2 Plan. These proposals were to be consolidated by the various councils and commissions grouped in accordance with the five-dimensions of the pastoral program. On the third day, a detailed calendar for October 2024 to December 2025 was drawn.
Exhausted, however, the participants suggested that the proposals be integrated into the calendar during the next Diocesan Administrative and Pastoral Councils’ meeting on October 21, 2024 during which the whole pastoral program could be finalized. Thereafter, said program should be ready for presentation during the clergy meeting on October 29, 2024.
The three-day gathering concluded with a paraliturgy, during which the bishop thanked all the priests present. He said that what is becoming a yearly exercise (thus, now part of the diocesan way of life as it were) the administrative and pastoral planning was a tangible sign of growth of the local Church. As an exercise, in fact, in synodality, the planning ensures that that the five-dimensional pastoral program is faithfully implemented and that such an implementation has focus and direction. In this way, the bishop emphasized, every parish is not left to its own to do things haphazardly but rather guided to go along in the pastoral journey in harmony with everyone else in the local Church.
