In celebration of the Year of St. Joseph, the CEAP National Christian Formation Commission hosted the 2021 National Christian Formation Conference on August 25-27, 2021. The Conference with the theme, “Christian Formators: Flourishing in Anonymity. Courageous in Vulnerability,” was a call for Christian Formators to reflect on the different aspects of the Spirituality of St. Joseph as it applies to Religious Education, Campus Ministry, and Social Action Ministry – the tripod of Christian Formation.
The Conference opened with the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Nolan A. Que, our Chairperson in the CEAP Christian Formation Commission, who encouraged the participants to be inspired and inspiring in their ministry. He said that they must always do things within the entire plan of salvation and let the Lord steer their lives.
CEAP President, Sr. Ma. Marissa R. Viri, RVM, in her Welcome Remarks, took the attendees to the beginnings of CEAP at the very first Convention when the founder, Archbishop Michael O’ Doherty, D.D., in his message, emphasized the vital importance of Christian Formation. He said that “there is no greater knowledge that we can impart to our students than the knowledge of God.” Sr. Viri then reminded the attendees that every member of the school community is a catechist – a living witness to the Gospel.
In Mr. Arellano’s overview of the Conference, he also quoted the CEAP founder and the emphasis he gave to Social Action, calling it the very marrow of Christian Formation. Without it, one cannot consider students to have had a complete Catholic Education.
The Keynote Speaker, Bishop Midyphil Billones,D.D. , engaged the participants in his Keynote Address as he stressed the importance of rest (sleep), how it played in the life of St. Joseph, and how one should look to St. Joseph as the icon of discernment. He said that in a world where fake news is acceptable, in an era where there is so much deception and lies, St. Joseph is an anti-thesis of deception. He said that St. Joseph provided an excellent template for Christian Discernment – eloquence in silence. His silence translated into sincere action is the truest communication of love. In discerning what is true, the profundity of silence is an invitation to introspection, attunement to God, and attunement of words and action. He then encouraged the participants, “Ite ad Joseph” and “Ite cum Joseph” (Go to St. Joseph and Journey with St. Joseph).
The Keynote Address was followed by a very engaging exchange of inspired ideas on the Spirituality of St. Joseph as it applies to the Religious Education Teachers. This YAKAP Response session, ”CL Teachers: Shadow Teachers in the Fashion of St. Joseph,” had the following panelistsPanelists: Dr. Pilar I Romero, President, CEAP-SACRED and Dean of the College of Education of the University of Santo Tomas, Fr. Nolan Que, and Ms. Ma. Cristina G. Santos, Director, Center for Excellence of Colegio San Agustin-Makati. Sr. Aileen U. Bonifacio, SPC, Executive Vice President of St. Paul University-San Miguel, was the session's moderator.
In their discussion, the panelists came up with the attributes of a Christian Living Teacher encapsulated by the acronym SHADOW. Christian Living Educators, they said, must possess: Serenity characterized by the integrity in thoughts and actions; Humility which is walking in truth and truth being attuned with God; Agility that sustains them as they are called to work hard; a Discerning heart to be able to tell the great love story of God. They must also be Other-oriented and truly Wonderful – having beauty, balance, and the harmony in their lives with God.
On the second day of the Conference, Ms. Guadalupe R. Isidro, Area Coordinator of the Department of Theology & Ethics (Higher Education Unit) of Miriam College, gave a very heartwarming sharing on “The Campus Minister: Patient in Silence, Unstinting in Trust.” She shared her experience as a Campus Minister for many years at Miriam College and how the examples modeled by St. Joseph resonated in her life and ministry.
The talk was followed by the YAKAP response that reflected on the attributes of the Campus Ministers. Ms. Isidro was joined by Fr. Que and Mr. Jose Paolo M. Santos, Campus Minister of the Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Schools. CEAP Deputy Executive Director Ms. Mary Ann S. Cruz was the moderator of the session.
On the second day of the Conference, Ms. Guadalupe R. Isidro, Area Coordinator of the Department of Theology & Ethics (Higher Education Unit) of Miriam College, gave a very heartwarming sharing on “The Campus Minister: Patient in Silence, Unstinting in Trust.” She shared her experience as a Campus Minister for many years at Miriam College and how the examples modeled by St. Joseph resonated in her life and ministry. In their discussion, the panelists came up with the acronym SILENT to capture the attributes of Campus Ministers. According to them, Campus Ministers must be:moved to Self-Oblation – sacrificing themselves for others; Involved and also possess integrity; Life-giving; Empathetic and willing to enter into the chaos of the other; Nurturing of the person and of the faith; and both Trusting and truthful. The word SILENT is also an anagram for the word LISTEN - something which Campus Ministers do very well.
The last day of the Conference featured a reflection on the Spirituality of St. Joseph as it relates to the Social Action Ministry and its various advocacies. Fr. Jomar Burgos, LRMS, Spiritual Director and Coordinator of Human Formation of the Lorenzo Mission Institute reflected on, “Social Action Ministers: Creatively Courageous in Our Advocacies.” He likened Social Action Ministers to St. Joseph, who was Just, Obedient, a Silent worker, Enthusiastic, Pro-Life, and Humble. In the YAKAP response moderated by Ms. Marissa I. Belo, Officer, Center for Christian Formation of St. Anthony School, Fr. Burgos was joined by Fr. Que and Ms. Michelle O. Hagamann; Officer, Center for Christian Formation- Espiritu Santo Parochial School. In their discussion, they summarized the attributes of a Social Action Minister in the acronym SHARE. This means that they ought to be Service-oriented silent workers who have a Humble heart; working Altogether; Reaching out to the poor and underprivileged; and are constantly Engaged and enthusiastic in their ministry.
The Conference ended with a Eucharistic Celebration presided by CEAP-SACRED Vice President, Fr. Jun T. Estoque. A special feature of the mass was the missioning of the Christian Formators which was done shortly before Fr. Estoque gave the final blessing.