CBCP EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON CULTURE (ECC) Presents 1st National Conference of Catholic Cultural Centers in the Philippines - Where faith and culture meet - CATHOLIC CULTURAL CENTERS: Gateways to New Evangelisation Alfonso Cavite, Philippines, October 14-17, 2013 GATEWAY BRIEF The First National Conference of Catholic Cultural Centers brings together its members all over the country to reflect, share and discuss how they can collaborate with the whole Church and with each other so as to be active gateways for the new evangelisation.. Greatly affected and influenced by the culture of secularism and materialism, everyone is challenged to work together in searching for new ways of making the values of the Gospel be better appreciated and understood. GATEWAY KEY OBJECTIVES (DIAL-UP) DIALOGUE To personally encounter and network with the directors and representatives of the Catholic Cultural Centers in the Philippines and share challenges, experiences, ideas and information regarding each Center. AWARENESS Update members on the ongoing and upcoming activities, programs and initiatives of the Catholic Cultural Centers (Vademecum) and the Episcopal Commission on Culture and the key areas of new evangelisation spearhead by the Catholic Church. LEARN Individual and communal enrichment and empowerment through conference talks and workshops on important cultural themes relating to new evangelisation including: Filipino values, cyberspace and the new media, philosophy, gospel and liturgy. UPLIFT Identify existing local activities and initiatives regarding new evangelisation and formulate possible ways for the Catholic Cultural Centers to assist and collaborate in their continuous development. PLAN To actively participate in programming new concrete initiatives for the mission of new evangelisation that can be adapted by each affiliated and non-affiliated local religious and secular institutions. GATEWAY ATTENDEES • Bishop Members of the Episcopal Commission on Culture • All Directors and Assistant Directors of the Catholic Cultural Centers • Executive Secretaries of CBCP Episcopal Commissions • School Heads and Administrators • Rectors and Formators of Seminaries • Christian Living and Religious Education Teachers • Campus Ministers • School Chaplains • Catechists • Superintendents of Diocesan Schools • Preachers and Evangelizers • Those involved in Youth, Family, BEC’s, Bible Apostolate, etc. GATEWAY DESCRIPTION There is a need for a common forum or centre where the encounter or dialogue between faith and culture can occur - a centre is an appropriate gateway for a new evangelization in our time. The Pontifical Council for Culture foresaw this need and the central role that these centres could play in the new evangelization. Therefore, the Council asked the local churches to create Catholic Cultural Centers which could provide forums for the church’s dialogue with the contemporary world and achieve a stable foundation for the people’s cultural reawakening in the light of the Gospel values discerning cultural currents through the use of philosophy, theology, sociology, sciences, arts, communications and other disciplines. Responding to this call the Episcopal Commission on Culture began activating Catholic Cultural Centres in the country as a dynamic gateway for new evangelisation where faith and culture do meet. The 1st National Conference of the Catholic Cultural Centers already activated is an attempt to plan and concretize together initiatives for the mission of new evangelisation and thus incarnate the identity of each of the Centers whose role as a gateway is described as: Offering to the church the possibility of presence and action in the field of cultural change and allow the church to make widely known, in creative dialogue, Christian convictions about man, woman, family, work, economy, society, politics, international life, and the environment. They are places of listening, respect and tolerance. (JP II) Providing forums for the church’s dialogue with the contemporary world and achieve a stable foundation for the people’s cultural reawakening in the light of the Gospel values, discerning cultural currents through the use of philosophy, theology, sociology, sciences, arts, communications and other disciplines. Responding to the call of Pope Benedict XVI to profess our faith in the Risen Lord in all places and opportunities so that everyone may feel a strong need to know better and to transmit to future generations the faith of all times (Porta Fidei #8). An educational institution, a seminary, a cultural center or any institution which has facilities for dialogue and discussion, symposia and film viewing, workshops and other activities. More than simply venues,Catholic Centres are dynamic gateways that in time will actively promote the following activities: 1. To organize regular forums and/or dialogue sessions participated by the different sectors in the institution, community or the diocese for the reflection and sharing of insights of current issues involving faith and culture, discerning cultural currents through the use of philosophy, theology, sociology, science, arts, communications and other disciplines. 2. To serve as a venue for new evangelization for the growth of faith and spirituality of the local population in the diocese using all means of arts and communications. 3. To introduce viable measures to educate the people on the importance of preservation of a refined and wholesome Filipino identity rooted in faith, love of God and country, excellence in character and commitment to service. 4. To update itself with the signs of the times and align its activities with the current programs and pastoral concerns of the Universal and Local Church. 5. To propose alternative actions that could be recommended to the people in the community or diocese so that renewed awareness, more steadfast commitment, stronger bonding, and concrete courses of actions can be achieved, as fruits of the collaborative reflection and dialogue on faith, social issues and cultural changes. Thus, the local Church can propel its thrusts and programs toward a more effective direction. Would you like to be part of this dynamic gateway?
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 11:16:17 +0000
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