2024
2022 - Regional, National
- Continental Phase
2023 - Synod in Rome
How has the synodal journey been in ASF?
Highlights of the ASF
Synthesis Report
Approximately, 4% of the 2.5 million Catholics in the archdiocese participated
(Population Source: Philippine Statistics Authority 2020 census)
F2F FGDs engaged more than 14,000 participants, Online FGDs gathered 297 participants.
Electronic consultation for the professionals, youth, children, and non-Catholic sectors generated responses from 832 participants.
The five FB live shows recorded more than 78,000 views.
This is the vision:
“A pilgrim church of the poor”, a beacon of hope for all.
The Vision of Synodality of the Archdiocese
The Cultural Image of Synodality in the Archdiocese of San Fernando
What dreams, desires, and aspirations for the church were expressed by the participants?
1. We want to be an inclusive church full of love and unity, with members living in harmonious relationships and no one is left behind.
2. Because we listen to God and one another and communicate effectively, we are both evangelized and evangelizing members.
3. We hope that the parish can create a caring community in which the BEC program can be implemented efficiently and effectively.
4. We hope to see more concern, love, respect, and transparency in the community of the faithful who are given shared responsibility for the mission and actively participate in it.
5. We hope for an efficient and effective management system in our parish, with consultation and transparency on pastoral plans, parish programs, priest assignments, parish construction, and renovation.
6. Hopefully the continuity of programs that are proven to have meaningful outcomes will be sustained for better living, servicing the needs of those who have less in life especially the poor, the needy, the incapacitated, the young, and the elderly.
In response to the participants’ dreams, desires, and aspirations for the church, the archdiocese feels that it is called to take these steps to become more synodal:
1. to build an inclusive church where there is love and unity, where members are living in harmonious relationships, where no one is left behind;
2. to enhance programs that highlight the formation of “evangelized and evangelizing” members who listen to God and one another;
3. to improve communication, for example, to put up “synodal” suggestion boxes to hear feedback and suggestions
4. to foster building a caring community where the BEC program would be implemented efficiently and effectively; and
5. to establish sustainable programs for the youth such as regular formation programs in the field not only of theology and liturgy but even science, humanities, arts and music, training and commissioning leaders who can live out preferential options for the poor, and continuing focused and extensive listening sessions, especially to nominal Catholics.
ASF’s STEPS FORWARD
BEC, an expression of Synodality
Some BEC Initiatives
Circular Letter No. 22, Series of 2023
MISSION ORDER
Circular Letter No. 22, S. 2023
By the end of May 2025, all parishes and shrines in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, would have, at least, established and formed their Parish BEC Core Groups.
2023 LAY CONSULTATION
TOWARD SYNOD 2024
ALIGNMENT OF OUR LOCAL SYNODAL JOURNEY TO THE UNIVERSAL PROCESS
The 2023 Synod Synthesis:
Part I – The Face of a Synodal Church
Part II – All Disciples, All Missionaries
Part III – Weaving Bonds, Building Communities
The Three Priorities:
Part I - The Face of a Synodal Church:
“People in Poverty: Protagonists of the Church’s Journey”
ASF response: BEC Initiatives
The Three Priorities:
Part II: All Disciples, All Missionaries
“Deacons and Priests in a Synodal Church”
The Three Priorities:
Part III: Weaving Bonds, Building Communities
“Mission in the Digital Environment”
Continuing the Journey