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DOP CIRCULAR NO. 2012-007
25 January 2012
TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, PARISH ADMINISTRATORS, CHAPLAINS, RELIGIOUS MEN AND WOMEN, PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, RECTORS OF SHRINES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN THE DIOCESE OF PARAÑAQUE
RE: PASTORAL LETTER ON THE FIRST YEAR OF THE DECADE OF NEW EVANGELIZATION "WALKING TOGETHER IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD"
Reverend Monsignori and Fathers:
To mark the tenth year of the Diocese in 2012 and to prepare for the 500th anniversary of the first Eucharist and first Baptism in the Philippines in 2021, our very own Bishop called for a "Decade of New Evangelization" through his Decree Volumus videre Jesum (We want to see Jesus) dated 1 January 2012.
Inasmuch as the "Bible is basic", the first year of this Decade is dedicated to "walking together in the light of God's Word".
Our beloved Bishop asks us priests to read the attached Pastoral Letter during our homilies in all Masses on 29 January 2012, National Bible Sunday, as well as in all anticipated Masses.
He especially enjoins us, consecrated men and women and all the lay faithful to make it a habit to begin activities and meetings with a "prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture" in order to "let the Word of God inspire, sustain and perfect all pastoral programs".
Sincerely yours,
REV. FR. CARMELO O. ESTORES
Chancellor
PASTORAL LETTER ON THE FIRST YEAR OF THE DECADE OF NEW EVANGELIZATION
"WALKING TOGETHER IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD"
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
During the assembly of the Diocesan Pastoral Council on 10 December 2011, we realized that responding to the physical hungers of men and women must be accompanied by efforts to respond to their spiritual thirst. The deprivations, indignities and injustices that the poor suffer are not simply due to the lack of natural, financial or human resources. They reflect moral failures. They are the result of sin, personal and social. We turn, therefore, to God that he may forgive and heal us.
…and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8).
It is in this spirit of conversion, commitment and hope that we mark 2012: our tenth year as a Diocese and the tenth year before the fifth centenary of the first Eucharist and of the first Baptism in the Philippines. As we commence the third decade since the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, we also heed Pope Benedict XVI’s call for a “Year of Faith” from 11 October 2012 to 24 November 2013 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. [1] We thus called for a “Decade of New Evangelization” in the Diocese of Parañaque in order to enhance “the basic ecclesial community as a way of life by walking together in the light of God’s Word (Bible), uniting around Christ’s redeeming Cross (Eucharist) and transforming communion in the faith into communities at the service of the poor (Community-in-service)". [2]
Each of these three aspects flows into each other and cannot really exist separately. In the first year of our Decade, however, we shall focus on “walking together in the light of God’s Word” for
All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
I enjoin all the faithful in the Diocese of Parañaque – all vicariates, parishes, BECs, lay associations, organizations and movements – therefore, to let the Word of God inspire, sustain and perfect all pastoral programs by beginning every endeavor and meeting with a prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture. I ask my priests to feed the flock entrusted to us with the food that does not perish (cf. John 6:27) – Jesus, the Word Incarnate – through homilies, sermons and recollections but especially through an exemplary way of life. The Venerable Servant of God Pope Paul VI himself said that “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”. [3] Wherever possible and under the guidance of priests, let there be Bible study sessions, lectio divina and celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours. Never be afraid of the Word of God. Never doubt His power nor His will to heal and transform us, our families and our nation.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:10-11).
Given in the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, Parañaque City, on 29 January 2011, National Bible Sunday.
+ JESSE E. MERCADO, D.D.
Bishop of Parañaque
Attested by:
Rev. Fr. Carmelo O. Estores
Chancellor
[1] Apostolic Letter Porta fidei, 4.
[2] Diocese of Parañaque Decree n. 2012-001 on the Decade of New Evangelization.
[3] Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, n. 41; quoted from his Address to the Members of the Consilium de Laicis during the General Audience of 2 October 1974: “L’homme contemporain écoute plus volontiers les témoins que les maîtres, ou s’il écoute les maîtres, c’est parce qu’ils sont des témoins. Il éprouve en effet une répulsion instinctive pour tout ce qui peut apparaître mystification, façade, compromis. Dans un tel contexte, on comprend l’importance d’une vie qui résonne vraiment de l’Evangile!” |
