IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: Caceres Clergy Annual Retreat 2024

By Fr. Philip Francis Bersabe

After braving the storm Kristine and witnessing the flooding and turning parishes into evacuation centers and temporary shelters, the Caceres clergy traveled to San Alfonso, Cavite to start their Annual Clergy Retreat at St. Paul Center for Renewal.

It is the first time for all of us, clergy of Caceres, to have and be with our new Archbishop Rex Andrew C. Alarcon as Retreat facilitator with the theme: Magtiripon Asin Magtanaw: Gathering around Jesus and Seeing How Jesus sees (Mk 6:30.33). The retreat turned out very timely and an opportunity for a much needed spiritual rest and recreation for the clergy. Inspired by the writings of Fr. Henri Nouwen, a renowned Dutch Catholic priest, Archbishop Rex guided the clergy on the first day of the retreat to a deeper reflection on solitude, community and ministry leading to the rediscovery and appreciation of the fundamental dignity of being God’s Beloved.

The three disciplines of discipleship

“Solitude, according to Fr. Nouwen,” as echoed by Archbishop, “is being with God and God alone in order to listen. To pray is to listen to the One who calls us beloved. Hence, retreat is creating more space for God and God alone. Community on the other hand is more than an organization or formal in nature. It is a way of living where one gathers with the others to proclaim that all are beloved sons and daughters of God. Community thrives in the disciplines of forgiveness and celebration. So it includes even the person you least want to live with.”

On ministry, Archbishop stressed that “ministry is not something that one does but something that one have to trust. Jesus’ ministry which is essentially a healing ministry is expressed both in gratitude and compassion. “ Citing Luke 6: 12-19 “the matrix of Jesus life and mission is divided into night for solitude; morning for community, and afternoon is for ministry. This ought to be the matrix of his disciples too.”

Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon served as the facilitator of the retreat for the clergy of Caceres from November 4-8, 2024 at St. Paul Center for Renewal, Taywanak, Cavite. Canon Law requires all clergy to do a retreat once a year. The canonical retreat is “a spiritual discipline meant to recharge spiritual life, nurture vocational identity and renew personal commitment.”

(Photo: Mayo Cesar Herrera)

The Synodal method:conversations in the Spirit

In an innovative and striking way, Archbishop Rex adapted for the sharing and dialogue among the clergy, the synodal way. The 151 Caceres clergy who attended were divided into 24 groups seated on 24 round tables (minimum of 6 members). The dynamics of discernment started always with invocation of the Holy Spirit with the prayer Adsumus Sancte Spiritus. There were 3 rounds of sharing with 2 minutes allotted per sharer. The first round is Taking the Word and Listening (What the Spirit is telling Me?). The Second Round is Making Space for others and the Other (What could the Spirit be telling me through the sharing of others?) The last round is Building together (Where is the Holy Spirit leading us?) The responses were submitted to the Secretariat for collation under Fr. Francis Tordilla, Rev. Mike Escriva and the two pre-diaconal brothers Bro. LA Belen and Bro. Joseph Bascuna.

Towards the formulation of the Archdiocesan thrust

On the second day of the Retreat, Fr. Wilmer Joseph Tria, head of the education cluster, led the Caceres clergy into the historical recap and survey of the developments of the vision - mission statements of the Local Church of Caceres beginning from PCP II, APCC I, APCC II, Congress of the Laity or CLAC, Diocesan Synthesis from the Synodal Consultation while taking notes of the current realities in the Philippine society and incorporating the teachings of the recent social encyclicals of Pope Francis - Laudato Si (2015) and Fratelli Tutti (2020). Highlighted among the vision - missions are the following: Being Church of the Poor, Community of Disciples, BEC/SKK, Integral Evangelization, Solidarity and Collaboration and Social Justice and Poverty Alleviation. He asked the clergy to identify two priorities or thrusts or focus on the integral formation towards the celebration of the Jubilee Year in 2025 and the Diamond Anniversary of the Archdiocese in 2026 with 3 choices: worship, education and social services. Eventually education emerged as top priority among others.

The urgent need for safeguarding and protection

In the light of the urgent need to establish ministry on safeguarding and protection of minors awareness, Fr. James Wenceslao Gascon of the Society of Jesus (SJ), gave a talk on the last day of the Retreat. The talk was only a teaser since the Basic Orientation Seminar on Safeguarding consists of 5-7 days. Being the head of the Catholic Safeguarding Institute, Inc. founded in 2017, its mission is to create Safe Spaces in the dioceses. Safeguarding is the response of the Catholic Church to create safe spaces in communities of faith. His talk centered on Creating Safe Spaces as Integral to Mission and Ministry. According to Fr. Gascon, safeguarding must not be an external restrictions or environment, but an interior disposition, a culture, a spirituality, a mission and ultimately a vocation. With lively and humorous sharing, and with candidness in telling the issues of the clergy, Fr. Gascon encourage the clergy to be open to take the basic orientation.

The Archdiocesan thrust

The final session together with Archbishop Rex Andrew was the presentation of the collations made by the Secretariat on the thrust of the Archdiocese. After synthesizing the slogans submitted by the clergy with the education as the top priority, he presented for approval the thrust: EDUCATION TOWARDS COMMUNION or translated in Bikol as MAGSABOT PASIRING SA SIMBAHAN NA SARARO.

During the closing mass, Archbishop Alarcon thanked the organizers, the committee heads, the presiders and homilists, the participants with special mention of the senior clergy or GOG for their inspiring presence. He also thanked the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres for the warm accommodation and stay at St Paul Center for Renewal.

Indeed, in the eye of the storm, Jesus is there leading us to peace and renewal, and calling us all His Beloved in our solitude, in our community and in our ministry!