2

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Peace!
Ever grateful to the Lord for the gift of His church, our Diocese, we look forward to
the next five years, 2019-2024 of our journey in following His Son, Jesus Christ. We
formulated a plan to guide us in our “sailing” towards heaven where our Mahal nga
Patrona, Our Lady of Assumption beacons all of us.
As we celebrated our Golden Anniversary as Diocese last August 14, 2018, and as
the priests took on their new assignment in the various parishes, chaplaincies, and
other Diocesan tasks last November, 2018, I asked everyone to review the Parish
Pastoral Plans and through the guidance of the Office of the Vicar General and Ad-
ministration/Pastoral Planning, to involve the faithful to formulate the plan for the
next five years, which will also be the basis for the Diocesan Pastoral plan for the
said period of time.
Inspired by the themes from “A Decade of New Evangelization – Pastoral Letter on
the new Pastoral Year” (2011 -2018), this new Diocesan Pastoral Plan (2019-2024)
came out of these pastoral plans submitted by the parish priests and was built upon
 3

the previous Diocesan Pastoral Plan (2013-2018). The essential elements in the par-
ish life pointed out to us by the First Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Maasin in
2008 (such as worship, education, service, temporalities, youth, and organization)
are still there but replaced with the terms which can lead us right away at one
glance to focus on something we need to achieve in view of the celebration of the
500th centenary of our faith first reached in our shore in Limasawa Island.
This new Diocesan Pastoral Plan (2019-2024) does not include everything as it offers
only 6 Diocesan Goals and 3 to 5 Objectives in each goal, but certainly it guides us
in our pastoral ministry for the next five years.
I therefore exhort each one, parish priests and parish pastoral councils, to make a
concerted effort to find new and creative ways to integrate this Diocesan Pastoral
Plan in your local parish situation, as our common effort to “Think Diocese” and sail
together as God’s beloved people and a community of Christ’s disciples.
A good plan must be monitored and evaluated, so I am asking the Office of the Vicar
General and Pastoral Planning and Administration together with the Diocesan Com-
missions to collate what parishes are working on and coordinate support for mission
stations, chaplaincies, parishes and vicariates in making these goals and objectives
a reality.
I entrust you all to our Mother, Mary assumed into heaven, the Patroness of the Dio-
cese of Maasin, upon whom the Spirit of God descended and lived to give us hope
and inspiration to accomplish what the Lord Jesus Christ wishes us to accomplish
in the next five years! God bless everyone!

MOST REV. PRECIOSO D. CANTILLAS, SDB, DD

Bishop of Maasin

August 13, 2019

Maasin City
 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the Bishop 2

Introduction 5
Vision/Mission of the Diocese of Maasin 7
Goal 1: Passing on the Faith/Evangelization 8
Goal 2: Sacramental Ministry and Spiritual Development 10
Goal 3: Clergy, Religious and Lay Participation 11
Goal 4: Youth, Young Adults and Family 13
Goal 5: Community/B.E.C. 15
Goal 6: Service/Management of Resources 16
Appendices
A – Ratification of Vision/Mission Statements 18
Affirmation of Diocesan Goals
B – Aids for Implementation of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan 21
 5

INTRODUCTION

The plan is focused on six Diocesan Goals, which flow from the “Sacrament of all
Sacraments” – the Holy Eucharist, which reached our shore in Limasawa almost 500
years ago – into different areas of our life in the Diocese and parishes as well. Each
Diocesan Goal is essential to the Church’s mission and inter-related to the others.
The image of the big circle attached to the wooden cross standing on the Island of
Limasawa tries to capture our story as a people with a mission built on the Eucha-
rist and Christian faith. These diocesan goals and objectives for implementing them
came from parishes’ plans and the various sessions that took place at vicariate
meetings through the course of the planning process.
The Curia has listened, has reflected on and prayed with, has processed and refined
all of the responses and comments that came from the parishes, missions and vicar-
iates of the diocese and has organized them with a unifying vision towards the crea-
tion of this plan.
The plan provides the broad direction for the diocese. Implementation will happen
at three levels: at the level of the parish, at the level of the vicariate with the hope of
promoting greater collaboration among parishes and mission stations, and at the di-
ocesan level as the diocesan offices, commissions and councils strive to provide the
support necessary for making the pastoral plan come to life.
Vicariates are to discuss the plan and its implementation, focusing on one or more
diocesan goals each year (the year for pastoral purposes usually begins with the new
liturgical year). After five years of working with the plan, there will be a process for
evaluation of the implementation.
This is the structure of the plan: DIOCESAN GOALS, OBJECTIVES, and CON-
CRETE ACTIVITIES. The Pastoral Plan is organized around Diocesan Goals. The
GOALS express what it is we want to be or become as a local church. Each of these
goals is to be achieved at the diocesan level, at the vicariate level and at the parish
or mission station level. For each of the goals there are OBJECTIVES proposed.
 6

Some of these OBJECTIVES and Concrete Activities can be worked on immediately

at the parish or mission station level, some will require collaboration beyond the
parish or mission station in order to begin.
Every parish and mission station of the diocese held listening sessions like pastoral
assembly and pastoral council meetings and reflected upon the current strengths
of their parish/mission station and to identify areas where they hoped to grow or
improve. Each vicariate met to hear the strengths and weaknesses of the various
parishes and mission stations and to suggest how they might help and support
each other and to suggest what areas needed support from the diocese. There was
great affirmation of the life of the Church in our diocese and great hopes expressed
about how we might be more faithful to the mission entrusted to us by the risen
Christ.
We are grateful to everyone who participated in all of these sessions. We are thank-
ful to leaders of parish pastoral councils and pastoral planning teams. We thank
Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD, together with all parish priests, vicars fo-
rane, Diocesan Commission heads, the chancellor, and staff of the curia who
helped to create a process and provided background material for our planning.
Thank you to my Diocesan team: Ate Luth Rubio, Kuya Boy Gerardo, Kuya Oliver
Fernandez, Ate Vangie Laroa, Ate Florencia Malbas, Ate Carmelita Siano, etc., for
the summaries of parishes’plans and the initial formulation of this DPP. Thank
you to my VG’s staff and SJC’s staff for the lay out and printing. And we are
thankful to the priestly people of God in the fifty parishes/mission stations of our
diocese who will implement this plan as we continue sailing together as faithful dis-
ciples of Christ. Of course we give thanks to Jesus Christ, who reveals the Father
to us and sends the Holy Spirit to empower us in our ministry.

Rev. Msgr. Oscar A. Cadayona

Vicar General and Moderator Curiae
 7

Vision Statement

Responding to the call of the loving Father, we, the Christian communi-
ty of the Diocese of Maasin, filled with love, unity and concern in
Christ, through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit and the interces-
sion of Mary, are journeying to attain the integral salvation of mankind.

Mission Statement

 Strengthening of Christian faith and renewal of life

 Establishment of a comprehensive and authentic service responsive
to the needs of the Church and civil society for social justice and
sustainable development
 Building and formation of Christian communities.
 8
Priority # 1

PASSING ON THE FAITH/

EVANGELIZATION

“We should remember that faith is the principle and

the basis of Christian life and life of the Church…Faith
is always to be rediscovered, re-established, purified,
roused up and to grow…” - Cantillas, Bishop Precioso. “A
Decade of New Evangelization - Pastoral Letter on the new Pasto-
ral Year”, Maasin City, 2013, p.1.

GOAL 1: To continue to work to make Jesus more known, loved and rele-
vant today even after 500 years of the coming of Christianity to our
Limasawa Island.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To encourage a deeper understanding of Catholic faith and practices, by:

a) Reviewing our educational/catechetical program designed to enable

those with faith to deepen their knowledge and love of God.
b) Enhancing the plan to deliver parish based or inter-parish ministry to:
parents of those children to be baptized, children and their families for
first penance, first communion and confirmation, young people, cou-
ples preparing for marriage, adults wishing to mature in their faith.
c) Creating a fully trained team for 5P’s (Pre-Jordan, Pre-Communion, Pre
-Confession, Pre-Confirmation, and Pre-Cana).

2. To awaken the faith of those who no longer experience God’s love in

their lives, specifically the unchurched, by:

a) Opening a “School of Evangelization” in every vicariate supported by

the Diocese of Maasin to produce skilled young evangelizers.
b) Enhancing outreach programs for the needy in parishes.
c) Supporting DSAC /PSAC programs for the unchurched.
 9
Priority # 1

3. To spread the message of the Gospel into all areas of human life and in do-
ing so, our actions be characterized by sensitivity, compassion, mercy, and
joy, by:

a) Organizing at least one Parish Mission a year on or before the patronal

fiesta.
b) Developing ways to promote the Diocesan directive to gather every
first Saturday for cenacle prayer and Eucharistic adoration.
c) Supporting people to pray in their homes or with others in BECs.

4. To strive to deepen relationships with other ecclesial communities or faith

traditions as living faith inspires and attracts others to Christ, by:

a) Identifying one local and/or global social cause to address each year.
b) Reaching out to leaders of other churches when faced with common
local social and moral menaces, like drugs, pornography, prostitution,
pre-marital sex, theft, etc.

5. To promote Limasawa as Pilgrimage destination of the faithful not only

from the Diocese of Maasin but also from other dioceses, by:

a) Supporting the plans and projects of the Diocesan Commission on Li-

masawa.
b) Coordinating with government agencies, local and national, to improve
the facilities of the area.
c) Assigning priests to take turns in staying in Limasawa First Mass
Shrine to lead the pilgrims for Eucharistic adoration, to hear confes-
sions, and to give spiritual talks.
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Priority # 2

SACRAMENTAL MINISTRY/
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

“I challenge the parishes, especially parish priests and

catechists: to advance themselves in the art of prayer
and to be living testimonies of prayer and to promote
school of prayer and various forms of prayers such as Eucharistic adoration, retreat, recollec-
tion, and pilgrimages to Diocesan Shrines and holy places in and outside the Diocese, proces-
sion, and Holy Rosary.” - Cantillas, Bishop Precioso. “A Decade of New Evangelization - Pas-
toral Letter on the new Pastoral Year”, Maasin City, 2013, p.3.

GOAL 2: To ensure Eucharistic-centered parishes and parishioners that com-

mit to the spiritual journey and draw their identity and mission from
the sacramental life of the Church.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To reinforce ministerial and communal relationships throughout the Dio-

cese of Maasin to ensure that priests and the Church Sacraments are availa-
ble to the faithful everywhere, by:

a) Identifying service gaps and publishing demographic/census data annu-

ally.
b) Allocating ministry resources across the Diocese of Maasin.
c) Formulating programs which include sending “apprenticed” priests to
far-flung barrios in the mountains.

2. To strengthen liturgical practices, sacramental practices, and prayer life to

give glory to God and be welcoming to all God’s people, by:

a) Improving preaching.
b) Sharing music resources and offering training in music ministry.
c) Increasing sacramental literacy.
d) Sharing best devotional and prayer practices across the Diocese of
Maasin.
 11
Priority # 3

e) Printing a compendium of prayers and rites for Diocesan wide use.

3. To deepen the quality of the faithful’s personal lives and empower them to
act together for the transformation of culture and society , by:

a) Establishing a Spiritual Center appropriately resourced to assist parish-

es and individuals.
b) Sending “missionary” priests to Diocesan Shrines who take turn in ca-
tering solely to the spiritual needs of the pilgrims, like leading Eucha-
ristic adoration, confession, and spiritual counseling when fiesta is ap-
proaching.
c) Establishing spiritual companionship by enlisting priests willing to be
spiritual directors of individuals wishing to advance in their spiritual
life.

CLERGY, RELIGIOUS and

LAY PARTICIPATION

“We hope that with God’s mercy and grace and your [laity]
support, we will sail through the coming years as renewed
servant-leaders of the Church and society.” - Cantillas,
Bishop Precioso. “A Decade of New Evangelization - Pasto-
ral Letter on the new Pastoral Year”, Maasin City, 2018 ,p.2.

GOAL 3: To make priests, religious, and laity embraced and lived out more
their commitment of their ordination/consecration and Baptism work-
ing together to build the Kingdom of God on earth.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To ensure that all priests are given the support they need for the life and
ministry, taking into account the changing context within which our
priests minister, by:
 12
Priority # 3

a) Supporting the Bishop who has the primary responsibility for the care
and support of our priests by strengthening the Diocesan Commission
on On-going Formation of the Clergy and Office of the Episcopal Vicar
for the Clergy.
b) Identifying a team of people, clergy and lay who will work proactively
with the said Commission together with the Episcopal Vicar for the
Clergy to support priests of the Diocese of Maasin.
c) Co-ordinating and developing the existing support given to priests at
all stages in their life and ministry.
d) Facilitating priests in accessing support in areas such as emotional
well-being, conflict resolutions, and stress management.

2. To develop a structural program of on-going formation to support and nour-

ish the clergy in their personal and vocational lives in order to respond to
the needs of the Diocese of Maasin, by:

a) Delivering an on-going Priestly Formation Program consisting of hu-

man, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation
b) Developing and implementing a policy of sabbatical leave for priests.
c) Developing and implementing the “induction” program for newly ap-
pointed parish priests.

3. To promote a culture of co-responsibility among clergy, Religious and laity

at every level of the life of the Diocese, by:

a) Reinforcing the Diocesan Pastoral Secretariat and creating a Diocesan

Pastoral Council to work with the Curia to identify the key pastoral
issues facing the Diocese and to discern together the appropriate re-
sponses.
b) Providing the necessary formation and on-going support for existing
and newly-formed Parish Pastoral Councils in every Parish in the Dio-
cese.
c) Seeking to make use of the wide range of skills, gifts and talents that
the faithful, lay, and religious are willing to contribute to the life of
the parishes of the Diocese of Maasin.
d) Cherishing and promoting charisms of ecclesial movements, renewal
groups and organizations present in the Diocese of Maasin.
e) Setting up the Diocesan Council of the Laity to make the laity active
agents for the transformation of the society.
 13
Priority # 4

4. To set up the on-going formation and development of lay volunteers for ser-
vice in parishes, by:

a) Working closely with Parish Pastoral Councils to identify the training

needs for developing lay ministry within parishes.
b) Starting a discernment process for more role of lay people in leading
liturgies in the absence of priest.
c) Reinforcing best practices in the areas of recruitment and retention
within the Diocese of Maasin.

YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS and

FAMILY

“We can say that as a Diocese, we are young,

composed of young people. It is clear therefore
that when we talk about activities in the Church
or the responsibilities in nurturing our spiritual
life, in evangelization and others, the Youth is
certainly a part of it.” - Cantillas, Bishop Preci-
oso, “A Decade of New Evangelization – Pastoral
Letter on the new Pastoral Year,”Maasin City,
2019, p.1.

GOAL 4: To ensure that the young people feel being listened to and accom-
panied by the parish so that they get connected, involved and active in
a multigenerational Church whereby grandparents, parents and children
minister to each other.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To create environments that act as a home where young people can create a
space that is their own, by:

a) Setting up a “youth center” not only a youth office in the parishes

where they can dillydally and play, for example, some indoor sports.
 14
Priority # 4

b) Formulating a structure we can call “Junior Pastoral Council” in the

parishes wherein they themselves identify key youth issues the com-
munity faces.
c) Reinforcing parish liturgies wherein the young people and young
adults are allowed to plan and perform for their fellow youth.
d) Offering training on the content and production of the Social Media
to be used by parishes in their parochial apostolate.

2. To enrich programs already in place to deepen the spirituality and religiosi-

ty of the young people in all parishes, by:

a) Organizing first batches of trained young professionals (YoungProto

review existing youth programs and activities.
b) Developing opportunities for pilgrimages to holy places or shrines, lo-
cal or iternational.
c) Using music as a means of engaging young people in their local
church and liturgy.
d) Encouraging and supporting youth leadership by means of youth fo-
rum.

3. To strengthen marriage and family life in the love and unity of Christ and
His Church to give youth a solid foundation for life, by:

a) Offering regularly a quality marriage enrichment retreat or marriage

encounter to be led by the Diocesan Family Life and Apostolate.
b) Forming or training speakers to address men as the spiritual leaders
of their families and family catechesis.
c) Assigning regularly families a role on Sunday liturgical celebrations or
Parochial activities, esp. during Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
d) Reinforcing parish capabilities in building and strengthening BECs in
all parishes across the Diocese of Maasin.
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Priority # 5

COMMUNITY/B.E.C.

“There is no other beautiful way of experiencing

this communion than that that of the way of
BEC which our Diocese promotes as the new
way of life, the new way of being Church. I
therefore urge you all, especially parish priests
with your collaborators to intensify your efforts
so that all the baptized can experience the joy of being close to each other in this new way of
life” – Cantillas, Bishop Precioso, “A Decade of New Evangelization – A Pastoral Letter on
the new Pastoral Year’, Maasin City, 2014, p.3.

GOAL 5: To continue striving to build parishes and basic ecclesial communi-

ties (BECs) to be places of welcome and hospitality to all, reaching out
in particular to the vulnerable, those in need and those who feel ex-
cluded.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To consult and involve parishioners in decision making, by:

a) Putting structures in place to discuss and plan pastoral priorities in

the parish.
b) Using print and online sources developed by the Diocese of Maasin to
invite parishioners to take part in a parish survey.
c) Following faithfully the directive from the Diocese based on the new
constitution and by-laws of Parish Pastoral Council to make a quarterly
parish general assembly to be attended by PPC, BEC Punong Alagad,
Religious Organization Leaders and other pastoral units.
d) Making use of Sunday Masses as venues for making big announcements
which affect the whole parish.

2. To increase the number of people participate in the sacraments and en-

courage more people to play an active role in BECs, the new way of life of
the Church, the life of the parish, and of the Diocese, by:
 16
Priority # 6

a) Using the results of parish survey to reshape parish activities and

build community.
b) Implementing reshaped parish activities and carry out planned activi-
ties to build community.
c) Strengthening the Office of the Parish BEC Coordinator and the BEC
Parish Monitoring Team to outreach nominal Catholics.

3. To make the people proactive in living their faith and reaching out to those
who feel excluded, by:

a) Using the results of the parish survey to plan ways to reach out to
those who feel excluded.
b) Carrying out planned activities to reach out to those who feel exclud-
ed from parish life and ministry.
c) Introducing “Children Mass” or “Children Liturgies” during Sundays
or Saturdays.

SERVICE and MANAGEMENT OF RE-

SOURCES

“Still, today may you be for the Church and for the world, the
outposts of care for all of the poor and for all material, moral
and spiritual poverty, and examples in overcoming every form
of egoism through the logic of the Gospel which teaches us to
trust in the Providence of God.” Pope Francis, “Message to
Participants of the International Sympoisum on the Manage-
ment of the Ecclesiastical Goods”, Rome, March 8-9, 2014.

GOAL 6: To serve as Christ serves as we secure sufficient resources for Dioc-

esan needs, which include the poor and marginalized, ensuring that
transparent and accountable systems are put in place in all parishes.

OBJECTIVES:
To continue promoting justice and peace in accordance with the social teach-
ing of the Church, by:
 17
Priority # 6
a) Strengthening the DSAC’s desk for justice and peace with fully trained
personnel.
b) Collaborating with other churches in dealing with other pressing social
problems affecting peace and order.

2. To promote awareness of Pope Francis’encyclical Laudato Si`, by:

a) Encouraging PPCs to lead key actions which respect the environment

and counteract the threat of global warming.
b) Making events in parishes more eco-friendly.
c) Establishing Laudato Si`Team in parishes.

3. To enhance policies and procedures for human and material resources at

Parish and Diocesan level, by:

a) Professionalizing the recruitment and retention of Parish and Diocesan

personnel.
b) Complying with the Diocese our parish financial management and ac-
countability.
c) Developing appropriate structures for property management or admin-
istration of material goods in parishes across the Diocese of Maasin.

4. To continue the regular monitoring of diocesan and parish financial system

in collaboration with parish finance councils, ensuring greater use of availa-
ble tax concessions, by:

a) Strictly requiring parishes to follow the management system intro-

duced by DFAO.
b) Sending DFAO personnel to parishes to check regularly the parish fi-
nancial personnel and his/her work.

5. To draw on the talents of the people in administering the patrimony – ec-

clesiastical heritage – of the Diocese of Maasin, by:

a) Ensuring that the rich faith heritage of the Diocese of Maasin, the site
of the First Easter Mass in the Philippines, is valued and highlighted
for the benefit of all.
b) Working with National Historical Agency and other government agen-
cies to preserve and enhance and utilize local areas and structures of
religious significance and pilgrimage.
 18

APPENDIX A

RATIFICATION OF VISION/MISSION STATEMENTS

Bishop: Before God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we have
prayed, discussed and shaped the Vision/Mission of the Diocese
of Maasin to reflect what we believe.

Therefore, I ask your assent and commitment once again to the

already-affirmed Vision and Mission Statement of our Diocese of
Maasin.

Please say AMEN in response to the following statements.

We are the Christian Community of the Diocese of Maasin

formed 51 years ago.

Priests/People: AMEN.

Bishop: We are responding to the call of the Father to be filled with love,
unity and concern in Christ.

Priests/People: AMEN.

Bishop: Through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit and the interces-
sion of Mary, we are journeying to attain the integral salvation of
mankind.

Priests/People: AMEN.

Bishop: We are committed to strengthening of the Christian faith and re-

newal of life.

Priests/People: AMEN.

Bishop: and to establishing of a comprehensive and authentic service re-

sponsive to the needs of the Church and civil society for social
justice and sustainable development.

Priests/People: AMEN.
 19

Bishop: and building and formation of Christian communities.

Priests & People: AMEN.

Bishop: I now declare that this, indeed, is the Vision/Mission of our

Christian community, the Diocese of Maasin.

AFFIRMATION OF DIOCESAN GOALS

Bishop: Committed to our mission, we now affirm 6 goals which will direct
us in fulfilling our mission during the next five years. Please re-
spond WE DO to each of the following questions.

Bishop: Do you believe that we are called to continue to work to make Je-
sus more known, loved and relevant today even after 500 years of
the coming of Christianity to our Limasawa Island.

Priests/People: WE DO.

Bishop: Do you believe that we are called to ensure eucharistic-centered

parishes and parishioners that commit to the spiritual journey
and draw their identity and mission from the sacramental life of
the Church.

Priests/People: WE DO.

Bishop: Do you believe that we are called to make priests, religious, and
laity embraced and lived out more their commitment of their or-
dination/consecration and Baptism working together to build the
Kingdom of God on earth.

Priests/People: WE DO.

Bishop: Do you believe that we are called to ensure that the young people
feel being listened to and accompanied by the parish so that they
get connected, involved and active in a multigenerational Church
whereby grandparents, parents and children minister to each
other.
 20

Priests/People: WE DO.

Bishop: Do you believe that we are called to continue striving to build

parishes and basic ecclesial communities (BECs) to be places of
welcome and hospitality to all, reaching out in particular to the
vulnerable, those in need and those who feel excluded.

Priests/People: WE DO.

Bishop: Do you believe that we are called to serve as Christ serves as we

secure sufficient resources for Diocesan needs, which include the
poor and marginalized, ensuring that transparent and accounta-
ble systems are put in place in all parishes.

Priests/People: WE DO.

Bishop: Therefore, I do hereby affirm that for the next five years we will
strive to be directed by these goals and will assume responsibility
for supporting them.