Two

deficiencies
in our faith
Ibanag
Itawes
Malaweg

Y MARAYAW NGA TUDDU (A PRIMER

ON OUR CATECHETICAL MODULES).
Last April 29 to May 2, 2014, the Catechetical
Office of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao organized
a Summer Catechetical Institute. This is in
response to what the Filipino Bishops note as the
two deficiencies in the faith of our people uninstructed faith and the separation of faith and
life. The bishops lament that so many of our
people do not even know the fundamentals of our
faith. Thus, in declaring 2014 as the Year of the
Laity, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines challenged the lay faithful to know
the content of our faith and to bear witness to
your faith by a life of faith.

Ilokano

Pilipino

uninstructed faith
ari netuddu
nga angngurug
mari netuddu
nga angurug
madi netuldu
nga angngurug
saan nga naisuru
a pammati
pananampalatayan
g walang gabay

separation of
faith and life
ari nga attad-day na
angurug anna attolay
nesina ya angngurug
kan ya attolay
nesibna ya angngurug
cha pattolay
ti panagsina ti
pammati
ken biag
hindi pagkakaugnay
ng pananampalataya
at araw-araw na buhay

The Summer Catechetical Institute. The

Summer Catechetical Institute was a 5-day
Intensive Course on the Basic Content of Our
Faith. The Seminar-Workshop was facilitated by
the Mother Francisca Catechetical and Missionary
Formation Institute of the Siena College in Quezon
City. There were 80 participants, both full-time
and volunteer catechists; the latter was made up
of mostly retired teachers and government
employees. We also had youth-participants. The
participants represented 7 vicariates, 2 religious
orders for sisters and 1 educational institution.

The Summer Institute was a success based on the

evaluation/assessment of the participants.
But, we know very well that the real impact of the
Summer Institute lies in its post-Seminar
activities. We need to re-echo what we have
learned from those 5 days. We need to process
the many learning points. We also know that this
involves a lot of hard work, precious time and,
most of all, tons of creativity.
We asked the participants to group themselves
into 8 Module-Groups, following the general topics
presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
(CCC). The groupings are as follows.
Module Groupings
ModuleGroup 1
ModuleGroup 2
ModuleGroup 3
ModuleGroup 4
ModuleGroup 5
ModuleGroup 6

ModuleGroup 7
ModuleGroup 8

Morality
Sacraments

Using the inputs from the Summer Institute, the

Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC) and the CCC
as references, we asked the participants to
identity sub-topics as basic catechetical content
for the Instructional Modules which they are to
write.
In the Summer Institute, we programmed a
session for Module Making. Most of the
participants already know how to make modules
since many of them are retired teachers. Our
prescribed format is as follows.

Introductory (Special) Topics

We Believe in God: Father and Module Format
Creator
We Believe in Jesus Christ (incl.
Introduction
role of Mary)
We Believe in the Holy Spirit
We Believe in the Church
We Believe in Life Everlasting

Objectives
Doctrine
Moral
Worship

Brief summary of what

to expect from the
module
Objectives
to
be
achieved in terms of...
...knowing God
...living Gods Word
...loving God

Come and See...

Learn from Me...
Remain in Me...
Home and Family
Life
Community Life
Church and
Parish Life
Reflection Points
Follow-up Activities
Prayer

Motivation
Exposition/Content
Living as it impacts on...
...family

IDENTIFICATION OF SUB-TOPICS UNDER MAIN

TOPICS
BY THE PARTICIPANTS

...community
...Church/parish
Reinforcement
Learning
Assignment
Conclusion

GROUPING OF PARTICIPANTS INTO 8 MODULEGROUPS (FOLLOWING CCC MAIN TOPICS)

of
MODULE-WRITING BY PARTICIPANTS/EDITING OF
MODULES
(FOLLOWING THE PRESCRIBED FORMAT)

TRAINING OF TRAINORS (HOW TO USE THE

MODULES)
IN SOME SELECTED PARISHES/VICARIATES

REVISION/FINALIZATION OF MODULES

PRINTING OF MODULES*

Flow of Activities
FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT*
FLOW OF ACTIVITIES
SUMMER CATECHETICAL INSTITUITE

*We have decided to use the Social Media

to disseminate
our modules.

As expected, there are resistance to making the

modules. Why do we need to write new materials,
why cant we just use available materials? Why
dont you just write the modules (for us)?
We are thankful for such comments for these
highlight what we really want to accomplish in our
undertaking. We propose to bring out the
following points in our modules.
Characteristics of Our Modules
1.
The
modules
are
OURS.

Content of faith is given.

To address the perennial
problem of the catechists
as
to
what
lesson
plan/material(s) to use, we
asked the participants to
identify basic/priority topics
to develop as modules.
The modules touch on the
basic concepts and may not
be altogether exhaustive.
We have contextualized the
modules to our Cagayano
setting.
The
modules
are
capsulated in pamphletform
and
not
as
a
textbook. (Thick reading

2. We have
expanded
our
target
groups
or
clientele
to
include:
(a) those in
basic
educati
on
(elemen
tary
grades)
;
(b) high
school
student
s;
(c) the
youth
(in-and

materials
can
be
intimidating.)
The modules are written by
Cagayanos.
They
are
ours.
This is in line with the
provisions
of
the
First
Archdiocesan
Pastoral
Assembly (FAPA, 1995).
FAPA Art. 24/25: All the
faithful in the Archdiocese are
to receive a systematic and
on-going catechesis....that
they may be empowered to
evangelize families and the
neighbourhood.
FAPA Art. 41 mandates ...the
(catechetical) education of the
adults
using
prepared
modules.
FAPA Art. 55. On programs for
catechesis,
high
priority/special attention is to
be given to out-of-school
youth,
those
in
difficult
situations,
e.g.,
drug
dependents, the abused and
those in crisis.
Using the modules and after
training, a young person can
catechize his (her) fellow
young
persons,
a

father/mother can catechize

the
family,
religious
organizations and BECs can
catechize their members.

outof
school);
(d)
religious
organiza
tions;
(e) families;
and
(f) BECs
3.
The
modules
are
prepared
by the
Cagayano
lay
faithful.

(c)
What kind of training is needed
for one to be able to use the modules?
How long is the training?
Our answers to the above questions:

The modules have been

identified, thought out and
written by the lay faithful of
the
Archdiocese
of
Tuguegarao.
This
is
a
program
undertaken in the Year of
the Laity. The program
empowers the lay faithful in
their task of evangelization.

Other questions that were raised include:

(a)
For what level are the modules
intended?
(b)
How long is the teaching time for
a module?

(a) For what level are the modules

intended? Our modules cover the basics
for each topic. They are ready resource
materials. We would not like to pre-empt the
judgment and creativity of the facilitator as
to the levelling-off of the materials vis-a-vis
specific audience. A facilitator should
exercise his (her) judgment in selecting the
appropriate concepts from a module and
creatively present this to his (her) intended
audience. A father/mother may use a
module at home but must choose from the
module as to what is appropriate in terms
of content and presentation - for the
members of the family.
Some modules cater to a specific purpose
and target group(s). Examples here are
the modules to prepare Grades 3-4-5
students for First Confession and First Holy
Communion. Related modules are the 2
modules on the Mass: (1) Understanding the
Parts of the Mass caters to the younger
audience while (2) The Eucharist:

Gods Gift to Us presents a biblical approach

and caters to a more mature audience.
Another example are the 3 modules on
Baptism: (1) On the Sacrament of Baptism
which uses the actions and signs in the Rite
of Baptism to explain the meaning and
importance of Baptism; (2) Our Mission as
Baptized Persons which discusses our
sharing in Jesus three-fold mission as Priest,
Prophet and King because of Baptism; and
(3) Preparing for Baptism is an aid to church
workers who are given the important task of
preparing others for the Sacrament.
Again, we rely on the judgment and
creativity of the facilitator to discern what is
most appropriate for his (her) audience.
An observation shared in the Summer Institute
is that developmental curriculum/syllabus is not
working anymore, that what was taught in the
previous level need to be taught again in the
next level (and not only as a review). Thus, it is
important that we go back to the basics,
ground the learners on the basics. This we
have taken into account in the modules.
(b) How long is the teaching time for a
module? The modules are not lesson plans but
are ready resource materials. The facilitator

needs to study thoroughly the module and draw

up his (her) lesson plan, taking into account the
audience and time constraints.
We have reviewed the SY 2014-15 Calendar of
the Department of Education. With all the
activities lined up, we estimate a total of only 30
meetings per class for the whole year. Time
allotted for catechetical instruction varies from
30-40 minutes to one hour. This constraint tells

us that a catechist needs to plan his (her)

topics way ahead of time.
The non-school based sectors would have more
leeway in terms of time and subject matter. A
module can be taught/learned depending on the
capacity of the audience.

(c)
What kind of training is needed
for one to be able to use the modules?
How long is the training?
We have conceptualized a Trainors Training
Program. Vicariate/Parishes need to identify
their trainors for the different target groups.
The Program aims to enable the facilitator to:

acquire the needed skills to use the

new set of teaching modules for
different target groups;
know the basic parts of the teaching
modules; and

to appreciate the value of creativity in

modifying the modules according to
the needs of the different target
groups.

We will utilize lesson demonstration and

peer teaching and critiquing as tools in the
Training
Program. A one-day training will be done at
the Vicariate/Parish level.
As a final note, we would like to think of this
undertaking as a continuing project. New modules
can be conceptualized and written as needs arise.
What we will sincerely appreciate and truly value
are your feedback/comments. Please visit/write
us at the Catechetical Office, Archbishops
Residence, Rizal St., Tuguegarao City (or call 0788441663/8461705 for appointment).
This project is a lay-faithul initiative, spearheaded
by our lay catechists, in this Year of the Laity. We
thank our Archbishop Sergio L. Utleg for giving us
this opportunity to work on this project.

Note on the Picture on the front page: We carry

this picture in all our modules. This is the icon of
Jesus, the Teacher. A large part of Jesus ministry was
devoted to teaching. He taught with authority. His
style was brief and innovative. He used parables so
that His listeners could memorize them, ponder them
and live by them. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God,
spoke of human behaviour and how to pray. He is a
teacher of wisdom par excellence, a model to all
teachers of the faith.
Icons are rich in symbolisms; every detail has a
meaning. In this icon, Jesus holds in his left hand an
open Book of Scripture. This symbolizes His teaching
ministry and that He is the embodied Word of God. His
right hand is raised in blessing. His thumb, ring finger
and little finger come together, symbolizing the Trinity.
His forefinger and middle finger are held upright,
symbolizing His divine and human natures. His halo
signifies sanctity and is inscribed with a cross. In the
background is wriitten IC XC, the short form of
Christs name in Greek (i.e., Iesous Khristos). Other
symbolisms are not mentioned here.