MINI SYNOD EVALUATION SEMINAR
July 7, 2007, 8:00 – 4:30 P.M.


SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS

I ARRIVAL/REGISTRATION/ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PARTICIPANTS
Fr. Martin Brodit, Jr., Synod Education Committee Chairperson, acknowledged the attendance of participants by parish. The number reached a total of 95. Priests in attendance were Fr. Paul Medina, Synod Moderator/presider of the meeting, Fr. Martin Brodit, Jr., Synod EDCOM Chairperson, Fr. Guerrero Rovero, Fr. Manny Porquez.

II GALLERY VIEWING OF REPORTS /SHARING
Fr. Paul Medina, O.Carm, Synod Moderator declared the mechanics of the Gallery Viewing. He explained that the Mini Synod in parishes, quasi-parishes, chaplaincies and mission stations reached the “mid-year phase.” He said it is necessary to make an assessment/evaluate the Mini Synod in order to move forward.

a) Those that submitted the evaluation reports and viewed were the following 26 parishes/chaplaincies/quasi-parishes/mission stations:

Vicariate of Cadiz (6)
Manapla Caduha-an
Central Manapla Mabini
Cadiz Pandanan

Vicariate of Sagay (6)
Sto. Rosario, Paraiso Bato
Sagay Central Lopez
Old Sagay Minapasuk

Vicariate of Toboso (5)
Dian-ay Old Escalante
Vito Toboso
Escalante

Vicariate of San Carlos (5)
San Carlos Prosperidad
Calatrava Salvador Benedicto
Castellano

Vicariate of Guihulngan (5)
Guihulngan Canla-on
Vallehermoso La Libertad
Hilaitan



b) Present but no submission of reports (3)
Bagonbon Pacuan

c) No representation (4)

Buluangan Hinakpan
Tagbino Quezon


After the viewing, there was grouping by vicariate to discuss the reports; chairman, vice chairman and secretary were selected, after which there was exchange made by vicariates. Reports followed:

By Vicariate of Toboso (prepared by secretary - Lorna D. Fortunado – Dian-ay)

STRENGTHS
1.) Priest is cooperative, supportive, active and present in all Synod activities.
(Sagay, Old Sagay, Mabini, Manapla, Prosperidad, Pandanan, Castellano,
Calatrava)
2) Lineamenta given to presentor several weeks (Sto. Rosario Parish)
- presented in real situation of the lay faithful (San Lorenzo Ruiz)
- clearly written (San Sebastian Parish)
3) Presentor/Speakers – enthusiastic (St. Michael, Manapla).
- with initiative in making techniques (Caduha-an)
- responsible (Canla-on)
- topics are clearly discussed (San Carlos)
- well-understood (Vallehermoso)
4) Delegates/Participants – participative (Vallehermoso, Mabini); active in
making resolution (Canla-on)
5) GKK leaders active and cooperative (Prosperidad)
Youth were involved (Calatrava)
Snacks donated (Escalante)
Venue – conducive, spacious (San Carlos)
Time table properly observed (San Carlos)

WEAKNESSES
1) Lineamenta needs interpreter (La Libertad); erroneous vernacular translation (Vallehermoso); translation in Cebuano not commonly used (La Libertad); guide questions are broad and general (Calatrava); duplication of topics (Calatrava)
2) Participants/Delegates – late arrival (Castellano); poor participation in making resolutions (Castellano, Calatrava); inattentive participants (Mabini)
3) Synod team president lack coordination with the members (Toboso)




By Vicariate of Cadiz

STRENGTHS
1) Competent speakers (San Carlos)
2) Well-explained lineamenta (St. Vincent Ferrer)
3) Resourcefulness & initiative-ness of speakers (Castellano)

WEAKNESSES
1) Time consuming in making resolutions (Calatrava)
2) Translation too hard to understand
3) Speakers are not knowledgeable(San Carlos) ---*
…corrected to lack of information about the topic after San Carlos reacted of
the misstatement

RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Supply more references (St. Roch)
2) Translation of lineamenta in our dialect (St. Vincent)
3) Team work is a must (Mt Carmel)
4) Adequate facilities (San Sebastian)

By Vicariate of San Carlos

STRENGTHS
1) Presence of priest (Toboso)
2) Enthusiastic speakers (Manapla)
3) Gave lineamenta in advance to study (San Carlos)
4) Facilitators with monthly dues (Canlaon)
5) Create bonding & initiatives of facilitators and participants (Pandanan)
6) Youth is more involved (Calatrava)
7) Has a chapel, accessible for transportation
8) Full support of priest (Prosperidad)
9) Attendance is 989 (Vallehermoso)

WEAKNESSES
1) English version of lineamenta cannot be understood (Old Sagay)
2) Some participants lack of education (Prosperidad)
3) Lack of facilitator and poor participation (Castellano)
4) Poor in attendance (Don Salvador)
5) Cebuano translation is hard to understand (Hilaitan)
6) Speakers are not prepared (Hilaitan)

RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Lineamenta should be translated in Cebuano/Ilonggo to be understood
2) Fund raising should be considered for Diocesan Synod and to subsidize parish mini synod
3) Participants/Delegates should be the concerned group for the lineamenta concerned

4) Topics should be given to the speakers at least a month before the synod

By Vicariate of Guihulngan

SALIENT POINTS
1) Reference text difficult to understand
2) Lineamenta not translated to their own dialect
3) Lack of facilitator
4) All lineamenta discussed
5) Attendance dwindling
6) Lack of money/financial problem

STRIKING POINTS
1) Speakers lack knowledge and understanding
2) No proper recording of minutes
3) Participants are poor
4) Participants lack interest
5) Only 15 mins alloed to one lineamentum
6) Happy and contented
7) The strengths and weaknesses of the “green cartolina report” is contradicting (Venue)
- hanged beside Sto. Rosario Parish, Paraiso, Sagay City

LUNCH B-R-E-A-K

III RITES ON HOW TO CONCLUDE THE PARISH MINI-SYNOD
Fr. Paul referred the participants to the handout on how to conclude the Parish Mini-Synod. Thereafter, an “acting-out” of the procedure done by San Carlos representatives followed.

IV OPEN FORUM

Points taken:
a) Synod Matters
1) Fr. Paul commended the parishes, quasi-parishes, chaplaincies and mission stations for the enthusiasm of the consultation phase of the Mini-Synod. He said that the most enthusiastic are the lay people. Priests are encouraged, renewed because of the enthusiasm shown by the lay people.

2) It would be difficult to have the reshuffling of the parish priests when the mini synod is not yet concluded.

3) The resolutions culled out from the mini synod in parishes will be deliberated and presented in the Synod proper by a group of periti/experts.




4) Fr. Paul noted that it is a right of the parish priest to be present the whole time during the mini synod. There are Synod moderators taking over the rights of the parish priests to facilitate the synod. Let the parish priest facilitate the mini synod. It is his right.
To this, Rodrigo Senador commented that priests have the right to appoint anybody within the parish. The persons assigned have the obligation to fulfill the order. Is it gross violation on the right of the parish priest if he is just present in some parts but not in the whole proceedings of the synod. Fr. Paul stated that the priest’s right is to preside. The one who will present the topics will be the lay people. If the parish priest has sacramental calls, he can reschedule or assigned his parochial vicars.

5) Jo Montebon asked if priests know that right that they have to be in the session hall all the time. What is the sanction of the Bishop on those not attending? Fr. Paul answered that all priests are knowledgeable about the Canon Law. This is the right of the parish priest not the vicar to preside the mini synod. He should not give it to another unless it is a matter of life and death. He urged the lay faithful to be supportive of their parish priest. Likewise, the lay participants also invoked that priests should be supportive of their lay faithful.

6) Ed Amodia also commented that priests have a right to preside but not obligated. It should be formulated that the parish priest should be obliged to preside. Fr. Paul said that a right is higher than obligation.

7) Fr. Paul asked to join in the Mini Synod sessions of the parish.

b) Financial Aspect of the Synod
Fr. Paul informed that the budget for the First Diocesan Synod (from January 8 – February 10) is about P1M for the following expenses for 200 participants for 4 days: materials, meals, transportation expenses etc.
Fundraising activities presented by the participants:
1) Quota by parish
2) Sponsorship (maximize the promotion of Spiritual Bouquet enrollments
for every faithful in the parish who can afford)
3) Registration fee
4) Synod Signature Campaign
5) Solicitation from commercial establishments

V. EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION
The mass was presided by the rector of the St. John Mary Vianney Seminary, Fr. Danny Parcon, who shared his homily on the virtues of openness, flexibility and humility. After the mass, the participants had a late snack before going home.

Proceedings recorded by:
Attested:

MARILEN C. LAYUMAS
REV. FR. PAUL V. MEDINA, OCarm
Synod Moderator