Initial group of Philippine Association of Catholic Educators (PACRE) (Photo: PACRE)
BACOLOD, Feb. 16, 2016 – A newly-established national Catholic professional organization launched an updating program for religion teachers in Bacolod City.
“The Philippine Association of Catholic Religious Educators (PACRE) was established by interested religion teachers and members of the laity with the aim to provide for the professional and spiritual development of Catholic educators,” said Fr. Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon, professor of Sacred Scripture and a member of PACRE’s Board of Directors.
To highlight the significant role the newly-constituted professional organization will play in the Church in the modern world, Camon said.
On the Sacraments
The updating program this semester will focus on the Sacraments and will consist of the following subjects:
- The Sacraments and Sacred Scriptures by Fr. Deogracias Aurelio Camon
- The Sacraments of Initiation by Dr. Dennis Madrigal
- The Liturgy in the Life of the Church by Ms. Inocencia Cabarles
- The Sacraments of Healing by Dr. Ronnie Lizada
- The Sacraments of Service by Dr. Ronnie Galzote
Participants who finish the entire second semester updating program are eligible to gain three (3) units leading to the degree Masters of Arts in Education, Major in Religious Education, in partnership with the Graduate School of La Consolacion College, Bacolod City.
“The threat of losing the faithful to secular philosophies and ‘ideological colonization’ is real. We cannot afford to be slack in evangelizing our teachers and students in our Catholic schools and universities,” Camon added.
Dynamic force for New Evangelization
PACRE president Dr Dennis Madrigal in a class on the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Photo: PACRE)
“We need to have a concerted effort among Catholic educators to provide instruction that is faithful to the Church’s Magisterium which is at the same time grounded to the realities and needs of our contemporary society,” stressed the Scripture professor.
“PACRE was organized with the vision that it will be a dynamic force for the New Evangelization primarily in the Negros Island Region and hopefully in the country,” the priest added.
The official seat of PACRE is located at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos (UNO-R) in Bacolod City.
Those interested in joining the updating programs are advised to coordinate with Dr. Dennis Madrigal, PACRE president, at dennis_madrigal40@yahoo.com or tel. no. +63918-340-1443. (Fr. Mickey Cardenas / CBCP News)
