Episcopal Commission on the Laity
(Council of the Laity of the Philippines)

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZED LAY APOSTOLATE IN THE PHILIPPINES

INTRODUCTION

Lay participation in the past

     One of the main purposes for which the Philippines was colonized was to spread Christianity. And true enough, the country was immediately converted by the Spaniards.  For 400 years the Roman Catholic religion was almost the only Christian Religion in existence in the country.  However, the participation of the laity in the salvific mission of the Church  was very minimal  and limited only to members at a few religious organizations  and/or brotherhoods, like the Cofradia del Santo Rosario,  the Guardias  de Honor Maria.  The more significant roles given to a few were to assist the priests at Masses as servers and acolytes. And much later, as Catechists to assist priests, religious brothers and sisters at Sunday school.

     Protestant sects came to the country during the American regime but only a minority were attracted to them because of the deep, almost fanatical faith inculcated by the Spaniards among the Filipinos.  Further, because of divine inspiration   and commitment, many lay leaders surfaced to openly defend their Catholic faith amidst the propaganda from the other sects.

     The hardships and difficulties suffered by the Filipino people during  the revolutionary days against Spain and the two worlds wars deepened  their faith  and made them realize the need for their  more active participation  in the affairs  of the Church. The Filipino people gradually and steadily learned of and did their obligations to share actively in the Church’s mission of salvation.  The laity has realized their major role in the restoration of the temporal order.

Catholic Action of the Philippines (CAP)

The Philippine Hierarchy was aware of the growing number of committed lay leaders, the fast proliferation of Church organizations and movements, and the rapidly increasing membership of the latter, so that in 1950 the Catholic Action of the Philippines was established with a Bishop appointed by the Holy Father as its National Director, assisted by a priest, two secretaries, and a clerk.  This small nucleus organized all Church mandated organizations existing in the country into a national federation. A lay leader was appointed president by the National Director with the approval of the Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate.  The rest of the officers were elected at a national convention held every other year and attended by representatives from the different mandated organizations.  The main objective of the CAP was to uplift lay participation in the apostolate. Specifically, their duties were to coordinate the different  lay activities; to spread  membership  to the different organizations  in all parts of the country; to formulate national  programs for  the laity  and to have these implemented  to evaluate  the results  of such programs.  Foremost among its objectives was to further enhance communication and improve rapport between the clergy and the laity.

          The Catholic Action of the Philippines was at the height of its activities when the Second Vatican Council was held.  The documents of Vatican II, specifically, Apostolicam Actuositatem, strengthened the statue of the CAP.  Towards the latter part of the 1950’s, parish pastoral councils were already established in many parishes.  But in the 60’s  and early 70’s, the CAP, supported  by Vatican II documents, urged  that all parishes  have a council  or a board of lay people  to assist  in the affairs  of the parish.

From Catholic Action to Council of the Laity  of the Philippines

In 1973, the Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate (ECLA), with the consent of  the National Board of the Catholic Action  of the Philippines, undertook a survey a survey of the Catholic Action of the Philippines, through a Research Team of the Asian Social Institute.  The result of this study –survey was presented to the bishops at their January 1974 meeting. In July 1974, after a long and tedious study and consultations with concerned bodies in the Hierarchy  and guided by the Moto Proprio Apostolatus Peragendi, the ECLA decided that the whole lay apostolate be structured according to the  three functions of Christ, namely: Priestly, Prophetic and Kingly.  Corresponding to this, all lay apostolic were to be categorized into three: a) apostolate of liturgy and worship; b) apostolate of education and formation; and c) apostolate of service and welfare.  Moreover, the coordinating body will no longer be called Catholic Action of the Philippines but the National Council of the Laity of the Philippines(subsequently, the national was dropped, and it retained the name Council of the Laity of the Philippines). 

     In July 1975, the CBCP approved the Guidelines for the Formation of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines and the Parish Pastoral Councils.  In April 1976, the CLP started to hold regional seminars all over the country to orient priests and lay leaders on the new structure for lay apostolate.  These seminars culminated at a National Convention in May 1977, the first national convention of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines.

     The 1980’s marked the beginning of an intensified campaign for the formation of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC’s) in all the parishes of the Philippines. The 1990’s was highlighted by the advent of the laity involvement in the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II).  Unlike the First Plenary Council, PCP II had in attendance some 156 lay people as delegates.

     In 1995, the Council of the Laity of the Philippines was renamed as the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (LAIKO). From 1996 to 1998, Laiko assisted CBCP in a series of conferences entitled “CBCP Presents” on Contemporary Catholic Fatherhood, Contemporary Catholic Motherhood and Catholic Leader’s Forum and the National Theological Conference on the Holy Spirit.  In 1999, Laiko hosted the Second South East Asian Regional Laity Meeting and launched the Guidebook on “Sex Education in the Family”. 

     As the Church celebrated the Jubilee Year in the year 2000, Laiko was actively involved in the marketing and promotion of the Jubilee Logo.  Year 2000 marked also the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Catholic Action in the Philippines. To commemorate this momentous event, Laiko organized the National Congress on the Laity.  As part of its commitment to help in promoting peace, unity and authentic social transformation, organized the National Conference on Social Transformation in 1993.

Present Structures and Functions

The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas which serves as the Secretariat of the Episcopal Commission on the Laity(ECLA) is the implementing arm of the CBCP in promoting nationwide initiatives and coordinating national programs of the laity.  It is made up of Archdiocesan/Diocesan Councils of the Laity, National Lay Organizations, National Movements and Church –oriented groupings.  It has a Board of Trustees elected by the general membership during the national convention held every other year.

Laiko is under the direct supervision and guidance of the Episcopal Commission on the Laity.  The National Director who is Chairman OF ECLA, reports to the CBCP all the programs and activities of Laiko.  All programs of Laiko are approved first by the CBCP  through ECLA before they are sent out for implementation.

Programs

Lay Leadership Formation Program

This program has for its goal the development and formation of lay leaders, ready to assume co-responsibility with the Clergy and Religious in evangelization work towards the renewal of Church and society.

Internal Relations Program

Envisions the expansion of membership of Laiko to encompass most if not all  national lay organizations  and movements working in the Church.  It also hopes to initiate, encourage and assist in the organization of Diocesan Councils  of the Laity in Dioceses  where none exists, as well as reactivate  and animate existing ones.  The maximization of the offices of Laiko Regional Vice Presidents  for the purposes of coordination  and effective implementation  of programs  is also a goal.

External Relations Program

Hopes to achieve good network relations with the other Episcopal Commissions of the CBCP and with interfaith/inter-religious groups.

Advocacy Program

While this program has always been a concern of Laiko, it has been energized to take the forefront  in national  and social issues  and concerns, especially in matters involving  attacks  from the outside  on Church teaching and beliefs, including anti-family, anti life legislature  and other anti-faith  government initiatives.