Volume I Version I   ☼   Today is 

March 12, 2007

TO: Diocesan and Religious Priests

       Diocese of Balanga

RE: Pandayan ng Layko ng Diyosesis (PALAD)

My brothers in the ministry:

In view of the many developments and changes taking place in the diocese with regard to the formation of our Catholic laity, may I kindly present you these information regarding the Pandayan ng Layko ng Diyosesis (PALAD)  for your consideration.

What is PALAD?  It is the diocesan program of formation for the emerging lay leaders of the Church attuned to the spirit of the First Synod of Balanga, the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

What is the difference from the other formation programs?  Basic faith formation programs like ALAGAD, Parish Renewal Experience, Cursillo, Christian Life Program, Neo Catechumenate, Life in the Spirit Seminar and similar programs are aimed at introducing the Catholic lay faithful to the fundamentals of the Catholic faith. These programs are for all Catholics. It is presupposed that every parish has a basic formation program like of one these. On the other hand, the PALAD Program is for a select group of Catholics who are deemed to be potential leaders of the parish in the years to come. PALAD is a school of lay leadership in the Church.

What is the formation program of PALAD?  It consists of five interrelated modules of Christian formation:  1. Fullness of Life and Prayer; 2. The Commandments; 3. The Sacraments; 4. The Creed and; 5. Introduction to Bible Study.

How many lay faithful have finished the PALAD? As of March 2007, PALAD has given certificates of graduation to 180 lay leaders. Another 1091 have attended but are still waiting to complete three modules to qualify for graduation.

How can my parish leaders avail of the program?  Instead of the usual PALAD Centers, we are starting a new season of PALAD programs on the parish level. Our team of PALAD speakers are ready to do the PALAD lectures parish by parish on the invitation of the parish priest. The parish just needs to organize a group of at least thirty students, fix a venue and the PALAD team of formators will go to the parish to conduct the formation. This will be less costly for the parish and the PALAD students.

Who can avail of the revised parish based PALAD formation?  The liturgical ministers, new catechists, members of the parish pastoral councils, PUSO facilitators, Krisma heads, ministers for social service and development and officers of parish organizations can enroll in the parish based PALAD upon the approval of the parish priest.

Is it necessary for parish lay leaders to take the three modules? No it is not necessary although that is the ideal way of doing it. The parish priest can just choose the module that he wants the PALAD team to conduct in the parish. There is great prerogative of choice being given the parish priest.

What are the obligations of the parish priest after the PALAD classes? The parish priest must sustain and nurture the graduates of PALAD by meeting them once a month to give them bible reflections and lectures on the teachings of the synod. As the parish priest sees opportune, he can invite the PALAD team to the parish for the succeeding modules so that the lay leaders may experience progress and growth in the program.

The call of the times is renewal! There can be no genuine renewal without formation. The parish is being challenged to move forward from being a sacramentalized and ritualized parish into an authentic community of disciples who have undergone together a holistic formation program towards becoming missionaries of the faith at home and for the world.

I pray that you will respond generously to this challenge!

Sincerely yours,

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS

   Bishop of Balanga