SILANG, CAVITE – In preparation for its first Diocesan Synod in 2026, the Diocese of Imus opened a three-part Conference on the Synod on Synodality Document at The Sisters of Mary Girlstown in Barangay Biga II, this municipality.
A total of 315 delegates from the Diocesan Council of the Laity (DCLI), the clergy and the religious sector participated in this first part of the series, with the next two sessions set for Feb. 6 and March 6.
The Collectio or assembly set off from the Girlstown gym to the Luis Miguel Prieto Memorial Auditorium in a procession, symbolic of journeying together or the synod itself.
After the morning prayer, Most Rev. Reynaldo G. Evangelista, D.D., bishop of Imus, mentioned in his opening remarks the purpose of this conference. He added that the final document (FD) of the Synod on Synodality was already released and that His Holiness Pope Francis, instead of writing an apostolic exhortation, honors the reflection contained in the FD and will serve as the exhortation itself.
"We, as a church, will study the content of the FD and evaluate ourselves if we are able to fulfill 'participation, communion and mission' in our diocese,” Bishop Evangelista told the assembly.
Two distinguished speakers shared their knowledge and reflections about the history of church reforms and synodality, namely: Dr. Jose Mario Bautista Maximiano, an educator, a public motivational speaker and the author of "Chronological and Thematic Essays: 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines; and Atty. Rene Sarmiento, a lawyer who served the Philippine government in various capacities including as one of the framers of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and a former chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
During the talks, the participants gathered in small groups to share their reactions and reflections on the topics discussed. After each talk, a question-and-answer portion for about one hour was attended to by a panel composed of the speakers; Bishop Evangelista; Fr. Reuel Castañeda, vicar general of the diocese; Sr. Sheena, SM, mother superior of The Sisters of Mary, and two DCLI representatives.
The assembly then solemnly underwent Confessio peccati, led by Fr. Ronel Ilano, diocesan priest animator of Simbahang Pamayanan (Simbahayan). Some priests granted penance to those who chose to cleanse themselves on this stage of the conference.
Confessio peccati, or 'confession of sins' in Latin, happens when the Catholic faithful speak about and acknowledge their sins as they present themselves to God with a repentant heart.
Day One of the conference ended with a Eucharistic celebration with Bishop Evangelista as presider, together with concelebrating priests of the diocese.
"Hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5). Hindi tayo binibigo ng ating pag-asa. Sino ang ating pag-asa? Ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo. Siya ang Diyos ng pag-ibig. Siya ang Diyos ng pag-asa. May iba pa ba tayong mahihiling?" Bishop Evangelista said in his homily. (Maria Cristina V. Santos, SOCCOM-Diocese of Imus; photo grab from the Diocese of Imus Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=919452826962768&set=pb.100066941775265.-2207520000&type=3)
