The Diocese of Malolos Jubilee preparatory Committee is gearing up for a second diocesan synod on February 2013.

The upcoming diocesan synod is one of the activities of the diocese as it marks its 50th jubilee year.
The Diocese of Malolos celebrates Jubilee Year on March 2012-2013 with the theme “Malolos: Biyaya at Pananampalataya; 50 Years of Transforming Grace and Unwavering Faith.”

Father Manny Cruz, Theologian of the Synod, and Father Winnie Naboya, Judicial Vicar of the Diocese in a preparatory meeting has presented to the body headed by Bishop Jose Oliveros the progress of the preparations being done for the Synod.

The lineamenta and the survey from the different parishes and sectors of the diocese are almost done and already in the final stage of evaluation and interpretation.

Part of the said lineamenta are nine pastoral priorities of the Diocese namely: 1) Integral Faith Formation; 2) Empowerment of the Laity towards Social Transformation; 3) Active Presence and Participation of the Poor in the Church; 4) The Family as the Focal Point of Evangelization; 5) Building and Strengthening of Participatory Communities that Make Up the Parish as a Community of Communities; 6) Integral Renewal of the Clergy and the Religious; 7) Journeying with the Youth; 8) Ecumenisms and Interreligious Dialogues; and 9) Animation and Formation for Mission.

Father Naboya presented the Norms for the Synod and explained the different roles of those who were appointed by the bishop to attend the Synod based on the Canon Law. The procedural norms of the Synod were also discussed during the meeting.

Bishop Oliveros made a move to increase the number of lay participants for the Second Synod of Malolos.

“There should be a larger number of lay participants because the laity composed the majority of the Diocese,” he said. He also stressed out the importance of lay empowerment.

With the final meeting for the Synod scheduled on January, everyone are encouraged to pray for the success of the Synod, which is to set the Diocese’s policies and programs after the Jubilee Year.