Enhancing Ministry in the Philippines

Pastor Jun Trinidad, Bishop Dixie Taclabao and Bishop Danilo Bustamante at the ECP Conference in Baguio. ©Virginia Lee/ABM 2008

How do you see the Church? Is it church leaders in exquisite robes, performing arcane rites, being watched by an entranced laity? Or is it a vision where the people in the pews collaborate with clergy to bring about God’s kingdom on earth? Certainly for Bishop Alexander Wandag of the Diocese of Santiago in the Philippines lay people have a crucial role to play. The Lay Ministries Program is designed to encourage and empower the people in the pews to 'roll up their sleeves' and take up their role as faithful, integral members of God’s Church. Bishop Wandag says, 'The availability of trained lay leaders is a major step towards being self-reliant. The presence of trained lay leaders to assist their priests in selected ministerial work will allow the clergy to evangelise, reaching out to communities not yet reached by the Church. Local lay leaders can forge ahead with ministerial jobs, not having to wait for the presence of their parish priest.'

Here are some of the ways your gift may be used:

  • $30 teaches a lay leader musical skills for use in worship
  • $120 is the cost of a two-day religious education training course for teachers in the Diocese of Santiago

This project needs $12,500 in 2009.

You can Donate Now to this project by selecting Enhancing Ministry in Philippines from the full project list.

Project information can be downloaded here.