Caritas Philippines Academy has started its five-day executive course for bishops that will focus on servant leadership and pastoral management.

Held for the first time in the country, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) designated the Caritas Philippines Academy as the Catholic Church’s primary institution for teaching and learning in November 2022.
“The course aims to equip the bishops with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of their leadership roles and promote the Church’s mission of social justice, development, and compassion,” said Caritas Philippines on its website.
“The Church is called to be a servant leader in society, and this course will help our bishops to better understand and embody this calling,” said Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines.
The course will cover topics such as pastoral management, governance, communications, and organizational sustainability. It will also draw from corporate business principles and community development approaches and will be lined with relevant social teachings of the Church.
Caritas Philippines said 19 bishops have signed up for the five day course from Sept. 18 to 22 at the Caritas Development Center in Tagaytay City.
The course, titled “Servant Leadership and Pastoral Management in Our Times,”will be held once a year. Courses for church workers and volunteers including for the staff of diocesan social action centers are also available twice a year.
Speakers include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization and Catholic Bishops’Conference of the Philippines president Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.
According to Caritas Philippines, the bishops that have signed up for the program include among others Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, San Carlos, Negros Occidental Bishop Jerry Alminaza, Imus Bishop Rey Evangelista, Bontoc, Lagawe Bishop Valentin Dimoc, Butuan Bishop Cosme Almedilla, San Jose de Antique Bishop Marvin Maceda, Sorsogon Bishop Allan Dialogo, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon and Iba Bishop Bartolome Santos.