Abstract:

Similar to any local Church, the Philippine Catholic Church faces a variety of challenges (e.g. decline in numbers, vocations, finances, etc.). Important national, social, economic, political, and cultural events seem to present a developing but morally questionable Philippine society. These realities pose questions concerning the vision of the Church and her evangelizing mission.

The Catholic Church is missionary by origin and nature. In her efforts to remain steadfast and true to this identity, she continuously tries to understand this mission more profoundly. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) is an example of such an attempt. In conjunction with the renewal effort of the Universal Church, the Philippine Catholic Church had its own local “Pentecost”—the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP-II) in February of 1991. Another ecclesial renewal effort is the 2013 apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis—Evangelii Gaudium (EG). PCP-II and EG are ecclesial efforts to understand better the missionary task of the Church; they are missionary milestones.

PCP-II and EG speak profoundly about missionary evangelization. Understanding them through the lens of the principal elements of basic communication, one concludes that both documents comprehensively discuss the sender (Agents of Evangelization), the message (Gospel Message), and the receiver (Recipients of Missionary Evangelization). These key elements found in PCP-II and EG have several dominant characteristics that help the Church to better engage in integral missionary evangelization. Thus, the various key elements of mission coalesce into a singular vision—so that all people may have a fuller life in Christ.

Final Defense:

Board of Examiners: Br. Joaquin Yap, Jr., S.W., D.Phil. (Principal Examiner), Fr. Hartono Budi, S.J,, Th.D. and Fr. Antonio Moreno, S.J., Ph.D.

Proposal Defense:

Board of Examiners: Fr. James Kroeger, M.M., D.Miss. (Adviser), Dr. Joaquin Yap, Jr., S.W., Mr. Edwin Odulio, Ph.D. cand.