CEAP elects first woman president
For the first time in its history, a woman will lead the country’s largest organization of Catholic schools, colleges and universities.
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) recently elected Sr. Marissa Viri of the Religious of the Virgin Mary congregation as its new president.
Sister Viri, who is currently CEAP’S vice president, will succeed Fr. Elmer Dizon of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, who served the post since September 2019.
The nun, who is currently the president of the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao City, was elected during the recent four- day CEAP organizational meeting that was held virtually for the first time because of the coronavirus crisis.
Also elected as the new vice president is Fr. Thadeu Enrique Balongag, a trustee of the CEAP Negros Island.
CEAP also named Fr. Gilbert Sales as its new corporate secretary, and reelected Fr. Albert Delvo as treasurer.
Sales is the president of the St. Louis University in Baguio City, while Delvo is currently the Superintendent of the Diocesan Schools of Novaliches.
Pope to PHL Catholic schools:
Form authentic witnesses to Christ
In his message to CEAP’S congress, Pope Francis called on Philippine Catholic educators to hone their students not just to become outstanding learners but also as authentic witnesses of faith.
The pope said that Catholic education must not only teach critical thinking, but also encourages “formation in Christian doctrine and morality.”
Doing so, he said, would lead to formation of men and women “who are ready to take society’s heavier responsibilities and to witness the true faith to the world.”
For his part, outgoing CEAP President Father Dizon said that as the pandemic continues, they will remain vigilant in responding to issues detrimental to their ministry.
Amid the current challenges, he said that continued efforts are exerted so that Catholic schools “become catalysts of change.”
“This is who we are. This is what God wants us to be,” Dizon said.
Meanwhile, Bishop Roberto Mallari of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the educational sector is one of the most challenged today.
He said every school has to come up with learning modalities to address the needs of the students.
But the CEAP, the prelate said, “will not cower in fear but rather will stand firm in being steward not only to the learners but also to other schools.”
“CEAP will be here to serve as wind beneath the wings of member- schools as they struggle for survival amidst the pandemic,” Mallari said.
On Fr iday, Ca rdina l Lui s Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, delivered his keynote address to the congress.
The new officers took their oath on Friday at the event’s closing ceremonies.
CEAP is a national association of Catholic educational institutions in the Philippines founded in 1941. It now has more than 1,524 member- schools.