“A work that would guide, inspire, challenge, and elevate our catechists not only in their teaching but also in their very identity as ministers of evangelization.”
This was how an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) described the journal titled “Mystagogia: A Journal of Evangelization, Catechesis, and Religious Education”, which was launched at De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila on Jan. 29.
In his speech, Bishop Daniel Presto of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education acknowledged the extensive collective effort behind the creation of a journal aimed at presenting grounded, research-based articles on evangelization, catechesis, and religious education in the Philippines and Asia.
He also hoped the journal would attract a broad readership, particularly among bishops, clergy, religious, consecrated individuals, and all involved in the catechetical apostolate, given that “evangelization is a great work—a challenge for each of us.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Lysander Rivera, editor-in-chief of Mystagogia and Director of the Lasallian Catechetical Center, said the journal aims to become a “mystagogue”— guiding others into the mystery of Jesus Christ within the beauty of Christian life.
Aside from Bishop Presto, the launching was also attended by members of the De La Salle Brothers community including Br. Raymundo Suplido, former DLSU President and current chairman of the Br. Andelino Manuel Castillio Religious Education Foundation (BAMCREF).
Also in attendance were Fr. Jason Laguerta of the Archdiocese of Manila’s Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization, and some of the members of the Mystagogia Advisory Board: Msgr. Gerry Santos, Fr. Renato de Guzman, SDB, Sr. Rhea Castillo, OP, and Br. Michael Valenzuela, FSC.
Mystagogia, published biannually by the Lasallian Catechetical Center in collaboration with various Catholic educational institutions and catechetical formations in the country, envisions itself as a premier journal on evangelization, catechesis, and other areas of pastoral ministry. It focuses particularly on Philippine and Asian contexts, values, and history.”
For its next issue, Mystagogia will feature papers on evangelization and catechesis in light of the Church’s direction towards synodality. Interested contributors and subscribers may contact the Lasallian Catechetical Center at catechetics@dlsu.edu.ph.
