SPEAKERS
ENGAGING THE SYNODAL PATH: "CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME." (PS 51:10-12)
FR. REX F. FORTES, CM was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) in 2003. He studied Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Adamson University, graduating in 1996. He finished his Master in Pastoral Ministry (MA) at the St. Vincent School of Theology-Adamson University in 2001. In 2009, he took his Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures (SSL) at the Pontifical Biblical Institute (Biblicum) in Rome and Hebrew University in Jerusalem, finishing in 2013. Later, he received the following degrees from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium: Advanced Master in Theology and Religion (MA; 2016), Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL; 2018), and Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD/PhD; June 2022). He is now working as a Faculty Member and an Administrator of the St. Vincent School of Theology.
THE ROAD TO EMMAUS (LUKE 24: 17): WALKING TOGETHER ON THE ROAD, THE WAY OF SYNODALITY
FR. EDILBERTO B. CEPE, CSsR is an Electrical Engineer by profession and worked with the National Steel Corporation in Iligan before he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He was ordained a priest on April 24, 2004. He had his theological formation at St. Alphonsus Theological and Mission Institute (SATMI) and the Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City. He studied Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures at the Pontifical Biblical Institute (Biblicum) in Rome. He is a professor of Sacred Scriptures at SATMI and the Regional Major Seminary (ReMaSe) in Davao City. Fr. Bert was also the former Rector of the Redemptorist Community in Davao and the former Director of SATMI. Presently, he is the Provincial Superior of the Redemptorist Province of Cebu
THE SYNODAL CHURCH AND THE GOSPELS
SR. MARIA ANICIA CO, RVM is a member of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM). She finished her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. In 1985, she completed a Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Maryhill School of Theology. Her congregation then sent her to the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, where she finished her Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies, and Doctorate in Sacred Theology. Sr. Annie has also served as a General consultor to her congregation. She was a founding member of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP) and was elected President in 2014-2017. She now teaches at the Loyola School of Theology, Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Institute of Consecrated Life for Asia (ICLA), Maryhill School of Theology, and the RVM Religious Education Institute.
MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH (JOHN 19: 25-34), JOURNEYING WITH US IN THE SYNODAL PATH
FR. JOSÉ CRISTO REY GARCÍA PAREDES, CMF is a member of the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians). He is a renowned theologian, a Mariologist, and an expert in the Religious of Consecrated Life. He obtained from the University of Salamanca the Chair of Theology of Religious Life. Fr. Cristo Rey was also appointed by Pope Francis as a consultant to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CIVCSVA) for five years. He has taught at the Institute of Religious Life of Madrid and also an annual special course at the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA) (Philippines) as well as at the Higher Institute of Pastoral (Pontifical University of Salamanca). Currently, he continues to teach theology as a professor emeritus at the Regina Apostolorum School (Madrid), at the Formation Center of Taiyuan (Shanxi–China), and at the Institute of Consecrated Life Sanyasa in Bangalore (India).
SHARERS
ENGAGING THE SYNODAL PATH: CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME. (PS 51:10-12)
FR. EUGENE DOMINIC I. HECHANOVA, a native of Balayan, Batangas, is a much sought-after speaker, retreat and recollection facilitator, and seminar resource person. He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Lipa, Batangas, on December 12, 2005. Fr. Eugene finished his Theological Studies (Magna Cum Laude) in 2005 and Licentiate in Canon Law in 2010 at Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. He studied Juris Doctor in Civil Law at the De La Salle Lipa. He is currently the Rector of St. Francis De Sales Minor Seminary, the Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Education, the Ministry Head of the Ministry on Faith Formation, and a member of the Lipa Archdiocesan Tribunal.
THE ROAD TO EMMAUS (LUKE 24: 17): WALKING TOGETHER ON THE ROAD, THE WAY OF SYNODALITY
DR. AGNES M. BRAZAL is the 2017 D’Angelo Visiting Chair of Humanities at St. Johns University, New York, and William Duffy Lecture Series Chair at Boston College, Boston. She is the past President and founding member of the DaKaTeo (Catholic Theological Society of the Philippines) and the first coordinator of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia (association of Catholic women theologians in Asia). She obtained her STL/MA and STD/PhD in Theology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. She co-edits a new book, Toward a Bai Theology: Catholic Feminism in the Philippines, published by Claretian Publications. Dr. Brazal is a full professor at the Department of Theology and Religious Education at De la Salle University, Philippines.
THE SYNODAL CHURCH AND THE GOSPELS
FR. NORLAN H. JULIA, SJ is a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He was the former rector of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City, where he taught Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology. He holds a doctoral degree in Theology from Heythrop College, University of London. While in London, he ministered to migrant Filipino communities in the UK. His book, Man of the Word: Rahner and Asian Priesthood, published by Claretian Publications, was a finalist in the Theology Category of the 11th Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards. He is now the rector of the San Jose Seminary (Ateneo de Manila University), a Catholic formation institution for diocesan seminarians run by the Society of Jesus in Quezon City.
MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH (JOHN: 25-34), JOURNEYING WITH US IN THE SYNODAL PATH
FR. SAMUEL H. CANILANG, CMF is a member of the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians). He has a doctorate in Theology of Consecrated Life from the Pontifical University of Salamanca, Spain. He was the former director of the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA) in Quezon City for several years. His book, Into the Sea of Mercy: Continuing Our Journey After the Extraordinary Jubilee, published by Claretian Publications, won the Best Book on Spirituality at the 12th Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards. Fr. Sammy now runs HOGAR (Hermitage and Organic Gardens) in Tanay, Rizal, a place of prayerful silence, contemplation, and encounter. It serves as an arm of the Institute of Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA) in promoting Ecological Spirituality.