My beloved IPD family:

 

In my solitude, I express my deepest gratitude to the Lord for making me part of the IPD journey in the faith renewal of the Philippine Church. I have been inspired by your 40-year collective commitment to accompany the local Churches' mission of the New Evangelization. Your giftedness and charisma as lay rofessionals in the field of human organization and total development of peoples have truly brought about the growth of the Church as the "body of Christ" and as "God's pilgrim people." Your rootedness in God's Word and the Church's living traditions have confirmed the truth that all   we do is for God's greater glory. Thank you for this inspiration and edification.

 

What lies ahead beyond 40? What awaits IPD's continuing mission to be an agent of social transformation and New Evangelization?

 

Allow me to  cite 2 challenges. The first is focused on the singular significance of "contexts" in the pursuit of the Church's mission. Missiologists  often affirm that "contexts" are what matter in bringing Christ to the world, in planting the "seed" in varied soil, and in fermenting " new wine in new wine skin". The richness of contexts lies in their diversity and unique setting. In delivering its multifaceted programs,  IPD has to always set its sight on this diversity of contexts. Foremost of this will be the priority concern for the marginalized sector within the Church communities. We only need to mention the basic human and ecclesial communities.

 

The second challenge lies in the IPD's engagement with the retooling and renewal of the clergy, from a highly clericalized orientation in the performance of ministries to a pastoral accompaniment that is synodal and contextual. This may look like a colossal task but its impact is long-lasting, deeply profound and highly transformative.

 

May the next 40 years continue to spur IPD to be on the road of renewal  and to explore the roads it has not yet traveled .

 

God bless in opus ministerìi.

 

 

- MSGR. MANNY G. GABRIEL

IPD Trustee;

Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Secretary

 

 

Congratulations IPD on your 40th foundationn anniversary!

 

I am honored and privileged to be invited and to represent the CBCP - Episcopal Commission on Clergy (CBCP-ECCler) on the occassion of your Ruby anniversary.

 

As I listened to the sharings of the "Pillars of IPD" I realized I was listening to the people who captured the very spirit of being men and women of missions - Service, fruit of Gratitude!

 

Was it St. Therese of Culcata who said, (not exact quote) - In our journey as Christians we need to walk on the road of Prayer. And Prayer in action is Love, and Love in action is Service!

• (exact quote from St Teresa of Culcatta: "The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace." )

 

 

IPD was born out of the great Charismatic Movement of the 80's, the Spirit of Thanksgiving for God's gift of time, talent and treasure which grow and multiply as we share these gifts!

 

As we gather in Prayers,

We grow in Love,

As we act in Love,

We are moved to Serve!

 

Congratulations on IPD's 40 years of Praying, Loving and Serving the Lord and His Church!

 

 

 

- FR. CESAR C. VERGARA

Executive Secretary CBCP-Ecumenical Council for the Clergy

 

 

 

We want to congratulate the new leadership and to ask for the Lord's wisdom in their leading IPD  in accomplishing  the whole will of God for the maturing of the  Church in the Philippines.

 

 

- MALCOLM RAE (MAC) BRADSHAW

Co- founder

Institute for Pastoral Development

 

 

 

The 40th year of an institution is a milestone worthy of a deep, truthful reflection and thanksgiving. It speaks of its collective history and journey of several stages. At forty, the institution owns up and consolidates its identity narrative: Where it came from and why it was conceived; How it grew, challenged, and changed; What it has contributed to the larger society through the years; and Where it is potentially headed in the near future. Being forty is not about a “chanced survival”. Clearly, it is about a testimony to the hand of God whose faithful guidance and provision made it possible forits long years of existence and reason for being.

 

For IPD’s 40th Anniversary this year, we thank you, Lord! And we thank you, most especially for bringing many of us to take part in its unique mission. Truly, IPD@40 is a story of your Spirit moving the hearts and minds of people renewed  that  together they may reach out to out to many others, near and far. In a nutshell IPD is about empowering people through God’stransforming Word, spreading a vision, unleashing spiritual gifts and sharing ministry skills that are indispensable for a participatory, a co-responsible and a synodal Church.

 

Attending the 40th IPD Anniversary Celebration recently has led me to look back with gratitude for the purposes of God for this institute. I also realized that throughout these 40 years, there is not one person who can singlehandedly recite the full IPDnarrative of the 4 decades. We need one another to recount one beautiful IPD story. It is like a jigsaw puzzle that is jointly being assembled by many stakeholders, past and present: visionaries, directors, teachers-trainors, support staff, board members, course participants, benefactors/donors and various collaborators from the churches and communities here and abroad. Each one owns an inspiring testimony about how this small but daring “roving institute” (composed mainly of lay women and men) has touched many lives and used by God as an effective instrument of formation and training for the various sectors of the Church— the clergy, the religious and the laity. Since its conception, IPD was designed by the Lord to be a forerunner in ecumenical partnership and endeavors for unity among Christian churches and communities.

 

The Lord blessed me with the opportunity to serve as IPD’s pioneer teaching staff during the first decade of its existence since its incorporation in 1985. I cannot thank Fr. Herb Schneider, SJ enough for his trust, confidence and support for me personally as a frontliner of this institute. IPD became my launching pad in serving the wider Church. My IPD training and experience actuallypaved a way for me to serve in other institutions with dedication  and zeal – in the Loyola School of Theology, the East Asian Pastoral Institute, the Thailand Mission and in the recent years in the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia.

 

It looks to me that at forty, IPD’s mission remains timely and relevant. May the Holy Spirit refresh, renew and re-equip IPD and its current Management staff and Board Members many more years of  life and service!

 

 

-MENCHIE ROJAS

First Coordinator of IPD Teaching and Training Program;

Resource person of East Asia Pastoral Institute (EAPI) & Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA)

The celebration of a 40th Anniversary is a wonderful occasion because of the Biblical implications of the number – FORTY.

 

For an institution such as IPD, it is an opportunity to reflect on how faithful it has been to the Mission entrusted to it by our Lord for all these past years.  More importantly, however, it is an occasion for its leaders to come before the Lord to listen to where and how He wants you to transform the institution to make it more effective in the many years to come.

 

May our Lord, who formed IPD, continue to guide IPD towards the next stage of its Mission!

 

 

- MANNY DELOS SANTOS

Senior Head Coordinator

Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon

 

 

Congratulations & Cheers, IPD !

 

We celebrate & give thanks with you for forty years of fiercely & tenaciously serving, training & empowering God’s people, workers in His vineyard !

 

Your faithfulness, zeal, passion & excellence are so inspiring & commendable !!!

 

Mabuhay !

A.M.D.G.  !

 

 

- SPANKY MEER

Former Senior Head Coordinator

Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon

 

 

 

It is great to hear the news of IPD’s 40th Anniversary celebration!

 

Congratulations to you and all those who have been connected with IPD through the years!

 

Unfortunately, I am now based in the UK and will be unable to be present at the celebration. You will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers!

 

 

- KEN NOECKER

Head of the Sword of the Spirit Community Building Teams for North America and Africa;

Servants of the Word Regional Elder for Europe and the Middle East

 

 

 

 

Scripture Ventures (SV) was a wonderful experience of Spirituality, community and learning. Mirador provided an excellent venue for this remarkable experience. Later on after Fr Herb's trip to LUMKO, course on the pastoral use of Scripture were added to SV.

 

We wish you a spirit-filled celebration. Our thoughts will be with you at this time. God bless IPD.

 

 

- ELISEO LADEMORA

Former IPD Executive Director

 

 

 

 

The hand of the Lord is moving among the group of His servants in IPD.

 

He is drawing a map to raise leaders to new territories He is watching to grow.

 

Praise God for IPD!

 

 

- NOEL N. NOBLE

South District B

Coordinator

Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon

 

 

 

 

 

We praise God for forming and calling IPD into the mission of empowering His people.  We thank God for sustaining IPD for 40 years.  And we thank all those who gave of themselves in this institute.

 

IPD, 40 years seems long but it is also still young and I am sure that God will bless and equip a whole lot more through you.  You are in my prayers.

 

May God be glorified through you and your work.

 

 

- RANDY FERIA

South District F Coordinator

Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations IPD on your 40th Anniversary!

 

You have moved thousands of lives closer to the Word of God through your ministry. In these confusing times, may the ministry of God’s word through IPD continue to shed light to those in darkness.

 

IPD is a beacon of light, and may this light shine even brighter in the years to come.

 

 

- RICKY DAGELET

South Sector Coordinator

Ligaya ng Panginoon

 

 

 

 

 

Anniversaries are always an important part of life.   They are a good time to look at the past and be thankful and joyful at  accomplishments achieved over the years.   A  good time as well to plan, look ahead and be hopeful of the future.

 

On this 40th Anniversary of IPD, there is indeed much to rejoice and be thankful about.

Congratulations and thanks to  all those who have served IPD in one way or another.  Your zeal, commitment,  and dedication to its mission  have brought IPD this far.

 

May God continue to  use you powerfully to advance His kingdom here on earth.

God bless!

 

- NINI V. ICASAS

Former IPD President;

Senior Woman Leader,

Ligaya ng Panginoon

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations IPD on your 40th year!

 

My first IPD mission work was serving in a diocese somewhere in  the North with Celsa Uy.   I felt sorry for the church cleaners  for having to give up their beds (room ) for us those 2 nights.  The reception  of the parish priest  was  cold  &  business like.   The participants were gracious, engaged & grateful.

While the succeeding IPD events had  warm , hospitable & generous hosts & accommodations,  IPD mission work and its collaborators is all about faith, perseverance & sacrifice.

 

I am ever grateful for my short immersion with IPD which prepared me to continue to do mission work.

 

I salute the board of trustees, officers and volunteer missionaries that kept IPD still very visible & credible to the dioceses, and BECs  around the country and Asia.

 

I applaud IPD for persevering with its mission with humility and dignity.  Your spirit is aptly  described in Luke 17:10

“When you have done all you have been commanded,

say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

 

God bless you good & faithful servants of Christ!

 

 

- SARAH PANAJON

Former IPD President

Senior Woman Leader

Ligaya ng Panginoon

 

Big congratulations to the institute for Pastoral Development on its 40th founding anniversary.

 

We thank the Lord for this wonderful manifestation of His faithfulness in empowering and enabling the Church to deliver upon the great commission. We celebrate this day in thanksgiving to God for His wondrous work in and thru IPD which has pursued its mission on God’s leading, fulfilling the mandate for which it was started - of training the people of God with skills and spiritual preparation to better equip them in fulfilling their missionary role in the Church.

 

As we celebrate this amazing milestone, may God in His infinite goodness shower IPD with His blessings.  To the men and women of IPD who tirelessly work amidst the challenges of resources, let us be encouraged to keep pressing in the light of God. May the Lord strengthen IPD to continue to pursue its goal of having a presence in every diocese in the country.

 

May the coming years launch it into a bigger capacity towards raising more lovers of God’s word, enabling God’s workers, and winning souls into the Kingdom.

Happy 40th Anniversary!

 

 

 

- TAPS TAPIA

Former IPD Executive Director/Trustee;

LNP District Coordinator

 

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

Wee mark the 40th anniversary of the Institute for Pastoral Development (IPD) with great joy and gratitude for what the Lord has been able to accomplish in and through IPD’s work and service over the years.  God has been faithful.

 

We also credit and thank the very dedicated men and women who have given their time, talent and resources in pursuing IDP’s mission, often n the face of daunting challenges.  It is amazing and inspiring to see how the Lord could raise a humble organization (with very little resources to start with) and effectively use it to enrich and empower Church leaders, servants and faith communities.

 

My warmest felicitations to IPD as we celebrate God’s faithfulness.  Thank you for the miracle of your service.  I look forward to what the Lord has in store for IPD in the next forty years!  May He continue to render IPD even more fruitful and relevant as it navigates this new normal.

 

 

- FRANCIS ITURALDE

Former IPD Trustee;

Member, Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon; Member, the Servants of the Word (SOW)

 

 

 

Congratulations, IPD, on your 40th anniversary!

 

You were conceived to equip Asian  lay leaders with pastoral skills and familiarity with Scriptures. You have expanded that mission to now include the “people of God,” to empower all lay people in their discipleship and missionary roles in the church.

 

May the Lord bless you and extend your reach to “every diocese in the country” and open more doors for your service in Asia! Be blessed!!!

 

 

- MAE LEGASPI

Regional Missionary Senior Woman Leader, Sword of the Spirit (SOS) Asian Region

 

My congratulations to the Institute for Pastoral Development on its 40th anniversary. Forty years is a significant landmark in IPD’s mission to empower the  people of God.

 

It was a privilege and honor to have served in IPD and conduct some of its courses. IPD’s courses on Evangelization (CETP) and the Bible (JOD) are timeless. If it made an impact the last 40 years, it will continue to make an impact on the next 40 years.

 

We look forward to the next 10 years to congratulate IPD on its 50th Anniversary.

 

 

- GUS ARGUELLES

Former IPD Trustee; Phil. Bible Society

Member, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP)

 

 

In behalf of the Council of Elders (COE) and the Leadership Council (FLC) of Familia Community, I extend our congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the Institute for Pastoral Development.

 

Forty years of service to other communities is a significant milestone in the life of any organization like IPD. Our members have benefited a lot from the teachings, books and other religious materials that your ministry has made available early on. Many of our leaders have also experienced the Joy of Discovery course as a powerful and effective bible study tool through IPD.

 

We pray that the Lord will continue to use IPD as His instrument in nourishing the faith of His people.

 

God bless the leaders and workers of the institute. May they continue to be a source of blessing to others.

Very truly yours,

 

- BRO. WILLY SALVADOR

President, Familia Community Foundation, Inc.