This year, 2011, marks the 17th ANNIVERSARY of PREX in the Parish of St. Peter, Tuguegarao City. As of today, January 23, 2011, there are 5,200 who have undergone this seminar in our parish. They come from all walks of life. While the great majority are lay people, some are priests and religious sisters.
Christ has said that a tree is known by its fruits. “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:20). Hence, if we were to evaluate the PREX Seminar from the witnessing of those who participated in this movement, we may say that it is a GOOD TREE. By and large PREX graduates have come closer to God and have become more involved in the life of the Church, particularly in their respective parishes. There are some who responded to the priestly vocation after attending a PREX seminar. There are those who had a dramatic conversion experience, from a wayward life to a God-centered life. We have to admit, however, that there are those whose commitment to a renewed Faith in God have not lasted long. This is a phenomenon which Christ himself explained in the Parable of the Sower, wherein there are different kinds of soil to which the seed is planted – on the road, a rocky ground, a thorny ground, a good soil. (Matt. 13:18-23).
Historically, PREX was born in 1970. It was started by a group of priests and lay people led by Rev. Fr. Charles Gallagher, S.J., in response to the encyclical letter of Pope Paul VI “Evangelii Nuntiandi”. They reflected particularly on what the Pope said: “The Church is an evangelizer, but she begins by being evangelized herself by constant conversion and renewal in order to evangelize the world with credibility”.
The first PREX Seminar was held in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, USA. From there it spread to thousands of parishes in several countries, namely; Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Fiji, Singapore and the Philippines.
PREX was brought to the Philippines through the parish priest of San Antonio of Forbes Park, Rev. Fr. Hugh Zurat, OFM. His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin upon seeing the wonderful manifestation of a Community Love Relationship among the parishioners during his visit to this parish decided to invite the founder, Rev. Fr. Charles Gallagher, to give a training seminar to priests. Hence, in 1983 several parish priests gathered in Baguio City to undergo a PREX training seminar by Fr. Gallagher.
In January 14-16, 1994, thru the invitation of our Archbishop, Most Rev. Diosdado A. Talamayan, the Good Shepherd Parish of Fairview, Quezon City, headed by Rev. Msgr. Fidelis Limcaco, conducted PREX Class No. 1 in the parish of Tuguegarao City with 78 participants.
As of today, Jan. 23, 2011, the PREX Secretariat of Tuguegarao has conducted 139 PREX Classes in the St. Peter’s Parish. Moreover, it has reached out to 15 parishes, and 3 non-parishes, namely: the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters, Cagayan Provincial Jail and the Civil Service Commission of Region 02. Due to this achievement, the PREX Secretariat of Tuguegarao was given a Special Award during the 7th National PREX Convention at Baguio City on January 6, 2003, for having the GREATEST NO. OF OUTREACHES.
The HIDDEN GOD is, indeed, manifesting HIS LOVING PRESENCE in a very special way through the PREX Seminar. We pray that more and more people will come to experience this SPECIAL GRACE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
Jan. 23, 2011
Jan. 23, 2011
