New GKK Norms and Guidelines launched

On the occasion of the 65th founding anniversary of the Archdiocese of Davao, the new Norms and Guidelines on the Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) was launched.

Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles led the ceremonial turn-over of the book containing the norms and guidelines to the parish priests and lay leaders of the 37 parishes of the Archdiocese of Davao, December 17, at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym.

The new norms and guidelines on the GKK is the product of the communal discernment and organized consultation from the GKK level, parish and vicariate level to the archdiocesan level among the bishops, priests and lay leaders of the Archdiocese of Davao.

Archbishop Valles said the norms and guidelines will answer the needs of the Archdiocese on how the priests and the laity handle the affairs of the GKK.

He added that some of the provisions of the old GKK norms and guidelines are the guiding wisdom but there are new realities in the GKK and the Church that are addressed by the new norms and guidelines.

The communal discernment led to the decision that the archdiocese will produce two booklets for the GKKs and another booklet on 2015 for the sacraments.

“There are no words that can aptly describe the value of this new edition. The dynamics of the process behind it and the layers of participation involved in it, truly speak of our working together as the Body of Christ here in our local Church,” the archbishop said in his foreword.

“No one person can claim credit for this work, because it is indeed the work of the Holy Spirit through a long and tedious process of discernment. To be honest, not every detail was planned ahead of time, but we allowed the Holy Spirit to lead us through the process,” the archbishop added.

In photo: Arcbishop Romulo G. Valles, D.D. hands over the booklet of the New Norms and Guidelines on the GKK to the lay leaders who are accompanied by their parish priests during its launching on the occasion of the 65th founding anniversary of the Archdiocese of Davao, December 17. (Photo by Brenda P. Milan/Davao Catholic Herald)