TO THINK WITH THE CHURCH
+ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO, O.M.I.
ARCHBISHOP OF COTABATO, PHILIPPINES
FABC-OCL SYMPOSIUM – HUA HIN, THAILAND
JUNE 24 -26, 2012
Introduction
Objectives:
 To
reflect on the survey results from the viewpoint of
Church teachings
 To have a clearer understanding of “sentire cum
Ecclesia;”
 To apply the principle to relationships at the diocesan
level;
 Particularly to new ministries, vocation promotion, and
fidelity to religious vows;
 In the concrete context of one Asian diocese, Cotabato.
A. Some Highlights from the Country Reports
on Thinking with the Church
negative experiences - lack of collaboration
clericalism, authoritarianism, undemocratic leadership
 lack of insertion into diocesan plans
 lack awareness of religious charisms

positive experiences of collaboration
clear diocesan vision-mission;
 program of insertion and integration
 a person and community-oriented leadership
 structures of collaboration
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B. The meaning of “sentire cum Ecclesia.”
 the 16th historical context of St. Ignatius of
Loyola:
 corruption
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and decadence ad intra ecclesiam,
the spirit of the world in the Church
 dissent,
disharmony, disrespect and ridicule of church
authority,
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defiance, heresies, anti-Church movements;
 the
need for a new attitude of obedience to the
magisterium.

forming a “new Obedience” - the Spiritual Exercises of
St. Ignatius 
18 Rules for “Thinking with the Church”
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the Church is “the true spouse of Jesus Christ,
our holy mother…whose authority is exercised over us
by the hierarchy.”
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obey with mind and heart –
Be of “the same mind and conformity with the Church itself,”
for the Spirit of the Lord and the Spirit of the Church is one
and the same.

the contemporary situation:
a post-modern spirit - many positive contributions to Asia
 negative impact on Asia’s deep sense of the religious and
sacred,
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esteem for religious persons and institutions
the world’s perception of the Church: outdated,
authoritarian, undemocratic, oppressive
 a very flawed human Church (clergy, religious, laity)
 dissent, disrespect and ridicule of the Church

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and its teaching authority, defiance, hostility, division
and disharmony
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At its radical level the spirit of the age -- an anti-Church attitude:
“Leave your Church, follow Christ.”
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some notes:
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the weakening of Jesuit sentire cum ecclesia
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Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, S.J. – 2011, Singapore – “Our only safety is sentire cum ecclesia.”
Salesians – one of 4 pillars of Salesian life –
sentire cum ecclesia (Abp. Angelo Amato, SDB, Sec. CDF, 2005)
“Vivere in Ecclesia, sentire cum Ecclesia,
et agere pro Ecclesia” – captures Don Bosco’s spirituality

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Card. Rode at XXXV General Congregation of S.J., 2008 –
Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church: motto – Sentire cum Ecclesia (Ubi Petrus. Ibi Ecclesia)
Sentire cum Ecclesia calls us to look into ourselves, ask what our own attitude towards the Church
and its authority would be. The way “Christ love his Church”?
C. Sentire cum Ecclesia at the level of the Diocese.
 Relationships:
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Respect? Like? Love?
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Towards those in authority - fear, cynicism, indifference?
Towards one another – Distance? Indifference? Anonymity?
Isolation? Toleration? Like? Fellowship? Collaboration?
Examining the present status of such relationships in
your own diocese.
(How about in your own congregation?)
D. “Case Study” of Sentire cum Ecclesia – Archdiocese of Cotabato
 Pastoral situation
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Population and geography
Religious history (from missionary to diocesan)
Diocesan and Religious personnel
Pastoral thrust and pastoral programs.
Community building among personnel
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diocesan and congregational assemblies
Sisters’ assemblies (AWRAC – Association of Women Religious of the
Archdiocese of Cotabato)
Presbyteral assemblies
Diocesan and Religious assemblies (on-going formation, socialization),
Bishop’s pastoral and informal visits.

Structures of collaboration:
 The
Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly every four years;
Discerning, Envisioning, and Planning;
 Integration of religious congregations,
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their ministries into the vision-mission of the
Archdiocese
= Charisms at the service of the Local Church.
 Orientation
to the Pastoral thrust of BEC building;
 Involvement in archdiocesan boards and pastoral
programs; in parish pastoral councils and programs.

Vocation Month (September):
joint activities (use of radio, talks in schools and parishes,
vocation exhibits)
 mutual promotion of vocations
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New Ministries
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collaboration in discerning, envisioning, planning
and implementing new engagements:
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indigenous peoples
inter-religious dialogue
building a culture of peace
care for the integrity of creation – logging, mining

Charism of Religious Congregations for
Ongoing Spiritual Formation
 Clergy,
Laity (catechists, religious educators, lay
leaders), Religious
 Retreat Houses, schools and other institutions
E. Towards a Deeper Understanding of Sentire cum
Ecclesia
 Fundamental Doctrinal Basis of Thinking with
the Church
 Lumen

Gentium, 1964.
Chapter 3 – the Church is hierarchical –
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Bishops are successors of the Apostles. They take the place of Christ
himself as teacher, shepherd, and priest, and act as his
representatives.
The faithful are obliged to submit to their bishop’s decision, made in
the name of Christ, in matters of faith and morals, and to adhere to
it with a ready and respectful allegiance of mind.
 Chapter

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VI – Religious.
The state of life constituted by the profession of the evangelical
counsels belongs undeniably to her life and holiness.
It is for the hierarchy to make wise laws for the regulation of the
practice of the counsels.
 Christus
Dominus, 1965. Chapter II – the Bishop in his
own diocese.
As father and pastor, the Bishop should be with his people as
one who serves,
 as a good shepherd who know his sheep and whose sheep
know him,
 as a true father who excels in love and solicitude for all,
 he should ensure that the faithful are duly involved in Church
affairs;
 he should recognize their right and duty to play their part in
building up the Mystical Body of Christ.
 Close collaboration and the coordination of all the apostolic
works under the direction of the bishop

 Religious

in a true sense belong to the diocesan family.
They should at all times treat the bishops, as the successors of the
apostles, with loyal respect and reverence.
 Organized
cooperation between the various religious
institutes and between them and the diocesan clergy.
 The closest possible coordination of all apostolic works
and activities.

This will depend mainly on the supernatural attitude of heart and
mind grounded on charity.
 Vita
Consecrata (1995), no. 46, “Sentire cum
Ecclesia”:
 consecrated
persons are asked to be true experts of
communion
 and to practice the spirituality of communion.
 In founders and foundresses we see a constant and lively
sense of the Church,

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which they manifest by their full participation in all aspects of the
Church’s life,
and in their ready obedience to the Bishops and especially to the
Roman Pontiff.

Pastores Gregis (2003), no. 44:
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to a pastoral style which is ever more open to collaboration
with all.
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a lived ecclesial communion will lead the bishop
the Bishop’s being for will surely lead him to being with the people
his responsibility – to bring about unity in diversity of different charisms,
ministries, and services – a collaborative effort.
Participation of the faithful – their share in the responsibility for ecclesial
communion
Cooperation of consecrated men and women with the Bishop so as to
enrich ecclesial community by their presence and ministry.

Reflection on the Doctrinal Basis
 Principles

at the root of collaboration:
Co-responsibility and Participation – through:
 Principle
of Subsidiarity?
 Principle of Communion?
 to
think with the Church ----- feel with the Church ---- love the Church
 solidarity as a virtue, cf. Pope John Paul II,
Solicitudo Rei Socialis.
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To think with the Church, to feel with the Church,
to love the Church and its authority,
even as we recognize the unlovable human imperfections
and sins of the institution.
To be on the side of the Church,
never to undermine her or betray her.
We may admonish her, reproach her and suggest a better way,
but always within the bonds of love.
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This is the realism of Christ’s love for her Spouse, the Saints’
love for the Church.
 Communion
as the nature of the Church, Church-in-
Mission
Among the members of the Church
 With the Triune God
 Biblical images of communion
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The Vine and the branches
The Body of Christ
The early Jerusalem community of Christians
 Communion:
Co-responsibility, Participation, Collaboration,
Coordination
 Bring the above concepts to the level of the diocese –
the “household” of God.
Final Note:
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Sentire cum ecclesia – not a one way affair;
The Bishop must also “sentire cum ecclesia,” the
People of God
of which he is a member.
 The
Bishop represents the hierarchical dimension of the
Church.
 Religious reflect the charismatic character of the Church.

The Bishop as a leader is Servant. He has to mirror
the servant leadership of Jesus.
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He also has to image Jesus, the Good Shepherd
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Therefore, the Bishop must feel with the flock
and love the flock entrusted to his care by the Lord.
The mission of the Church from Jesus is:
a mission of Communion involving the whole Church
a mission towards Communion with God
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all humanity
all Creation
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A Spirituality of Communion is imperative.
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If Sentire cum Ecclesia fundamentally means To Love the Church,
then this means Communion. Communion is at the heart of Love.
It expresses Love at its deepest level.
Sentire cum Ecclesia is to love the Church,
to be in Communion with the Church.