What is PREx at Christ the King Parish?
by PREs Secretariat
PREX short for Parish Renewal Experience, is a program that started in the 1970s in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, when the Rev. Fr. Chad. Gallagher convened a group of priests for a reflection on Pope Paul VI’s Evangelii Nuntiandi.
Fr. Gallagher believed that the Church must first evangelize itself as it evangelizes others. He piloted the first PREX weekend in Trenton. Since then it has spread to Catholic communities through out the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Fiji, the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.
In 1983, Fr. Gallagher visited the Philippines upon the invitation of Jaime Cardinal Sin. He conducted the PREX to about a thousand Filipino priests. The PREX then spread to the countryside. It was greatly received because of its “people focus.”
PREX’s goal is to bring people together within the parish community. It seeks to unify them in the Christian faith. Accordingly, the talks are focused on personal relationships starting with aspects of the family as the basic unit of society.
The PREX at Christ the King Parish was initiated in the 1990s by Msgr. Jaime Mora, who was then parish priest. It was carried over the years by succeeding pastors. Since then, more than two thousand persons have graduated, including CTK’s PREX outreach. in Libis and Napindan.
Presently, Fr. Steve Zabala invites the ministries and organizations in Christ the King to send their members who have not yet attended the PREX to join the seminar on Feb 29 (Saturday) and March 1, (Sunday. It will be held at the formation center. A registration fee of P500 is charged to cover meals, etc.
The seminar is coordinated by the PREX Secretariat of CTK, led by Ate Is and Kuya Rudy Rey., treasurer Ruby Joaquin, and other fellow PREX alumni Augie Soliman, Louie Lauciico, Manny de Leon, Kuya Nito Tagle, Billie and Pepe Pilar, Charito Barredo, Ching and Butch Botero, our guitarist Bogs, the technical group of Romeo Villegas, Ryan Calllanta, Vic Quijano, and the graduates of last year’s Class 94 led by Beng and Jay Guevarra, Irwin Reyes, Buh Malonzo, Lorie Santos, and others.
Aside from Father Steve and Fr. Louie Punzalan who will speak, other CTK parishioners have volunteered to be speakers and facilitators willing to share their time, talent, and treasure. With all the support, the Prex Secretariat hopes to have a fruitful event.
