March 6, 2026 – The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) conducted a Special Learning Session (SLS) titled “Understanding Pope Leo’s Apostolic Letter: Drawing New Maps of Hope” on March 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM via Zoom. The session gathered Catholic educators and school leaders from across the country to reflect on the message of hope and renewal in Catholic education.
The program began with opening remarks from Mr. Narcy F. Ador Dionisio, CEAP Executive Director, who welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of continuous formation among Catholic educators in responding to the evolving challenges of education today.
The main discussion was led by Rev. Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre, Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Education and Superintendent of the Diocese of Cubao Educational System. He also serves as the Parish Priest of the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Chair of the CEAP Superintendents Conference, and Executive Secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (CBCP-ECCE).
In his presentation, Fr. Raymond unpacked key insights from Drawing New Maps of Hope, highlighting its relevance to the mission of Catholic schools today. The letter invites Catholic educational institutions to reimagine their role in forming learners who are grounded in faith while remaining responsive to contemporary realities.
Fr. Raymond presented ten guideposts from the Apostolic Letter, emphasizing hope as a guiding principle in Catholic education. Among the themes he discussed were the integration of faith and reason, the cultivation of hope as pedagogy, and the importance of including interior life in the formation of students. He also underscored the need to build communion amid diversity, encouraging schools to become spaces where dialogue, respect, and mutual understanding flourish.
To help participants translate these ideas into practice, Fr. Raymond offered practical applications for Catholic schools. These included strengthening scholarship programs to widen access to education, establishing welcoming structures for marginalized students, and fostering respectful dialogue within school communities. Such initiatives, he explained, help schools embody the Church’s mission of inclusion while maintaining their Catholic identity.
