In the Clinical Pastoral Movement, 2025 is a big year, and it is doubly so here in the Philippines.

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the first CPE program. It was started by Anton T. Boisen, the father of the Clinical Pastoral movement, in Worcester State Hospital in the United States.

2025 also marks the 60th anniversary of the first CPE program in the Philippines. June 7, 1965, J. Albert Dalton started the first “experimental” CPE batch at St. Lukes Medical Center in Quezon City. He had five trainees, one of whom was Narciso C. Dumalagan. “Nars” became the father of CPE and the Pastoral Care movement in the Philippines. He also became a major figure in the movement throughout Asia. Perhaps that would make Albert Dalton the grandfather?

It is our hope that we, and other clinical pastoral care organizations in the Philippines can come together to commemorate these great historical events.

We welcome your inputs on how to do this.