Message from the Provincial Superior

“Faith in God unites us all and never divides. It brings us together even in the face of differences. It also keeps us away from hostility and indifference”.

The affirming words of Pope Francis during his 2019 UAE visit encourage us to adhere fully to the will of God, who wants all men and women to recognize that they are brothers and sisters, forming the great human family in the harmony of diversity. He likewise said that there is no alternative - we will either build the future together or there will not be a future. “Religions, in particular, cannot renounce the urgent task of building bridges between peoples and cultures. The time has come when religions should more actively exert themselves, with courage and audacity, and without pretense, to help the human family deepen the capacity for reconciliation, the vision of hope and the concrete paths of peace” (Fraternity Conference 2019, UAE). “Concrete gestures that enter hearts and stir consciences are essential, inspiring in everyone that inner conversion that is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress” (Benedict XVI, Message at the end of the Eucharistic Concelebration with Members of the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, 20.4.2005)

Enthused by the Holy Father’s exhortation during his Pontifical visit to the UAE and the recent Synod on the Amazon 2019, we re-affirm the Pope’s challenge to respond to his appeal to promote friendship and

respect for different religious traditions that favor justice and reconciliation, and build peace. A very timely challenge for the Philippine Catholic Church, already on the 9th and final year of its journey of preparation for the historical event - the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines, as it dedicates the year 2020 as the Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples. Its goal is to celebrate human fraternity by promoting the culture of dialogue as a path to peace. With this aim in mind, the Catholic Church desires to work for unity and harmony while respecting diversity, and to recognize people’s identities, spiritualities and ancestral domains. It therefore seeks a dialogue of life and faith that promotes collaboration in the work for justice, peace and integrity of creation.

It is my deep desire that, as we strengthen our own journey of building homes that evangelize, we also explore new ways of being community through ecumenical and inter-religious relationships and action. Most importantly, we are encouraged to give our specific contribution to building our common home “by achieving peace and harmony, particularly in the areas of armed conflict, solidarity in the struggle for social change, unity in healing social ills, integrity and social justice in our land” (CBCP Pastoral Letter 2012). This demands then a commitment to the dialogue of life, prayer, and action achieved through both personal and community endeavor.

As one FMA Provincial Educating Community, it is also our dream to walk and journey on the same path together with our young people, to uphold similar ideals, truths and beliefs, thus allowing space for diversity and apostolic complementarity to become ever more fruitful and generative. In today’s complexity and fragmentation, educational environments are called on to provide the younger generations with the principles they need to develop an intercultural, ecumenical and interfaith vision (GEM 160). Just like in Valdocco and Mornese, the shared mission is an opportunity to break down walls, to open windows, to be a sign of unity and inclusion, to search for a just and secure peace, to open ourselves to constructive dialogue and communion, to be witnesses of love and solidarity, to discover and build together other horizons full of hope so that our hearts may be filled with faces and names for the Kingdom (CL 985). In this way, our educative mission becomes more meaningful, for it is nourished by the presence of a family and not just by separate individuals, “because everyone is given to drink from the same Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13).

May the Lord’s desire “that all may be one” (Jn 17:21) stir the hearts and consciences of our educating communities to pastoral conversion so that we may fully give our active part in this year’s celebration of achieving harmony through dialogue.

- Sr. Mabel Pilar, FMA