Year of Ecumenism, Inter-religious

The logo is formed by 3 shapes (two in blue and one in red) creating a blank space in the form of a heart. At the center of the heart is the theme of the year 2020: “Dialogue towards harmony.”

The three shapes represent a harmonious dynamism and movement in a circle. Even though the shapes are different, they follow the same direction.

The logo is formed by two blocks distinguished by the two colors (blue and red), these colors are the colors of the Filipino flag. Besides, blue represents the color of the Pacific Ocean and the Filipino Islands, and the color red represents the textile art of the indigenous people.

The two blocks signify dialogue as they face each other forming a heart, which signifies the human fraternity and respect for each other.

The 2020 Year of Ecumenism, Inter-religious Dialogue, and Indigenous People is part of the nine-year “spiritual journey,” which started in 2013, to prepare for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021. This year’s journey aims to celebrate “the human fraternity by promoting the culture of dialogue as a path to peace.” It also aims “to work for unity and harmony while respecting diversity and to recognize indigenous peoples’ identities, spiritualities, and ancestral domain.”

Today, interreligious and ecumenical encounters take place in many settings. When these encounters are positive they create personal bonds, and they shape our view of the other’s religion. This religion becomes no longer a religion of strangers, but of friends, for whom we feel a sympathy.

In our different FMA settings, there are many examples of the “dialogue of life.” This is especially true in the schools where students from different religions or Christian faiths can live together in harmony while each preserves his or her own faith and practice. They don’t ignore the differences; but through understanding and mutual respect, they are able to live in harmony while respecting differing beliefs.

Here are some testimonies from our non-Christian and non-Catholic students:

As a Muslim I grew up in an atmosphere of mutual respect and love. There are three concrete things I always bear in mind. First, I believe that despite having different cultural backgrounds, belief system, understanding each other’s perspective and opinion is what will give us genuine harmony. Second, respecting each other’s social and political background allow us to share our views. Third, having an appropriate interaction by showing proper behavior is very important regardless of our different values, norms, and culture.

There are so many things that I always appreciate in the Christian faith. First is Faith. Like any other ordinary Muslim, we give importance to our faith and our belief system. I saw how the students practice their faith as a sign of their love and devotion. The daily practices of piety is very commendable. I saw the value of prayer. Second, when I first entered Don Bosco School, self-confidence was a bit of a problem for me. Aware of having a different religion, negative thoughts and questions would always pop-out in my mind. Will they accept me in their circle? Will I have good friends? However, as I went along my journey, the unconditional acceptance of my classmates became the key that made my life in Don Bosco School enjoyable and meaningful. I came to realize that despite the differences in our ways of thinking and doing, unity and love will always be possible. More so, I can also say that the way I showed greater acceptance of the Christian faith has also become a way for me to be more happy and contented where I am now.

I can proudly say that we, Muslims are grateful people. I believe that one of the things that my classmates used to appreciate in our Muslim culture is our deep

sense of gratitude. Although we are not expressive in terms of words, my classmates would always notice that the way I express gratitude is by doing good deeds. Most importantly, my classmates appreciate our promotion of life. Not everyone would see this in every Muslim, but in reality, we always promote the quality of life.

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Being raised in a non-catholic home, there is no doubt that my curiosity about Catholic’s beliefs and faith is invariably growing. Entering Mary Help was kind of interesting and exciting for me. The first time I stepped into this school was about three years ago. The feeling from that time until I finally got a glimpse of the school’s culture is still so fresh to me even up to this day. I was greatly surprised and fascinated. It was the first for me to witness catholic ways of worshipping and praising the Lord. After years of going to this school, I finally got used to it. We all have different ways of worshipping the Lord. Some people think that being a non-catholic in a catholic school is annoyingly hard due to the differences, but honestly, it isn’t really much of a problem for me. Yes, I did spend some time adjusting but I appreciated every part of it. In a way, it actually opened my heart and mind a bit more. I really adore how Catholics are so devoted to their prayers and saints. The way we express our love and devotion to the Lord through different means and how we sing our worship songs wholeheartedly is one of the few things my classmates would surely appreciate in our religion. Religion is never a barrier to stop you from praising the Lord.

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Six years ago, my family and I became Born Again Christians (HIALSM - Holistic International Assembly for Love and Share Ministries). Used to the Catholic ways, we thought it felt weird, different, and often scary the first time we joined HIALSM’s Sunday service, like how it was two hours long and how we only take communion once a month. But our eyes were opened to the truth, and I have never felt so alive, peaceful, satisfied with my spiritual life, and still excited to know and seek more of God. And so, I was baptized three years after. My family and I grew closer with each other and with some of our church mates, and we became more participative in discipleship. My parents are Discipleship Group Leaders and are regularly conducting Bible studies in our home on Saturdays. My sisters and I are encouraged to make bible devotions and pray every day, and now I’m a trainee in the church’s Production Team because I want to be a servant for the Lord.

Some of my classmates were curious about my religion and noticed me acting differently, like how I don’t make the sign of the cross, kiss relics, or pray the Rosary. At first, I was somewhat embarrassed, but as days passed, I got used to it and so did they. I still get along with them and respect their beliefs, and they do the same to me. But I can see that some are misled and I wanted to help, but I don’t have complete courage to do so. There were past experiences like discrimination that hindered me from speaking up about God’s Word. I’m still working on the confidence to do so.

One thing that I appreciate in the Catholic faith is the way they sacrifice, like waking up early for nine straight mornings for Simbang Gabi every December, and the “Visita Iglesia” and the way of the cross during Holy Week.

According to a few of my friends and classmates, there are some things that they appreciate in my religion like how we believe and follow what is said only in the Bible and how we look up only to God the Father, Son, and the Spirit without extras.

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“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” My life as a non-Catholic student is simple yet fun. Having to experience both religions is a blessing to me. It helped me build camaraderie with different people. It helped me learn different things. And it also helped my faith in God grow. Living in unity is a choice. It’s your choice if you want to respect and be respected. Religion isn’t an issue in making friends. Even with different religions, you can still be a family. The first time I’ve experienced a Catholic school was in 5th grade. Since then, I have learned a lot about the Catholic faith. There are a lot of things that I’ve experienced in a Catholic school and I am very thankful for. Recollections, retreats, catechesis and many more activities that help me be the “me” I am today. Most of my friends are Catholics and we treat each other as a family. My friends appreciate the faith we have in our religion. Some of them had already experienced what it is like in our religion. We share things about what we’ve experienced in our religions. In my own experience, I learned that religion doesn’t matter in relationships because in the end, no matter what race or religion we belong to, we are all one in Jesus Christ.

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At first, being transferred into a Catholic school and exposed to unusual and new environment made me experience culture shock. But after the adjustment period, circumstances brought me to appreciate my own religion and also Catholicism. I became more open and understanding about the differences and

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similarities of the people around me. Truthfully, being a non-Catholic student is not really difficult, for there are a lot of teachings parallel to our fundamentals. The school respects and recognizes our own beliefs. They let us attend Catholic practices, yet give us the option not to participate in them. In the school, they also permit us to share our faith especially in our CLE classes, nonetheless they are mindful of our words and actions. Although they let us express ourselves freely, there are still limitations and boundaries to respect.

The Catholic faith being revealed to me made me appreciate their devotedness and consistency in their beliefs. Although I am new to some of their practices, I also saw their eagerness and enthusiasm in living like a saint by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. On the other hand, my classmates were also introduced to my faith as I share my story and experiences. I think what they appreciate most about my faith is my relationship and communication with the Lord. I noticed that they are interested in how we worship, do our devotions, and pray. For me, worshipping the Lord is not just during singing songs, it should be a lifestyle which will be reflected in being an example in everyday living. But in the end, religion should be a guide to our faith yet our relationship with the Lord is what really matters.

I grew up in a family of a non-Catholic Christian faith. My parents were once Catholics. I grew up going to Church not just every Sunday, we have our 7:00 pm habits: prayer meeting every Wednesday, cell group meeting every Friday, and Bible study every Saturday. A central part of my faith is attending Sunday worship at 9:00 am at Living Grace Baptist Church in Brgy. Palo Alto, Calamba City. My family and I joined that Church since 2010, when we moved from Sirang Lupa. Back then, we belonged to God’s Christian Ministry of Mayapa, Inc. I am a music ministry member in my present church, where I play the guitar and lead the congregation in singing praises to the Lord. I am also a Sunday school teacher who handles 8 to11 year-old children. On a bigger scale I am also a member of the youth committee of different churches - the Living Mission Baptist Churches Association (LMBCA). As a committee, we organize all the interchurch youth activities such as fellowship, sports fests and youth camps.

What I appreciate in the Catholic faith is the unity of the members and the strong belief they have. The culture is also fun, especially here in MHCC because there are a lot of activities like celebrating the feast of a particular saint, having Mass not just on Sundays, having the oratory, and maybe more that I still do not know. On the other hand, I think, what my Catholic and other friends appreciate in my religion are the practices that are quite different from them, like being able to express freely what one feels during worship prayer, discussing more about the Bible, and fun activities. Based on the people I have encountered, and those who appreciate me even if I am different from them, I can say that the Lord’s prayer in John 17:21, “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me” can become a reality. We just have to focus on what unites us rather than our differences. Truly, Faith and God go way beyond calculations and measures!

The Sisters with student catechists at Mary Help of Christians School in Mabalacat, Pampanga have long been engaged in the apostolate with the Aetas. Their evangelizing mission recognizes the indigenous peoples’ identities, spirituality, and ancestral domain.”

“Efforts have been made to make a difference in the lives of the people of the Aeta Community in Sitio Monicayo, Mabalacat Pampanga and Sitio Cuadra Bamban, Tarlac by the Educating Community of Mary Help of Christians School - Pampanga. We create programs and activities to help them develop their sense of awareness of their rights and appreciation of their culture and resources. Recognition of their existence and their rights are continuously articulated as well as how to value their own indigenous identity. Central to these challenges and development is education that’s why we offer scholarships to deserving indigenous students from grade school to college.

As more Aetas become educated, their lives and livelihood flourish along with the improvement of their self-esteem and self-determination. They are now able to price their products properly and interact with middlemen. Education also helps them defend their ancestral lands because they already understand what was written in the documents and land titles.

As part of our empowerment and building up their capacity in the Community, we provide leadership training for the youth, seminars on Gender sensitivity and parenting, awareness of the socio-political issues. We impart values and basic lessons on the faith every week. We improve their health status and provide opportunities for free medical services and health seminars as well as the feeding program. From then on, various initiatives were made for the preservation of their culture and the handing down of their wisdom from generation to generation.”