ECIP SEMINAR-WORKSHOP IN PREPARATION FOR THE CBCP ANNUAL MEETING & THE 2010 DAY OF PARDON MASS CELEBRATION

The Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (ECIP) organized seminar-workshops (January 12-13, Davao City for Mindanao & January 15-16, Quezon City for Luzon and Visayas) in preparation for the January 2010 Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) annual meeting and in preparation for the 10th anniversary of the Day of Pardon Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in Rome on March 12, 2000. It was attended by the Indigenous Peoples Apostolate (IPA) workers and representatives of religious congregation. Sr. Dionisia B. Quela, F.I. attended it as representative of the Hijas de Jesus Congregation.
 
   IPA / Religious Congregations Workers     and Religious Congregations’ Representatives’  General Assembly Workshop

 The Day of Pardon Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in Rome on March 12, 2000 highlighted the Catholic Church’s examination of conscience for historic injuries on various groups including the Indigenous Peoples (IP). The gesture of the Pope seeking pardon from the IPs has set an examination on how we have conducted our work of EVANGELIZATION towards our IP brothers & Sisters.
Four important topics were presented before the workshops namely:  1. PERSPECTIVE OF CULTURE AND IPs AS ENCOUNTERED BY IPs IN THE PHILIPPINES by Ms Lourie Victor, ECIP staff. 2.  CHURCH TEACHINGS ON CULTURE AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 3. MEMORY AND RECONCILIATION by Fr. Theodore Masarenhas, SFX, In-charge of the Department for Cultures in Asia, Africa and Oceana & Pontifical Council for Cultures and 4. INCULTURATION by Dr. Jose de Mesa, Visiting Professor - Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, USA. 

 
   Rev. Fr. Theodore Masarenhas, SFX               Dr. Jose de Mesa

The workshops were focused on: 1. Perspective of Cultures and IPs in the Catholic Church, the Philippines Experience.  2. Implications of IPA/Congregational work. After the talks came in the reflections & discussions on the following:  a. What is it that we affirm about Evangelization in the Church Presence in the Philippines? B. What is it that we see that are regrettable? c. What is it that we need to do? The outputs of this Seminar-Workshop  will be presented in the CBCP annual meeting.    

Reflections on what we can Re-affirm: 1. Attention on evangelization was given to the IPs in the cordillera. 2. Together with evangelization the Church has done other services for the IPs like Education, Social Services, Ancestral Domain & Land Claim, Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation,       3. Enculturation in a certain levels were done with the IPs, 4. Good witnessing done by IP workers,    5. Continued presence of IPA in behalf of the Church,  6. Support of Bishops, Priests & ECIP for the IPA work.  7. Good experiences with IP work etc. Regrettable: 1. Negative perception of IP rituals, customs & traditions of the IPs especially before Vatican II, 2. Some Church workers look down and labeled the IPs as inferior to them. On What we need to do: 1. Encourage local clergy to assume leadership with the IPs in their search for being persons with dignity. 2. Help the IPs accept their identity being IPs. 3. Uplift the faith being discovered or lived by the IPs. 4. Continue to research on the customs & traditions, find, name & promote the Christian values in them. 5. Biblical reflection on the IP life.        6. That IP workers be open to listen & discern with the Spirit for them. Provide translated informations & materials in the language that can be understood by the IPs. Etc.

 

By Sr. Dionisia Quela, F.I.