Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) – Priests, religious, laity, heads of associations and movements, all met in Manila to reflect on the relationship between the Word of God and the life of the Filipino people. The initiative took place as preparation for the upcoming Synod of Bishops, which will take place in Rome in October 2008 and that will focus on the theme: “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.”
The Convention was promoted by “Don Bosco Study Center” of Parañaque (Metro Manila), along with the Salesian Family present in the islands. The encounter was attended by over 700 people, including priests, seminarians, religious, and laity of various congregations and dioceses, who participated in moments of reflection, study, examination, with conclusions that they will take back to their communities of origin.
The encounter also included presentations from four Scripture experts, who spoke on the influence of the Word of God in human history and specifically, on the People of God, the time of Moses, the Old Testament, the New Testament with Saint Paul, and within life in the Philippines.
Bishop Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and appointed delegate from the Filipino Bishops’ Conference to attend the Synod in Rome, presented the “Themes and methods of the Synod in Rome 2008.” Fr. Jean Louis Ska, SJ, professor of Old Testament Exegesis at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, spoke on “The role of the Torah in the Community of the Israeli Covenant.” Fr. Gil Alinsanga, SSP, professor in New Testament studies, presented the “Saint Paul’s proclamation of the Word to the first Christian community.” Sr. Miriam Alejandrino, OSB, professor of Sacred Scripture, spoke on the “Breaking the Word in the Church of the Poor.”
As the ANS News Agency mentions, the Don Bosco Center of Studies in Paranaque City its own Theology School in 1983, with the decree of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic education it was granted affiliation to the Faculty of Theology of the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, enabling it to grant the ecclesiastical degree of Bachelor in Theology (BTh). The Center also offers diploma courses in Spirituality, Religious Studies, Catechetics and Youth Ministry as well as other updating courses in Pastoral Ministry and Consecrated Life. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/7/2008)
