Missiological Presentation

Last July 30 and 31, the 4th year Redemptorist SAT-MI students and 2 students from Manila presented a lecture about their experience in their immersion year. Gary Alvarado, CSsR, Jean Paul Tabasa, CSsR, Leo Mar Arenillo, CSsR and Raymond Urriza, CSsR shared their experiences and reflections of the people in the island of Sumba, Indonesia. Richie Cuaton, CSsR, Julius Martin Malacas, CSsR, also shared their experiences and reflections about the Pgaz K’nyau people in the province of Chiang Mai, Thailand and Neil Bryan Lesaca, CSsR about the Melanau people in Dalat, Malaysia. Their Missiological presentation dealt with the culture and how it relates to mission of the church in Asia.

It was a moment of intense feeling and excitement since some of them were first-timers in this kind of lecture. Nevertheless they took the challenge of presenting a lecture in contextualizing their learning in missiology. They were given 20 minutes to give their topic based from the Missiological paper that they wrote. After the lecture, each panelist gave their comments and questions. The student-presentors responded to their questions and considered the panelist’s suggestions in improving the paper. In the end it was a fruitful and meaningful experience for the 4th year students because aside from the academic learning of this lecture, it also gave them an experience on how to give academic lecture to fellow students. Moreover, it provided them reflection on how to improve their skills in writing and delivering a missiological paper.

We can learn from this lecture that in doing theology it does not only happen in the classroom or in the library. Theology can also be done in actual life of the people by interacting and observing them in their daily life. Likewise in going to another culture, we have to understand that the Spirit of God is already in their midst and thus, in some way, guided them in their life. Thus our task is to utilize it and bring it into the full light in Christ. Following this famous phrase in relation to missiology:

"Our first task in approaching another culture, another religion, is to take off our shoes, for the place we are approaching is holy. Else we may find ourselves treading on men's dreams. More seriously still, we may forget that God was here before our arrival." (M.A.C. Warren) 

(Richie)