Sunday, March 29, 2009 - SOR and Graduations

Hello to all! Sorry it has been so long since the last entry! I am thinking that about once a week is all the time I have to really devote to the blog! From now on, I will try to update the blog every Sunday.

This past week has been very full. Last weekend we had the "School of Oriental Religions". It was a very interesting time of lectures on the history of our Church and its relationship to other religions, and the relationships it is trying to foster today. We had a total of 3 bishops here giving lectures, including one archbishop along with some members of the focolare, all of whom truly live inter-religious dialogue in their daily lives. So amazing are the experiences from these countries where Christianity is the very tiny minority (excluding the Philippines of course, where it is the mass majority something like 90%).
You realize how much there is to receive from other religions, and how much there is to give from ours. We learned that in "Nostra Aetate" from Vatican II states, "The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions...which often reflect a ray of truth which enlightens all men" (NA2). And that in the Catechism it teachs, "The Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as a "preparation for the Gospel", and given by Him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life" (CCC 843). It only strengthens my faith in my own religion every time I learn of others, and how God does not abandon any of us, but reveals himself in many ways.
Other points focused on the need for common aspects needed for dialogue; respect for life and a need to build a common community. The nature of dialogue; internal-meaning an accpetance of oneself without blindness to one's imperfections and external-truly welcoming without fear and keeping an openness to see beauty and truth in the other. There was the language of dialogue; listening must be reciprocal - "resonating with awe and profound reverence through which the other experiences the divine". (Sounded like a good basis for a marriage prep class as well!)

This week has also been full of graduations from the surrounding schools, including Bukas Palad and Pagasa, where Michael and I work. The summer time here is from April to the end of May. The graduations are fun, lots of games and dancing, and gifts as well for the children who are moving on.

From Bukas Palad we gave away new black leather shoes to all the children (even those that weren't technically graduating) because they received a huge discount. This meant a lot of work for us, organizing and finding which shoes would work for which feet...and then we had to wrap them with gift wrap...I am definitely a professional gift wrapper now.

Another interesting thing is that at the graduations they have a type of pinata as well, except instead of being made out of paper it is a clay pot! An influence from the Spanish, I am sure.

Michael and I are also learning how to venture out a little more on our own now. It adds a little excitement to our lives, trying to figure out jeepnies and tricycles for ourselves, as well as where we are! By the time we leave, we are sure to be fluent in all the ways of travel here in this beautiful country!

Thanks for staying interested in all we are doing, and for all your prayers. We miss you all.