SAMPRAN: 18 August 2011 -- If you thought study days
on the first proclamation of Christ might provide a welter
of 'in the clouds' theology, think again. The East Asia
(soon to be followed by the Oceania) Study Days are anything
but. To begin with, participants were asked to begin from
"your experience...", then detail "challenges and
opportunities", then show what "contribution religious
sensitivity and awareness make...what attitudes you
encounter amongst the more marginalised". They were also
asked to "collect experiences regarding initial
proclamation...".
One response to these amongst many at
Sampran, indicates how down to earth all this can be. It
comes from Fr Pat Villasanta (FIN), assigned to Calauan,
Laguna, a 107 hectare community owned by the National
Housing Authority and now with 6,400 families plus, most
relocated from Metro Manila slums. By the end of this year
it is expected to have 10,000 families and 80,000 relocatees
all up. "A social volcano", in Pat's terms.
He is one of 3 Salesians assigned to this
work since the FIN Provincial Chapter took it on last year.
'First proclamation' starts with where the people are at.
They need: clean safe drinking supply; electricity ("are we
doomed to perpetual internal darkness and heat"?); hygiene
and health care; work. Now one begins to understand why the
Salesians have responded with programs and plans in the
following areas: nutri-feeding for children and
physically-challenged, be they young or old, educational
subsidies for college/tech vocational courses, medicines and
health care, job placements and entrepreneurial
opportunities, donations for upcoming church and school
construction. Needless to say they are not doing all this
alone.
What they are doing right now is setting
up a company called Boscseeds (Bosco Sustainable Enterprise
and Economic development Services Inc), they idea being that
providing a sense of dignity which is pegged to human and
spiritual values integrated with our own Salesian culture
and spirituality is the way forward. Under Boscseeds we then
find:
- Rinaldi Builders (Construction Work)
- Caravario Agricultural Development
(Piggery and Farming)
- Zeferin Shoes (obvious!)
- Savio Fun (Children's Party and
Accessories - this is Salesian after all!)
- Cagliero Fudz (Finger Foods)
- Michael Rua Trade (Job Placement/Hiring
Office)
- Securo di Magone (Security Agency)
- Pan di Orione (Bread and Pastry).
Let's face it - they are running a city!
So now they also need Zatti Meds (Pharmacy), Mamma
Margaret's Café (Coffee and Souvenir Shop) and Plana
Paints (House Painting Jobs). It is unsure whether they are
sticking quite with these names; in another reflection note
we see alternative titles all starting with Bosc: BoscTrade,
BoscFun, BoscMeds etc.
In his reflections on the third question
for participants ( "What contribution of religious awareness
and sensitivity, what attitudes amongst the marginalised")
Pat points to the sense of God and openness to the Spirit
that they find; people's versatility, patience, but also the
need to encourage more creativity and enterprise, more
generosity in giving and not just receiving.
Nor is Calauan all Catholic. There are
Buddhists, Muslims, other Christian denominations. Caritas
Manila and San Pablo Diocese introduced faith-sharing
initially and this is now good ground for the Salesian
efforts, especially in issue and concern-based discussion
accompanied by biblical passages, Bible study.
In an article written for the Salesian
Bulletin, Fr Pat speaks of the new presence in response
especially to the final question about "experience of
initial proclamation". He puts it in typical Salesian terms:
bread, work and heaven: "As we strive to help provide their
basic needs we gradually open them up to experience God
through activities ranging from the mundane to the sacred".
They have help from the Theologate at Paranaque. "Even movie
nights are occasions for fellowship. Three times a night,
about 600 of them converge before the Mega Wall (a
side of one house we painted white and use as a movie
screen). Armed with an LCDC projector and 800 watt speakers
we entertain them with a selection of flicks while they line
the street - some sitting, some flat on their backs, other
craning their necks inches from the screen!".
The entire effort is summed up as
creative ministry in alleviating poverty through empowering
relocatee families especially the young in the course of
education and value formation. _________________ AustraLasia
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