|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Landas Journals
Landas Journals
Landas
Vol. 14 Jubilee Issue (2000).jpg)
JUBILEE FEATURE
Blessed Pedro Calungsod:
An Historian's Comments on His Life
Prior to His Martyrdom
JOHN N. SCHUMACHER, S.J.
JUBILEE THEMES
The Jubilee Indulgences:
Receiving the "Total Gift
of the Mercy of God"
DANIEL PATRICK HUANG, S.J.
Mary in Philippine Catholic
Life
C. G. ARÉVALO, S.J.
Interreligious Dialogue:
A Renewed Mandate
JAMES H. KROEGER, M.M.
The Church's
Mission towards Minorities
LUIS ANTONIO G. TAGLE
Our Jubilee Pilgrimage: Reflections
at the End of the Great Jubilee
DANIEL PATRICK HUANG, S.J.
GENERAL STUDIES
Writing the Fifth Gospel
THOMAS H. GREEN, S.J.
In the Service of Life:
Promoting Natural Family Planning
PASQUALE T. GIORDANO, S.J.
Revising the
National Catechetical Directory
JOSEPH L. ROCHE, S.J.
The Paschal Mystery:
The Core of the Spiritual Life
EDUARDO P. AFRICA, O.S.B.
What Happened to
Mark's "Infancy" Story?
WILLIAM M. ABBOTT, S.J.
The First Blind Guide:
John of the Cross and
Spiritual Direction
THOMAS H. GREEN, S.J.
COMMENTS AND DOCUMENTS
Telling God's Story:
National Mission Congress 2000
JAMES H. KROEGER, M.M.
"Missions" and the
Church in the Philippines:
A Pastoral Letter on the Church's
Mission in the New Millennium
Message of the First
National Mission Congress
"Behold I Make
All Things New"
(Rev 21:5)
Message of the National Pastoral
Consultation on Church Renewal
Editor's Preface
The Church's public celebration of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 began on Christmas Eve 1999 and extended until the Epiphany of the Lord on January 6, 2001. This was preceded by a comprehensive program of preparation for the Jubilee Year, inaugurated by Pope John Paul II in his Tertio Millennio Adveniente of 1994. Specific years were dedicated to reflection on Jesus Christ (1977), the Holy Spirit (1998), and God the Father (1999). The Church engaged in a wide variety of renewal activities: continental synods, re-appropriation of Vatican II teaching, ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, updated martyrologies, justice and peace initiatives, pilgrimages and indulgences, as well as personal and ecclesial renewal.
The Philippine Church, for her part, vigorously and enthusiastically inaugurated and implemented her own Jubilee initiatives. National congresses were celebrated: World Youth Day (1995), Eucharistic Congress (1997), two Holy Spirit Congresses (1998), Congress on God the Father (1999), Congress on the Trinity (2000), and the National Mission Congress (2000). An integrated series of pastoral exhortations, designed to address vital aspects of Philippine life and Christian faith, were issued: Philippine Politics (1997), Philippine Economy (1998), Philippine Culture (1999), Philippine Spirituality (2000), Philippines and Mission in the New Millennium (2000).
Hundreds of ordinary Filipino Catholics wholeheartedly joined both national and local Jubilee initiatives. It has been asserted that the Philippines ranked near the top of those local churches worldwide who "took to heart" the Pope's call "to arouse enthusiasm and lead people to celebrate the Jubilee with renewed faith and generous participation" (TMA 59). The popular, yet profound, "Jubilee Song," composed by Father Carlo Magno S. Marcelo, echoed almost unceasingly from churches, schools, malls, and streets-even in the Senate Hall. Jubilee was "a time of grace, a time of hope…, a time to build the world that is one."
This special double issue of Landas for the year 2000 emerges from this Jubilee atmosphere. It seeks to capture in print some of the more significant experiences-reflected theologically-of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. A large portion of the material is directly related to the experience of being a "local-church-on-Jubilee-pilgrimage." In addition, it is noteworthy that all the articles in this Jubilee volume are authored by current or emeriti professors of the Loyola School of Theology.
The feature article by veteran Philippine Church historian, John N. Schumacher, S.J., critically examines elements of the life of Blessed Pedro Calungsod. Sharing the first beatification ceremony of the Jubilee Year, "Beato Pedro" was raised to the altar in Rome on March 5, 2000-amid great rejoicing among Filipinos worldwide.
Five presentations compose the section entitled: Jubilee Themes. The opening and closing pieces are by Daniel P. Huang; they emphasize the merciful gifts of God, received through indulgences or through the experience of pilgrimage-personally as an individual or as the Filipino people. C. G. Arévalo's contribution formed part of a Roman symposium on Mary-a theme that permeated all Jubilee activities. Articles by James Kroeger and Luis "Chito" Tagle emphasize how the Church is both "self-realized" and fulfills her evangelizing mission precisely as she reaches out in dialogue to the followers of other religions and to all types of minorities.
The rich variety of material found in the "General Studies" section portrays the diverse involvements and expertise of the Loyola School of Theology faculty. Thomas Green and Eduardo Africa present insights into the dynamics of the spiritual life. Pasquale Giordano draws upon moral-pastoral theology to promote natural family planning. Joseph Roche underscores the potential benefits of a revised catechetical directory for Filipino Catholics. William Abbott explores Mark's "infancy" story and facilitates a deeper appreciation of the role of Scripture in all theological endeavors.
The "Comments and Documents" section provides original source material related to local Church life. The Philippine Bishops chose to make mission and evangelization central to the Jubilee Year experience; they sponsored the large National Mission Congress which they saw as the "fitting culminating activity" of the Jubilee Year celebrations and the "first step as a Local Church into the Third Millennium." Readers will find here a Congress overview by James Kroeger as well as the pastoral letter on mission, the Congress delegates' statement, and the final document of the National Pastoral Consultation on Church Renewal.
As the Church's public celebration of the Jubilee Year extended from 1999-2001, much of the content of the "Jubilee Issue" of Landas covers the same span of time. For the Church in the Philippines, Jubilee meant: exploring renewal and conversion, building bridges of understanding, rejoicing with a second Filipino "saint"/beatus, journeying with the Blessed Mother, deepening the spiritual life, investigating pastoral programs and options. Many of these same thematics underlie the sixteen diverse offerings of this Landas volume.
In conclusion, a word of gratitude is expressed to all readers who continue to support this journal and have joined in the Landas "Jubilee Journey."
James H. Kroeger,
M.M.
Guest Editor
Contributors
William M. Abbott, S.J., S.S.L. from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, is associate professor of New Testament at Loyola School of Theology.
Eduardo P. Africa, O.S.B., Abbot of Transfiguration Monastery in Bukidnon, is visiting professor of Spiritual Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
C. G. Arévalo, S.J., S.T.D. from the Gregorian University, Rome, is professor emeritus of Systematic Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
Pasquale T. Giordano, S.J., S.T.D. from the Catholic University of America, Washington, is associate professor of Moral Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
Thomas H. Green, S.J., Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, is professor of Spiritual Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
Daniel P. Huang, S.J., S.T.D. from the Catholic University of America, Washington, is assistant professor of Fundamental and Systematic Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
James H. Kroeger, M.M., D.Miss. from the Gregorian University, Rome, is associate professor of Missiology and Systematic Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I., Archbishop of Cotabato, is the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
Joseph L. Roche, S.J., Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, is professor of Systematic Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
Luis A. G. Tagle, S.T.D. from the Catholic University of America, Washington, and member of the International Theological Commission, is visiting professor of Systematic Theology at Loyola School of Theology.
John N. Schumacher, S.J., Ph.D. from Georgetown University, Washington, is professor emeritus of Church History at Loyola School of Theology.
Comments/suggestions to : lst@admu.edu.ph /
© Copyright 2004 Loyola School of Theology. All rights reserved.
