2.-RE-1-Importance-of-Religious-Education.pdf

RE 1 SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH BASIC CATECHISM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES RELIGIOUS EDUCATION › The Philippines is the most predominantly Catholic country in Asia. Its culture and tradition have been influenced by Christianity since the Spanish c...

RE 1 SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH BASIC CATECHISM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES RELIGIOUS EDUCATION › The Philippines is the most predominantly Catholic country in Asia. Its culture and tradition have been influenced by Christianity since the Spanish came in 1500s to colonize what was then an archipelago ruled by different and oftentimes warring tribes headed by local chieftains or datu. › Since then, Christian doctrines and teachings had been integrated into the local or native and pre- colonial culture. Today, what can be considered Filipino is an integration of both the local or native pre-colonial traits and practices and the colonial influences – Spanish and American and the influences of the early trading partners of the natives –the Chinese and the Malays. One important aspect of the Filipino culture where Christianity made a lasting impact is in education. Christian education is perhaps one of the enduring influences of the Spanish. › The nature of Catholic cannot be separated from the nature of the Catholic Church which forms as the basis of why the Catholic schools are instituted. The Catholic church according to the Catechism of the catholic Church was conceived to continue the mission of Christ here on earth. It is called to proclaimed the good news to all people in all nations. › The catholic schools serve as the arms of the Catholic church in extending this mission of proclaiming the good news through education. According to the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, the catholic schools serve as agency for education in faith a means towards the attainment of the salvific mission of the catholic Church. Catholic schools continue to promote the value for caring for others and values formation through their Christian religious formation programs. Catholic schools integrate into their curriculum Christian education. The aim of Christian Education according to GravissimumEducation (#1) is “ the Formation of the human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end and of the good of the societies of which, as man, he is a member, and in whose obligations, as an adult, he will share. › It further states that Christian education is tasks to develop harmoniously the persons physical, moral and intellectual endowment so that they may gradually acquire a mature sense of responsibility in striving endlessly to form their own lives properly and in pursuing true freedom as they surmount the changes of the with courage and constancy. › In the Philippines, the Catholic school are much an integral and important component of education. There are catholic schools in all levels of education- from the preschool, elementary, high school and tertiary or college level. These catholic schools, while relying mainly on their own resources and efforts, strive to offer quality education not only to Catholics but to other students of different faiths. › They provide decent classroom and facilities even in remote towns and barrios and often provide free education as part of their community development programs to indigent students. Many catholic schools are consistently among the top schools not only in the country but also around the globe. › Three of the top four universities in the Philippines are catholic universities, namely, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University. At great expence the Catholic schools recruit, train, and develop their teachers and personnel, thus contributing a big share in the task of developing and empowering the educational workforce of the society. Advance studies and researches are undertaken by these Catholic schools mostly out of their own budget, thereby contributing to the advancement of society without incurring such burden on the part f the government. Catholic schools generate their own resources and assist the government in providing employment and saving financial resources › In fact, catholic schools in the Philippines have been a major contributor to the professional sector of our country. It is not altogether surprising then that quality education is almost always appended to Catholic schools. As already mentioned majority of these schools are not exclusive to Catholic but serve peoples of other faiths; others are dedicated to out of school youths, to the handicapped, to the poor , to cultural minorities and to the other marginalized sectors of the society. Advance studies and researches are undertaken by theses Catholic schools mostly out of their own budget, thereby contributing to the advancement of society without incurring such burden on the part f the government. Catholic schools generate their own resources and assist the government in providing employment and saving financial resources. In fact, catholic schools in the Philippines have been a major contributor to the professional sector of our country. It is not altogether surprising then that quality education is almost always appended to Catholic schools. As already mentioned majority of these schools are not exclusive to Catholic but serve peoples of other faiths; others are dedicated to out of school youths, to the handicapped, to the poor , to cultural minorities and to the other marginalized sectors of the society. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE SVD Societas Verbi Divini (Society of the Divine Word) › In September 8,1875, during the height of European colonialism, Saint Arnold Janssen founded his missionary order, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), in Steyl, Netherlands. From humble beginnings, the SVD has grown into the largest international missionary congregation in the Catholic Church. Born in Goch, Germany into a devoutly Catholic family, Saint Arnold was greatly influenced by the faith of his father, who revered the Holy Trinity, and the Word Incarnate. These would become integral to SVD spirituality and charism, and because of his devotion to the Word of God, Saint Arnold named his missionary society, “Divine Word.” Educated in math and science, Saint Arnold was ordained in 1861 and became a teacher. A few years later, he joined the Apostleship of Prayer League and in 1873, left teaching to focus on his duties as its director. He found success in writing and eventually published a magazine, Little Messenger of the Sacred Heart, which helped him discover that not only could he raise money through his publications, but German Catholics supported the missions. Many of the colonial powers, like France and Italy, had missions to their colonies, but Germany did not. In fact under the government of Otto von Bismarck, Catholicism was being repressed. Encouraged to create a German- sending missionary order, he attracted three young candidates to travel with him across the German border, to a former inn in Steyl, Netherlands, where he founded the Society of the Divine Word on September 8, 1875. › Two of the three left over a disagreement with Saint Arnold, who insisted each member of his society be bound by vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.The norm in other countries at the time was for missionary societies to be made up of diocesan priests, who were only bound to the society by a promise to serve in the missions. › After the two left, however, word spread that there was a German missionary society in Steyl, and candidates came in numbers. Before the first year was done, Saint Arnold had to add on to the little inn. Over the next five years, he had to add four new buildings, all to accommodate the growing number of men interested in serving in the missions. First Mission in China In 1879, Saint Arnold sent his first two SVD missionaries to China. Fr. John Baptist Anzer, SVD, became a bishop in China, and Saint Joseph Freinademetz, SVD, who never returned to Germany, was canonized a Saint of the Church, by Pope John Paul II, with Saint Arnold, in 2003. Brothers join the order Workers Saint Arnold brought on to do much of the work began to express a desire to be more a part of the society, so in 1878, Saint Arnold added the brotherhood to the society by accepting two candidates, and in 1881, Mercolinus Elskemper was the first to take vows as a brother member of the SVD. Religious women come on board › In 1889, realizing the need for missionary Sisters, Fr. Arnold co-founded the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) with Blessed Mother Maria Helena Stollenwerk and Blessed Mother Josefa Hendrina Stenmanns. In 1896, they co-founded a cloistered congregation, the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP). Both of these religious orders collaborate, on mission and through dedicated prayer, to the mission of the Society of the Divine Word. SVD MISSIONARIES IN ABRA, PHILIPPINES Society of the Divine Word or SVD Mission in the Philippines traces its humble beginnings to the town of San Isidro in Abra. It was established on August 23, 1909 by two German missionaries -Fr. Luis Beckert and Fr. Juan Scheiermann. › Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD DD, of the Diocese of Bangued narrated that the mission established a parish in San Isidro and then moved to Tayum and then to Bangued. It eventually expanded to Manila, Mindoro until Mindanao. › Founded by Fr. Arnold Janssen in 1875 in the Netherlands, the SVD mission is “to preach the Gospel to all nations through pastoral and sacramental ministry, teaching and working among those in need.” This is done through ministries that build and staff schools, hospitals, orphanages and hospices. As the country celebrates 500 years of Christianity with the theme, “Gifted to Give” or “Naparaburan tapnu Agiburay” in Ilocano, Bishop Jaucian shares some snippets about the SVD mission in Abra and its role in the history of Christianity in the Philippines. The involvement of the SVDs church was holistic not only the spiritual and pastoral aspect but it also contributed to the socio-economic aspect to the lives of the people in the community. › The SVD missionaries went all over Abra to do pastoral work, mission work establishing parishes, chapels and communities. Amoung the schools they founded is the Divine Word College of Bangued. › While doing their mission work, they invited the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters or the Servants of the Holy Spirit Sisters (SSpS) in 1912 to serve in the education ministry in charge of the diocesan schools. › The SVD later on developed the local priests or the so called diocesan clergy local clergy. They built the Saint Joseph Minor Seminary primarily to train young men to become priests who will later serve the Diocese of Bangued. HISTORY OF DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG The Divine Word College of Laoag, earlier known as Saint William’s College, is a Catholic institution of higher learning run by the Society of the Divine word or SVD in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was founded by Rev. Fr. Alphonse Mildner, SVD in 1946. The college Motto is “ Deo et patriae” (Latin) translates in the English language as “For God and Country.”  THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED 1 PETER 4:11