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Theological Synthesis & Missiological Paper Defense 2024

Missiological Paper Presentation | Fourth Year Theology Students

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Missiological Paper Presentation of Br. Mario Limot, OFM entitled: “Pamalandong sa Gingharian sa Dios sa Konteksto sa mga Matinuohon sa Barangay Sumalig, Tambulig, Zamboanga Del Sur“

Mentor: Fr. Neil Badillo, OFM

“Ang konsepto sa Gingharian sa Dios nagbarug isip usa ka sentro ug lawom nga teolohiko nga motibo sulod sa Kristohanong panghunahuna, nga naglangkob sa pagkasoberano sa paghari sa Dios ug sa katinuod sa Iyang mga lihok dinhi sa kalibutan. Kining teolohikal nga konsepto, nga nakagamot sa biblikanhong mga asoy ug mga pagtulonan, milabaw sa mga sinugdanan niini aron mahimong usa ka dinamikong puwersa nga naghulma sa mga pagtuo ug mga buhat sa lain-laing mga Kristiyanong komunidad sa tibuok kalibotan. Ang paghubad ug pagpadapat sa Gingharian sa Dios, bisan pa, wala mahitabo sa usa ka haw-ang; sulod niining talagsaon nga kultural nga konteksto, kini naglakip sa pagpresentar sa usa ka daling duolon nga teolohikanhong panglantaw nga nagpasiugda sa kalamboan ug pagkalain-lain sa tibuok kalibutan nga Kristohanong pagtuo.” – Excerpt from the paper of Br. Mario

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Missiological Paper Presentation of Br. Melandro Pera, CSsR entitled: “Stewardship as an Integral Part of Missions of the Church: The Case of Our Lady Visitation Mission Parish (OVLP) in Alfonso Lista, Ifugao“

Mentor: Fr. Neil Badillo, OFM

“Stewardship is spirituality! A way of life that reflects our faith. A life centered on giving and participating in the divine economy of our experience of the richness of encountering God. It is to follow and emulate Jesus’ way of life, the manifestation of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. It has the power to change the way we live. It confronts and challenges the false notions of how we live our lives. It brings us to the conversion of heart and drives us to take action, to give and share our talent, time, and treasure based on our faith. All good that we have are graces from the Lord, which we must cultivate responsibly and share abundantly with others in need, in grateful recognition of Christ’s redeeming love. Stewardship has its source in our personal encounter with the Redeemer and conversion of hearts. However, from personal, it moves to a communal relationship with Jesus that binds us all together in Him as one, proclaiming the Gospel with our lives. We witness our stewardship in our daily lives through the stewardship of creation, vocation, and the Church.” – Excerpt from the paper of Br. Melandro

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Synthesis Proposal Presentation | Fifth Year Theology Students

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Theological Synthesis Paper Presentation of Br. Rey Julo Biliran, CSsR entitled: “Interfacing Theology and Liminality: Towards a Liminal-Synodal Church in Praxis“

Mentor: Br. Carlito Gaspar, CSsR

“In a liminal-synodal Church, the people of God recover their identity as humble witnesses to God’s infinite love and mercy, ready to undertake what is being asked of them in discernment, side themselves to the poor, often found in liminal spaces of experience, whom she is called to listen to and work with. It continues to navigate the complexities of a world it serves for Christ’s sake, maintaining meaningful and fruitful dialectics of its structure and the ideals and experience of the communitas until the promised final consummation comes.

In this regard, borrowing the words of Karl Gaspar, who wrote from the perspective of the Mindanao Church experience, one would hope that “pastoral approaches will shift as new ecclesial templates are pursued. One can only hope that whatever gains the local church (or the universal Church) has attained in the last five decades (or in the last two millennia or even beyond) will continue to deepen and be strengthened, especially in terms of how its structures – dioceses, parishes, and BECs – can truly contribute to the formation of a new way of being Church – one that has the capacity to always read the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel and respond in the best way it can to witness to the unfolding of the reign of God in the here and now.” (1) – Excerpt from the paper of Br. Julo
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(1) Karl Gaspar, “The Mindanao Church Experience: Engaging and Transforming Pastoral Ministires in the Philippines” in Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader, Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon, edited by (Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2022), 262.

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Theological Synthesis Paper Presentation of Br. Alvin Cajes, MLCC entitled: “The Ministry of Healing and Deliverance of Mary’s Little Children Community: Understanding the Theological Foundation“

Mentor: Fr. Neil Badillo, OFM

“Healing and deliverance, when considered holistically, include the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It entails addressing physical ailments and attending to emotional wounds, spiritual distress, and societal injustices. On a larger scale, healing and deliverance prioritize restoring individuals and communities, promoting general health, peace, and social harmony. This approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of different aspects of life and strives for all-encompassing healing and freedom.” – Excerpt from the paper of Br. Alvin

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Theological Synthesis Paper Presentation of Br. Jaymar Escoltor, OFM entitled: “Biblico-Agricultural Metaphors of God and Faith: A Theology Designed for the Farmers“

Mentor: Fr. Neil Badillo, OFM

Metaphor is a powerful tool for conveying complex theological ideas by creating vivid imagery that’s easy to understand and remember. Drawing on our experiences, metaphors, especially those depicting God, resonate deeply with us. When we encounter new concepts like God, our brains seek familiar connections to help us grasp them. Metaphors that tap into common experiences, like nurturing or protection, are particularly effective in conveying God’s essence. These symbolic images evoke emotional and sensory memories, forging a strong connection to the idea being conveyed. For example, feeling the wind can evoke not just physical awareness but also a metaphorical understanding of the Holy Spirit’s presence, enhancing our spiritual sensitivity. (Joshua B. Bizzell, “Images of God: Visualizing God through Biblical Metaphor,” 28.) – Excerpt from the paper of Br. Jaymar

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Theological Synthesis Paper Presentation of Br. Pelix Fernando, CSsR entitled: “Internalizing Faiths in an Inter Religious Community: A Call for A Synodal Journey“

Mentor: Sr. Miriam Alejandrino, OSB

“Internalizing faiths in an Inter-Religious community: A call for a Synodal journey. This Synthesis is a theological, Biblical and Missiological examination on how to develop inner faith of people with different faiths traditions in a community like the tea planters in Balangoda, Sri Lanka.
This Synthesis paper provides an insight into the inner lives and how spirituality helps the tea plantation workers in overcoming difficult situations. A person’s core inner faith is his/her steadfast internal conviction. It’s not about outward appearances or rituals, but a true conviction in God’s providence. The primary idea is that conversion from within is what defines the inner faith—not an external display. With this understanding of Inner faith in connation with human relationship through the Holy Spirit towards Divine element. This can help us to better understand the relationship between faith and social justice.” – Excerpt from the paper of Br. Pelix

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Theological Synthesis Paper Presentation of Br. Antony Charles Prabhu Mahimairaj, CSsR entitled: “Exploring the Transformative Potential of Migrant Theology through the Paradigm of the Poor and Abandoned Migrant: A Theological Synthesis“

Mentor: Dr. Roawie Quimba

My theological learnings and serves as a tribute to SATMI. Migrant theology focuses on the experiences of migrants, especially those most vulnerable. My paper allowed me to use my learnings from SATMI both in the classroom and during my immersion year, to explore how biblical foundations, doctrines, and theological concepts can be applied to the challenges faced by poor and abandoned migrants like Nilda, Md. Zahid, and Samina (names changed to protect privacy). Nilda (domestic worker in Saudi Arabia) lost contact with her family and faced abuse and harrasment. Md. Zahid went abroad for his family but ended up in debtridden construction work. Samina (in Lebanon) endured long hours, no pay, and harassment. By understanding their stories through the lens of migrant theology and Catholic social teachings, I gained a deeper empathy and the missionary skills to serve these people at the margins. This paper empowers me as a life long Redemptorist missionary to advocate for the marginalized following the footsteps of the Redeemer with hope, knowledge and most importantly service.
– Excerpt from the paper of Br. Antony

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Theological Synthesis Paper Presentation of Br. Dario Tupas, CSsR entitled: “Community Pantries as a Locus of Encounter: Towards A Synodal Church in the Post-Pandemic Context“

Mentor: Fr. Edilberto Cepe, CSsR & Mr. Neil John Capidos

“The narratives of encounters of the ordinary faithful made us realize that mission is no longer confined to the walls of the church but extends to the heart of the community, where ordinary people are empowered to respond to the needs of their neighbors in times of crises. The narratives of encounters in the community pantries made us realize the gifts of the poor in the church, and what is being a church. Most importantly, the community pantries served as a locus of encounter, where Christ’s presence in the Spirit of communion and journeying together became more palpable.” – Excerpt from the paper of Br. Dario
For more photos:
https://satmi.org/project/theological-synthesis-missiological-paper-defense-2024/