(The message was given by Rev. Fr. Carlos G. Ronquillo, CSsR at the Opening Remarks during the Opening Ceremony of the Cultural Week of SATMI 2019)
For the past 11 years, SATMI celebrates the annual Cultural Week. The reason behind this yearly celebration is to witness where SATMI stands in the missiological, theological, and pastoral formation it wants to offer the students who come to study. Through the Cultural Week celebrations, SATMI commits itself in promoting cultural exchange, appreciating the role of culture in bringing the truth of what it is to be a human person, harnessing the uniqueness and diversity of cultural identities.
It is true that there is beauty in the diversity of the colors of the Church in culture, we know that part of the people’s belonging to the colors of the Church in today’s world does not acknowledge the presence or importance of faith in their lives. It is clear that everyone is on a journey to find meaning and understand the truth, and the progress made on this journey does not necessarily elevate one person over another.
Our celebration of the Cultural Week is a good occasion to recognize the task of harnessing the beauty of the diversity of colors of a culture where the Church is situated or has to be situated as glitters of hope to make faith grow in the hearts of people every day. This week is our chance to celebrate the diversity of colors among ourselves coming from different nations and cultural traditions and backgrounds but professing one faith.
