August 2003

In the Philippines, SCJs are preparing for the day when the doors to Asia open fully. "We don't want them to open and then not know how to walk through them," said Fr. Aloisio Back, SCJ. Novice master in the Philippine District, Fr. Back is also the district's representative at the General Chapter in Rome.

The "doors" that Fr. Back talks about are figurative ones, referring to the restrictions on the practice of Catholicism, and especially missionary activities. In Vietnam, for example, the government does not allow priests who were not ordained in the country to practice public ministry. And, of course, the government also gives the final approval as to who will and won't be ordained.

"But there is a growing sense that in the next ten years, these restrictions will loosen, and the doors will slowly open," said Fr. Back. "We want to be ready for that."

Already the congregation has four Philipino men in vows, six in the novitiate and over 20 in pre-theology programs. This includes seven men from Vietnam, three of whom are postulants.

The Philippines is the only Asian country that is predominantly Catholic. Visas are not difficult to obtain for religious (as opposed to India or Indonesia) and there are already many good resources in Manila for the education of priests and the religious. And especially for this reason, it is a good base for the future of the SCJs in Asia.

However, being a Catholic country doesn't necessarily make it an easy country for ministry. When the congregation first arrived in the Philippines 14 years ago, it requested ministries on one of the poorest islands in the archipelago -- Mindanao. "It is an area that the Philippine people consider dangerous," said Fr. Back. "There are many social problems... very real poverty... but these are the types of areas we are called to go to as a congregation."

The community took on three parishes and slowly began to learn about the people they had come to serve. "We chose a very difficult area to begin," said Fr. Back. "But it helped us to quickly enculturate to the reality of the Philippines. We were forced to learn the local language, and be with the poorest of the country's people."

Two years ago, the problems of the area came into the international spotlight when a member of the SCJ community was kidnapped: Fr. Giuseppe Pierantoni. After many months he was released, but the incident forced the community to reassess its ministries.

"The kidnapping had an impact, but it was also time for us to restructure our work," said Fr. Back. The parishes are now running well and in good shape to give to the diocese. "It was time for us to look at more specific ministries."

And specifically, they wanted a ministry tied to a retreat or spirituality center. The SCJs re-negotiated with the bishop, trading ministry at two parishes for another further inland. They did so with the promise that in the near future, they would set up the retreat center they dreamed of. "The only other one in the diocese burned down, so the bishop is very anxious for us to set it up," said Fr. Back.

They also have a program for abused girls, and hope to do more with the youth. "Our presence there is important not just for service to the Church, but in addressing the social problems of the country," said Fr. Back. "Poverty is widespread, corruption... we must go as far as we can in spreading our spirituality." And from that spirituality, addressing the many needs of Asia.

With the restructuring, the community is still in three parishes in Mindanao. Since 1999, they were already present in Manila. A house was purchased for the use of both theology students and those in Asia seeking a place to take a sabbatical. Currently, it is also housing the novitiate program. Close to schools, and other religious congregations with which to collaborate, it is ideal for formation. One deterrent problem is that it is far from the other SCJ ministries -- getting together for community meetings takes either two hours by plane, or two days by boat.

"More of our presence will be needed in Manila," he said. It's the place place for education in Asia because of its resources. "But we shouldn't be so isolated there." Among the ministries Fr. Back hopes to develop in Manila is formation programs for priests.

Community living requires an effort in any situation, but especially in an international effort such as the Philippines. Fr. Back is from Southern Brazil. Other countries represented include Poland, Italy, Indonesia, Great Britain.

"It was good in that we had to find a common language and discover together a way to be present in the Philippines," he said. "But it takes constant dialogue... Community life means conversion and to do this you must get 'outside of yourself.'

"In preparing for a mission you have to understand that there are going to be deeper challenges than what you may have had at home. But if you accept them, you will also have a deeper, more meaningful life... when I came here [over 12 years ago] I was not sure if it was the right place for me." But often, he added, it is only in looking back that a person "knows he has taken the right path."

"This is where I should be," he concluded. "This is where the congregation should be."