In cooperation with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs (CBCP- ECEA), the Focolare Movement organized the First School on Ecumenism which was held on September 13-15, 2024, in Mariapolis Peace, Tagaytay City.

There were 88 participants present, composed of 3 priests who are Archdiocesan/Diocesan Commission heads; 2 pre-deacons; 16 seminarians coming from Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, South Korea, and the Philippines, all staying at the Scuola Epi (the Focolare’s center of spirituality for priests and seminarians in Asia); 2 catechists; and 62 lay men and women engaged in ecumenical dialogue. The Directors of the Focolare Movement for the Indian Subcontinent and the Philippines, Cherylanne Menezes and Andrew Camilleri, were also present at the three-day convention. The Most Rev. Mel Rey Uy, D.D., Chairman of CBCP-ECEA, also graced this first school on ecumenism.

The participants represented the Commission on Ecumenism in the Dioceses of Novaliches, Pasig, and Kalookan (Metro Manila), Antipolo (Rizal), Lucena (Quezon), San Jose (Nueva Ecija), San Fernando (La Union), and Baguio (Cordillera Administrative Region) as well as the Archdioceses of Cebu and San Fernando (Pampanga).

Majority of the participants are currently involved in the following ecumenical groups: Cebu Ecumenical Fellowship, Quezon City Ecumenical Fellowship, Rizal Ecumenical Movement, Laguna Ecumenical Movement, La Union Ecumenical Group, Baguio City Ecumenical Council, Pampanga Ecumenical Council, CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) Ecumenical Fellowship, Cavite Ecumenical Movement, Bansalan Ecumenical Fellowship (Davao del Sur), Novaliches Ecumenical Fellowship, and Quezon Ecumenical Movement.

The school was very enriching, informative and relevant to this mission of the Church. Ecumenism from the perspective of the journey of the Catholic Church and the rise of the different churches given by Nilda Castro of the Focolare Movement, and the Catholic Principles of Ecumenism discussed extensively by Msgr. Juan Usma Gomez of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity, helped the participants to have a deeper understanding of ecumenical dialogue. Through talks by Fr. Rolando Garcia, Rector of San Carlos Seminary, and Jose Aranas of the Focolare Movement, everyone gained a better appreciation of the Sacrament of Baptism and Receptive Ecumenism respectively. Fr. Alvin Raypan spoke about Ecumenism and Synodality, particularly in the experience of the ecumenical movement in the Archdiocese of Cebu.

In this dialogue of life, it is of vital importance to know how to engage in dialogue. The best practices and challenges in dialogue as experienced in the Focolare Movement were shared by Mervat Kelli and Enno Dijkema from Centro Uno, the Movement’s Ecumenical Center, and many things were clarified in the open forum after each session.

On the last night of the school, Mariapolis Peace, the Focolare’s little town in Tagaytay, was presented and its reality as a City of Dialogue, building bridges and relationships of fraternity among individuals, peoples, and cultures. Featured in the presentation were the School of Dialogue with Oriental Religions which offers formation courses to help in the dialogue with the major religions in Asia, and the Focolare Movement’s contribution to the Church in Interreligious Dialogue.

Another highlight of the school was the planting of the Palawan cherry blossom sapling (locally known as balayong) which was given to the Focolare Movement and the Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs during the celebration of the Season of Creation on September 2, 2024 at St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church of the Philippines in Quezon City. It was then planted during the school to symbolize the commitment of all to love and build unity by being “apostles of dialogue.”

The presence of Bishop Uy was a big gift and a blessing to the school. In his message, he emphasized the importance of ecumenism lived with a spirituality. At the school’s conclusion, Cherylanne Menezes and Andrew Camilleri shared about an Ecumenical Spirituality, that of living communion and unity to be protagonists in ecumenical dialogue.

With a deeper understanding of ecumenism came also a strong desire to be more of service to the Church in this dialogue with different Christian denominations. From the impressions gathered, the participants were all smiles and grateful to have been part of the school not only because of a better understanding of ecumenism but also because of the rapport built while doing things together with the other participants, listening to one another, showing care and concern, in the mutual exchange of experiences. Profound experiences were shared by the different ecumenical groups during the round table discussion on building relationships with the other Christian brothers and sisters, the difficulties and challenges encountered, and the beautiful fruits of having persevered in loving, all for God. These lessons on life have been precious gifts for everyone, inspiring many to continue believing that this is a work of God, and together bear witness to His love by being instruments of unity.

Here are some of the impressions shared:

• “In the school, I felt we are one Family.”

• “I have many learnings from the school, but to sum it up, it is a call to love and for unity.”

• “I stepped ‘on holy ground’ at the Mariapolis Peace. It’s a school where I learned new ideas and knowledge. What was interesting is that the experience of others enriched mine which was further enhanced by the talks and sharing of the speakers.”

• “The serenity of the place moved me to encounter God who is not distant, but who accompanies us in our journey. It’s a home! Culture and races have no boundaries, and most of all, Love!”

• “The welcoming smiles made us feel we are a family. I find peace in this place.”

• “I realized that ECUMENISM has a deeper meaning. It is a call for Christian unity and collaboration between Christian churches. It is a call to love, unite and journey together, to work together for the common good and respect each other’s religion and not to dwell on our differences.”

• “… is a call to love more and to exude simplicity, humility and charity to our fellowmen, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters from different religions.”

• “I’m looking forward to becoming a bridge for people with different spiritual beliefs from mine, all for the fulfillment of the prayer of Jesus for the unity of His Body: that we may all be one. ”

The school has been a beautiful experience of reciprocity and closeness, building the family among us, with the joys multiplied and the sufferings shared, bearing fruits in conversions, the overflowing of providence, and the choice of God. One of the priests present in the school expressed the desire to stay for 2 months in the Mariapolis Peace School of Formation when he celebrates his 25th sacerdotal anniversary this year. The joy in each one’s face was a confirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit that made the presence of Jesus palpable among all. Also felt was the motherly embrace of Mary who journeyed with all in this school.

The participants look with hope to the future as they discern and understand how to concretely live out Christ’s legacy of love, taking steps together with brothers and sisters from other Christian churches in this dialogue of life.

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