By Stephen J Pedroza
The members of the Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU) drew together to bolster the call for religious coexistence and pluralism during their 2015 conference and student camp held recently in Indonesia.
With the theme “Catholic Higher Education and Religious Inclusiveness,” the presidents, administrators, guests and student leaders from Catholic schools in Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand participated in the said event.
“I do hope that the conference and student camp will reinforce our confidence that religious coexistence is not impossible,” said Dr Y Budi Widianarko, professor and rector at Soegijapranata Catholic University, this year’s host institution.
In line with the goal of “reinventing the true meaning” of Catholic higher education in a culturally diverse society, the gathering called for open-mindedness and understanding of other people’s faith.
“In this part of the world we have enough examples showing that religious tolerance and inclusiveness have been a living reality. It is the role of Catholic higher education community to continuously nurture the coexistence among communities of different religions and beliefs,” Widianarko added.
Social transformation
Following the teachings of Pope Francis on empathy, dialogue, openness and solidarity, the leaders of the Church believe that Catholic universities can pave the way toward harmony and peaceful coexistence and collaborations among different religious groups.
ASEACCU considers the diversity of faiths as an important building block rather than a “weakening factor.”
In the discussion of Msgr Ign Suharyo, president of the Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia, he underscored social transformation in the paradigm of Catholic education to establish inclusiveness.
“Catholic universities should shoulder the responsibility in the formation of their students in such a way that during their studies they could experience the conscientization and internationalization of fundamental human values,” he said.
Suharyo shared, “Higher education institutions should find ways so that every single person involved in Catholic universities, whoever he is, undergoes a transformation which will shape him to a more mature person ‘in the image of Christ’ and once this has taken place, religious inclusiveness will indeed become one of its manifold fruits.”
Now on its 23rd year, ASEACCU is "a regional association of Catholic universities in countries within the geographical area whose aims are to promote Catholic higher education and contribute to the educational dialogue on an international level beyond the Southeast and East Asian regions."
Interreligious dialogue
In the Philippines, having the highest concentration of Catholic population in Southeast Asia, public and private universities and colleges are points of crossroads or “melting pots” of different religions. As of the last census of the National Statistics Office (NSO) in 2010, there are 74.2M followers of the Roman Catholic Church or 80.6% of the Philippine population.
Presently, there are 36 Philippine members in ASEACCU including Xavier University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in Mindanao, where the majority of Filipino Muslims live. Based also on the 2010 NSO census, at least 4.8M Muslims or 94% of the country's Islamic population reside in the second largest island in the Philippines.
“My experience here in Indonesia is one that I‘ll never forget for the rest of my life,” shared XU Muslim student Nor-Jamal G Bantugan, during his testimony at the ASEACCU student camp.
“I was housed in a Buddhist family, had two Indonesian foster brothers—one of them was even aspiring to be a Dominican priest. But our differences never hindered us to be the closest friends; rather, we celebrated our differences and learned from each other. I saw in them the human in me and they saw in me the human in them,” he recounted.
An intercultural learning experience, the ASEACCU student camp, divided into two main activities (service learning and seminar), served as an avenue for young leaders to find ways on how they can contribute to addressing intertwining social issues and making this globalized world inclusive.
“Isn‘t our belief in the same God enough for us to realize and understand that we came from the same Creator? That we are brothers and sisters in humanity?” the XU student asked.
From his experience, Bantugan has learned that there is something greater that binds all people regardless of religion and differences.
“Our task is to look for it, search for it: that which bridges all humanity at large—our faith in God, the One who created you and me,” Bantugan related. “I believe if only Muslims would be good Muslims or Catholics be good Catholics then this world will be more peaceful and happier.”
Along with Bantugan were XU Central Student Government (CSG) president Joseph Roldan Z Tagalog, XU United Religious Organization (URO) representative Kate Mary Queen P Ebonia and Office of International Cooperation and Networking (OICN) director Elisabeth B Enerio representing XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ.
“Conflicts have become a part of our daily lives and my people, the Bangsamoro, have been its primary victims for the longest time. Sadly, religion was even used as a basis to justify such conflicts — which I openly condemn. Is there any religion in the face of the earth that teaches violence? I believe none. All faiths teach peace, love, and sacrifice for the betterment of the world,” Bantugan explained.
With Peace Education as one of its thematics under the Research and Social Outreach (RSO) cluster, XU has actively promoted interreligious dialogue and service learning programs as ways of fostering lasting peace in the conflict-torn areas of Mindanao.
Locally, the Collaborative Service Learning Program (CSLP) is one of XU’s answers to the call for inclusiveness, where students are able to discuss and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds, genders, race and faith.
“Back in the Philippines, my Catholic university has taught me many values that formed me into becoming a better servant of God. My university taught me to find God in all things, to seek His presence, and to recognize his existence in everything that I do,” he said.
Wrapping up his thoughtful sharing during at the ASEACCU student camp, Bantugan said that, “My Catholic university taught me to do things in magis — in excellence, to do things more than what is expected. My Catholic university taught me to perform all my duties and responsibilities, my dreams, my aspirations — all for the greater glory of God: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.”