I.S.A. Co-organizes Ecumenical Immersion in Tondo

The Institute of Spirituality in Asia (ISA) helped organize ANAWIM MISSION, the first ecumenical immersion which drew members from Catholics (ISA and the Archdiocese of Manila), mainline Protestants (National Council of Churches in the Philippines) and Evangelicals (Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) and the Penuel School of Theology).

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ISA helped conceptualize the solidarity immersion as an interactive experience that helps people become aware of and understand the lives, pains and sufferings of the urban poor. 

Named after the Biblical term for the poor, the immersion mission was held in the morning of March 9, 2018 at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church in Tondo, Manila.

The members of the mission held a dialogue with residents of Parola and Happy Land, areas near the pier and the busy market of Divisoria.  Most of the residents survive by garlic-peeling, tricycle driving and picking up left-over vegetables.

ISA staff and other members of the immersion mission listened to the testimonies of two widows of victims of extrajudicial killing (EJK) by policemen whose identities are known. They also learned of the travails of three speakers who are in danger of ejection from the homes they have developed from what used to be barren land.  

The members of the mission heard one of the speakers narrate how, despite the risk to the job security of her husband and son, she has remained firm in her commitment to help neighbors keep their homes from the projects of urban developers.

After the immersion mission, ISA and the other members of the team plan to discuss their findings and to share their insights with other partners in similar ecumenical missions.

 

By: Dr. Carmen Alviar