Our pilgrimage in Rome

There was a single moment in the history of the Congregation when our Founder was beatified on 9 November 1997 at St Peter's Basilica in Rome.The bishops, priests, religious and lay people around the world gathered together in this celebration.It was absolutely amazing and inspiring.Around 10, 000 people filled St Peter's Square to take part in the Eucharist presided by the Holy Father - Pope John Paul II.There were two other servants of God also beatified together with our Founder.One was Blessed Vilmos Apor, bishop and martyr from Hungary and Blessed María Vicenta de Santa Dorothea Chavez Orozco from México.She was the Foundress of the Congregation of the Servants of the Most Holy Trinity and the Poor.

There were seventeen (17) Scalabrinian priests from Santa Francesca Cabrini Province (Australia-Asia) including four students of Theology in Manila and twenty-three lay people who attended the said event.All of them came from the different parts of Australia - eleven from Sydney, four from Melbourne, seven from Brisbane and one from Perth.It was really great and extremely memorable.We all entered into fellowship and thus far, formed relationship.For many of us, it was moving.It was incredible to see thousands of people gathered together from different corners of the globe.Young and old from all walks of life gave glory and praise to God.

We participated in most activities organized by the Italian province.Here, we found richness in the multiplicity of gifts amongst the participants.We experienced unity which has its genesis in certain collaboration and co-ordination.

I think one of my emerging reflections concerned the variety of expressions in different cultural traditions.In such a milieu, the time of global village, in which the search is on for what is deeply humanizing and inclusive, we manifested a healthy attitude of respect for other cultures.This was evidenced in our interaction with the other delegates.

It brought me back to recall the time of Constantine when Christianity and European culture had become more and more synonymous.'Europe is the Faith and the Faith is Europe' became a cliché[1] and the 'the way the Catholic Faith was formulated by First World theologians and the theology which arose from these formulations became the official teacher of the Church.[2]As a Filipino, I see nothing wrong with it except that the formulations were taken from one culture with its corresponding values and customs.This is the context in which I questioned myself.This led me to reflect that the Church is itself cultures.These are human realities.

I am called to acculturate in a certain local culture to be able to facilitate the inculturation of the Gospel by the local people.Hence, my coming to the beatification is missioned not only by my congregation but also in some way by the local church of my origin which I represent.

The growing insights and awareness I experienced during those days have thus been a contribution to my whole commitment as a religious missionary.This involves though a reflection from within and upon, ways and language behaviour that relatively bring forth the possibility of understanding the people who come from other cultures, and the variety of situations upon which I look with the eyeglasses of faith.

Relying on the strength of our unity as pilgrims, our sharing of life's joys and beauties, fun and laughter, and even dissatisfactions and discomforts had made me see the actions of others in the context of the whole person.Or, if not, of the whole situation.This includes their history, influences, factors and backgrounds.I came to appreciate more, instead of giving criticism.I enjoyed the company of my companions.They were very good and supportive of our welfare.

Running through the schedules of our pilgrimage to go to different places in Italy was the second option we carried out.We visited places known as the traditional sites such as Assisi, Florence, Venice, Verona, Parma, and Piacenza.Like Geoffrey Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales who immortalized the pilgrims of his miller, squire, knight, monk, priest, prioress, franklin, et al, we also have some impressions and insights to immortalize.These are the good relationships we formed, the gifts of ourselves and the concern for one another.Those historic buildings and churches, etc, are places where pilgrims and visitors like us are equally welcomed.Those people who come and go in our life are to be received in a similar way.

The great cathedrals and basilicas we visited are for me significant sacramental images in my own life.With those elaborate and monumental columns, arches and vaulted ceilings, vast empty spaces and shrines, artifacts and frescoes, archaic tombs and magnificent statues and paintings seemed too immense, too huge, too impersonal and too regal.But certainly, having absorbed a classic understanding of the church's design and history, I came to realize that it was meant to be huge, vast, and remote to remind me that God's awesome presence in this aching humanity is a lasting source of healing and strength.It seemed to have its won soul that mirrors an inward experience.

As I walked through the centre aisle, new thoughts constantly came to my mind.I began to connect my own parish church in Lalor, Victoria (Australia) where I currently work.I found the huge cathedrals and basilicas very remote and irrelevant to my own spiritual needs.That Roman and Gothic architecture seemed merely a sharp cutting-edge which can make all the difference in the world.It gave me an impression that God is very far from me.My heart quickened as I sensed through the vastness and majesty of the church.But something inexplicable in it is the divine nature that is being conveyed.I was drawn to see beyond and to appreciate the tangible to communicate the intangible.It was very meaningful for it provides avenues that led me into the presence of our unseen God - our Creator.This prompted me though to experience a deep sense of his presence and to be free from ties of comparisons or even distractions.As Jesuit priest Fr Franck Wallace writes, "Prayer is an encounter, not a performance."

I tried to comb the growing archives in our Scalabrinian spirituality to share the in-depth work based upon our own experiences in life.For me it did hold great interest for all who took part in the said pilgrimage, and for all concerned with the changing tenor of individual actions towards the migrants.This involves a higher profile, a 'doing' and 'action' profile.Seeing the world through various media forms, we can say that it has nearly lost the meaning of our interconnectedness as brothers and sisters in faith.

While we give greater weight to our concern towards the migrants, we make it clear that we open our doors to culturally diverse groups and offer hope and encouragement to those who normally carry the burden of guilt and alienation in the church or even society at large.

On the other hand, the wisdom of pilgrimage comes to be understood as an inspiration to keep hope alive in difficult and trying times.It is like Marco Polo who, in 1298, when he published his book, inspired many people to go on traveling for reasons of discovery and mission.Other probably reasons could be for voyages of conquest.

By and large, our human mobility has become an experience of being part of a certain family.I felt it when I attended the said event.It was also a human need.It offers a traditional Christian repertoire of time and meaning in regard to our growth and deeper relationship.Many other expressions however exhibit a religious content of bonding with sacred beings and acquiring new horizons.

It is fitting to say however that our pilgrimage in Italy could be described as a celebration of our victory.But it is not like the victories of great kings and rulers of the nations, of great athletes and participants of a certain competition.This victory is more like a seed, and we have to wait for it as a farmer patiently waits for the fruit of the ground.Blessed John Scalabrini's elevation to the altar is not only throughout the world but within our own lives and hearts where metamorphosis happens.It is that God means every human being to pass through a change far more wonderful.

The wealth of my faith imagery about our Founder in the human church, challenges me to find the strength to re-direct my life interpretation and above all to change my lifestyle for the better in order to be completely for the other in its gradual way.It is also an invitation for me to face the struggle that crawls into the womb of grand visions often tarnished by the pains of everyday life.

It is a process though that will not alienate me but unite, not disappoint but will bring to fulfillment.

[1] Rahner, Karl, quoted by John Fuellenbach, 1989.Hermeneutics, Marxism, and Liberation Theology.

Manila: Divine Word Publications, p. 1.

[2] Ibid.