The Theology and Ministry Program of the School of Humanities invites you to the oral defense of the M.A. Thesis entitled “THE VISION OF EVANGELIZATION IN THE DIOCESE OF MALAYBALAY, BUKIDNON AS SEEN IN THE PASTORAL LETTERS OF ITS BISHOPS (1969-2019)” by JULMAR R. LOFRANCO on 9 October 2024, Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. at the Tipanan ni San Ignacio, DLC 201, 2/F Dela Costa Bldg., Loyola School of Theology. The Board of Examiners is composed of Fr. Emmanuel Marfori, S.Th.D. (Second Reader/Principal Examiner), Fr. Arnel Aquino, S.J., S.T.D., and Fr. Oliver Dy, S.J., S.T.D., Ph.D. The M.A. Thesis Adviser is Fr. Hartono Budi, S.J., Th.D. The defense is being held in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Theological Studies specializing in the field of Systematic Theology. It is open to the public.
Abstract: In April 2019, the Local Church of Malaybalay, Bukidnon, celebrated its Golden Jubilee, marking fifty (50) years since its establishment as a new ecclesiastical territory in 1969, under the theme: “Golden Jubilee of Grateful Remembering: Our Giftedness and Our Mission”.
In the spirit of joyful gratitude, this academic inquiry into the Vision of Evangelization in the Diocese of Malaybalay, as reflected in the Pastoral Letters of its Bishops (1969-2019), examines the journey of the Local Church of Malaybalay in responding to Christ’s call to spread the good news to all people.
Using the See-Judge-Act pastoral action framework, the researcher explores the socio historical context of the Local Church of Malaybalay (“see”), drawing on data from the available pastoral letters of its bishops from 1969 to 2019 to establish principles for reflection and judgment based on the Gospels, recent missionary documents of the Church, and Christian Tradition (“judge/discern”). The study then offers a pastoral synthesis and recommendations for the Local Church of Malaybalay (“act”), aimed at guiding the faithful towards an informed response to the complex challenges, particularly in the realm of evangelization.
From this inquiry, two significant conclusions emerge: first, evangelization has fostered the development of the Local Church of Malaybalay into a Synodal Church characterized by Communion, Participation, and Mission; and second, evangelization represents a comprehensive effort to liberate the faithful from various forms of present unfreedoms.
