Abstract:

Pope Francis’ direct apology in Bolivia in July 2015 for the Church’s complicity in the suppression of the local culture and the oppression of the indigenous peoples of Latin America during the age of discoveries provides a compelling context for the Church’s work of evangelization among the indigenous peoples today. The tesina builds on Pope Francis’ apology and exhortation by exploring the Christianity-culture encounters in the Church’s past and present work of evangelization. The future of evangelization particularly in Asia, as envisioned by the Federation Asian Bishops’ Conferences, is presented as its vision of inculturation. Much has been written and discussed about the work of inculturation in Asia. The challenge, however, is on how the vision can be put into practice in a specific setting. What steps need to be taken to realize this vision? How can these documents be translated into action? By providing a specific face to the Indigenous Peoples in the Umajamnẻns of Bukidnon, Philippines, this paper provides a three-step process of doing theology-in-context which is a fundamental facet in the work of inculturation.

Final Defense:

Board of Examiners: Fr. Jojo Fung, S.J., Ph.D. (Principal Examiner), Fr. Arnel Aquino, S.J., S.T.D., and Fr. Manuel Francisco, S.J., S.T.D.

Proposal Defense:

Board of Examiners: Fr. Fernando Guillen, Sch.P., S.T.D., Fr. Enrico Eusebio, S.J., J.C.D., Fr. James Kroeger, M.M., D.Miss. (Adviser).