It was in 2022 when the door to serve the AYTA indigenous community in the Philippines was opened for us Adorers of the Blood of Christ, through our Mission Clinic in Quezon City, Philippines and in partnership with St. Vincent School of Theology. Since then, we accompany the community monthly to respond to their medical concerns together with our collaborators, mission partners, youth and other organizations.
The indigenous communities are the original or native inhabitants of a specific region or country who have a historical continuity and a strong link to their ancestral lands before the arrival of colonizers or the establishment of present-day state boundaries. We have learned their culture, values, their connection to the earth as well as their joys and struggles. We have been part of the community, and our service didn’t end with medical help but was extended to scholarship of one student who is now graduating from the University, training of 6 indigenous women and marketing their harvests and even opening our convent as an open and safe space where they can rest whenever they come down to sell their produce.
Through this endeavor, our ASC congregation was invited to be part of the ROOTS-Asia (The Catholic Network of Indigenous People in Asia) and with the help of the General Administration through the office of ASC-JPIC headed by Sr. Dani Brought, Sister Flor Manga, ASC participated in the conference on Inculturation, Synodality and Integral Ecology held in Bangkok, Thailand Dec. 8-12 at Don Bosco Homes. The 18 participants in the conference included persons and Institutions from Asia that work directly with Indigenous communities along with some theologians.
As I participated, I remembered how St. Maria De Mattias started from the grassroots during her time. She dedicated her early years to giving catechesis to the women and girls and even to the shepherds. She was content to be with them and serve the Lord through them. But the time came for her to go to Rome and to higher authorities. For the sake of the Institute and for the works that were already flourishing to be recognized she went overcoming her resistance.
In our pursuit of justice, peace and the integrity of creation as called forth by our Precious Blood spirituality, we were called to the indigenous community. From listening to their cries of injustice, struggles to survive, fight for their ancestral lands which are being destroyed, we were brought to the platform. The recent conference was the platform to be their voice. It was also an affirmation that we are not working alone but there are also many who already started these works and that around the world there are a lot of indigenous communities. Working together makes us stronger and more equipped in doing our ministries. My gratitude for this possibility.
The indigenous communities are the original or native inhabitants of a specific region or country who have a historical continuity and a strong link to their ancestral lands before the arrival of colonizers or the establishment of present-day state boundaries. We have learned their culture, values, their connection to the earth as well as their joys and struggles. We have been part of the community, and our service didn’t end with medical help but was extended to scholarship of one student who is now graduating from the University, training of 6 indigenous women and marketing their harvests and even opening our convent as an open and safe space where they can rest whenever they come down to sell their produce.
Through this endeavor, our ASC congregation was invited to be part of the ROOTS-Asia (The Catholic Network of Indigenous People in Asia) and with the help of the General Administration through the office of ASC-JPIC headed by Sr. Dani Brought, Sister Flor Manga, ASC participated in the conference on Inculturation, Synodality and Integral Ecology held in Bangkok, Thailand Dec. 8-12 at Don Bosco Homes. The 18 participants in the conference included persons and Institutions from Asia that work directly with Indigenous communities along with some theologians.
As I participated, I remembered how St. Maria De Mattias started from the grassroots during her time. She dedicated her early years to giving catechesis to the women and girls and even to the shepherds. She was content to be with them and serve the Lord through them. But the time came for her to go to Rome and to higher authorities. For the sake of the Institute and for the works that were already flourishing to be recognized she went overcoming her resistance.
In our pursuit of justice, peace and the integrity of creation as called forth by our Precious Blood spirituality, we were called to the indigenous community. From listening to their cries of injustice, struggles to survive, fight for their ancestral lands which are being destroyed, we were brought to the platform. The recent conference was the platform to be their voice. It was also an affirmation that we are not working alone but there are also many who already started these works and that around the world there are a lot of indigenous communities. Working together makes us stronger and more equipped in doing our ministries. My gratitude for this possibility.
Sr. Flor M. Manga, ASC
ASC-JPIC contact person, PhilippinesASC-JPIC contact person, Philippines
Here is an article with more information about the ASC sisters’ ministry among the Aeta indigenous people in the Philippines: https://www.globalsistersreport.org/ministry/sisters-help-indigenous-aeta-community-philippines-uplift-their-lives