Theology IV: Transforming the World with St.

Vincent de Paul [1]

Introduction

Code Number: TH221E

Course Title: “TRANSFORMING THE WORLD TOWARDS THE REIGN OF

GOD WITH ST. VINCENT DE PAUL”

TOPIC: INTRODUCTION

Objective: at the end of the session, the student should be able to commit
himself/herself to the course, having understood the course syllabus, by signing and
submitting the pledge of commitment to the teacher.

From “Searching God” to “Responding to God” to “Celebrating God” and

now towards “Transforming the World”

You are now in your fourth and last theology subject in Adamson University’s
Theology curriculum on “Faith Journey towards Social Transformation.” Let us spend a
little time to recall what you went through from our previous theology classes.

Let us start with our Theology 1, Searching for God in the World Today. In this
subject, “theology” was defined as a process or a practice of consciously and
methodically reflecting on our experience of God in the ordinariness of life and social
and historical events of the world. You were introduced to “do theology” using the
methodology of see-discern-act/pray. The objective of theology is not only to know God
but to have a deeper and intimate relationship with God-in-Jesus.

Theology 2, Responding to God’s Call by Becoming Fully Human, continues our

journey of discipleship. The subject dealt with what is to be truly and fully human from
a Christian perspective as a way of responding to God-in Jesus’ invitation having found
Him in our lives. Thus, in this course, we paid attention tried to focus our “virtues” or
good habits as the way to follow Jesus of Nazareth and St Vincent de Paul. You were
guided, using the scriptures and Christian tradition, to acquire and develop good habits
or practices that will help us become good persons in our everyday life.

In Theology 3, Celebrating God’s Presence as a Christian Community, we realized

that we are not alone in our journey of becoming truly and fully human and fully alive.
God-in-Jesus continues to be present to us as a pilgrim People of God - the church. The
church-community of today continues to proclaim in words and deeds the liberating
message of Jesus by being relevant in its mission of evangelization in the context of new

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Unauthorized reproduction and selling is not allowed.
First Semester 2015-2016
 Theology IV: Transforming the World with St. Vincent de Paul [2]
Introduction

challenges or “signs of the times”, especially those that affect severely the poor and the
suffering, in the spirit and example of St. Vincent de Paul.

From this understanding of the church in solidarity with the whole of humanity
and the whole of creation, we are able to better understand the sacraments as
celebrations of God’s active presence of love and life in the world and as a challenge for
us (as church-community) to give witness to its story as the sacrament of Christ’s saving
unity and fellowship in the world

This fourth and the last subject in Theology is designed to help us concretely act
out our discipleship in Jesus in the larger social world. We are facing many challenges
brought about by scientific and technological advancements, along with the issues and
problems that affect the life of persons, communities and societies. As we cannot put
new wine into old wineskins, we need new perspectives and approaches to new
challenges. These new ways of understanding and new solutions must still be rooted in
the values of the Reign of God that Jesus Christ proclaimed, guided by the social
teachings and practices of the Catholic Church, and most especially in the spirit of St.
Vincent de Paul who promoted in what we may call today as “systemic change”. This
is why Theology 4 is titled, “Transforming the World with St. Vincent de Paul.”

As Adamsonian, molded in the Vincentian virtues and spirituality, we shall be

assisted in this course on how to respond to social concerns. Distinct from other courses
in the university that deal with philosophical ethics, this theology course offers the
theological ethical principles for responding to the challenges of the times.

Brainstorming Activity

Let’s divide the class into six groups (the number of the members per group
depend on the number of student/class size). All groups shall follow this procedure:

1. Identify issues or problems (as many as you can) we are facing today—social,
political, moral, ecological, economic, etc. that you consider significant as they
affect a large segment of the population.
2. List all these issues or problems in small cut-pieces of cartolina.
3. Each group presents the issues with short explanations.
4. Facilitated by your teacher, let us group or classify the various issues or
problems. We do this by grouping together more or less related issues or
problems.

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Unauthorized reproduction and selling is not allowed.
First Semester 2015-2016
 Theology IV: Transforming the World with St. Vincent de Paul [3]
Introduction

Note to the Teacher: An example of groupings of issues or problems looks like this
below. They are classified according to the various topics in Theology 4.

a. Human Mobility/Migration
b. Globalization and Labor
c. Computer-Mediated Communication
d. Health and Wellness
e. Governance
f. Ecological World

Let us discuss one or two of the issues or problems that you have presented.

 What two issues or problems are repeated in all groups?

 Can you give more concrete examples or experiences about each of these
issues or problems?
 Are there people or groups who are benefiting more from the situation?
Who are negatively affected or losing from it?
 Why do you think this issue or problem occurring? What is the root or
core of this issue or problem?

Synthesis by the teacher

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Unauthorized reproduction and selling is not allowed.
First Semester 2015-2016