Tagaytay City—In a momentous occasion that celebrated both Philippine Christianity's rich history and the scholarly dedication of the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS), a book launch event took place last October 20, 2023.
The event centered around the launch of the book "Gifted to Give: Proceedings of the Second National Mission Congress (April 17-24, 2022)," which chronicles a significant milestone in the 500-year history of Christianity in the Philippines.
The book launch event was held at the DWST Aula Magna and broadcast live via Facebook.
Published by the Episcopal Commission on Mission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), "Gifted to Give" is a collaborative effort, and it features two eminent figures from DWIMS as its editors.
First, Rev. Fr. Antonio M. Pernia, SVD, is the Vice Director for Studies of DWIMS and the former Superior General of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).
Second, Rev. Fr. Andrew G. Recepcion is a visiting professor at DWIMS, currently based in Rome as a professor at the Pontificia Università Gregoriana and the spiritual director of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino. (While Fr. Andrew was not able to join the book launch event in person, he joined the event online through Zoom.)
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The event was moderated by Dr. Arnold T. Monera, the former Dean of Religious Studies of the University of Saint Joseph in Macau, China.
The event commenced with an opening prayer led by DWIMS students at 9:00 AM, setting the spiritual tone for the proceedings.
Afterwards, Rev. Fr. Samuel Naceno-Agcaracar, SVD, Director of DWIMS and Rector of the SVD-Tagaytay Community, extended a warm welcome to the attendees.
Fr. Antonio then took to the stage to deliver an insightful talk about the topic of the book, the Second National Mission Congress, providing valuable context for the book.
After a brief break, a video message from Fr. Andrew was presented to the attendees.
Afterwards, the event resumed with the presentation of the book. This segment was facilitated by Fr. Sam, Fr. Antonio, and Rev. Fr. Edgar G. Javier, SVD, the founder and first Director of DWIMS.
In a short message, Fr. Sam congratulated editors Fr. Antonio and Fr. Andrew for “(keeping) the legacy of the Second National Mission Congress alive”.
An open forum, led by Fr. Antonio, then gave attendees an opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion about the book and the Second National Mission Congress.
The program culminated with the closing remarks delivered by Fr. Edgar. His words encapsulated the significance of the book and the importance of the mission congress.
After the program, attendees were able to get their copies of “Gifted to Give” signed by Fr. Antonio.
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The book launch event for "Gifted to Give" provided a platform for reflection, discussion, and celebration of the rich heritage and ongoing contributions of the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies in the Philippines. The book itself promises to be a valuable resource for scholars, theologians, and anyone interested in the history and future of Philippine Christianity.
Copies of the book are available at the William R. Burrows Library of DWIMS.