Two representatives from the Jesuit Companions in Indigenous Ministry (JCIM) participated in the Asian Lay Leaders (ALL) Forum’s Asian Youth Academy (AYA) and Asian Theological Forum (ATF) held in Bali, Indonesia from 19 to 29 August.
Zacara Lastimado from Fr Leoni Mission Foundation Inc and Gwyneth Marie Vasquez from Ateneo de Davao University (pictured), both from the Philippines, were among the 30 young leaders from across Asia to attend the said event.
Joined by other representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan, AYA/ATF is an intensive formation programme aimed at equipping young people with the skills to respond to some of the most urgent challenges faced by the church in Asia. This year, the forum focused on the theme “Gender Justice, Interculturation, and Integral Ecology for a Sustainable Future in Asia.”
Discussion forums facilitated by academics, NGO leaders, and priests and a three-day immersion in Ubud provided participants with a holistic intellectual, spiritual, and cultural experience in Bali.
Reflecting on her experience, Lastimado shared: “The Asian Lay Leaders Forum made me reaffirm that ‘we can only do so much’. There are various realities that the world is facing right now; even the spiritual, social, political, and cultural context of Southeast Asian countries poses a challenge to humanity. And, the question of ‘how can we possibly walk together?’ still needs to be systematically answered. As I pondered this question, I realised that my current mission is part of a greater vision for humanity, not just for indigenous peoples. At times, it requires a lot of rationalising and spiritual reflection on the necessary steps. Still, nothing can surpass its fulfillment. The ALL Forum reinforced my innermost desire as I journey with the indigenous youth in Bukidnon, sharing the same vision and finding synergy.”
Established in 2016, the Asian Lay Leaders Forum is a non-formal education organisation based in Manila that “promotes a church with the spirit of going out to the marginalised,” said ALL Forum Director Paul Hwang.