Research, Truth & Hope, Sex & Gender: Three events in Ateneo with Fr Bryan Massingale

From 7 to 19 March 2024, the Department of Theology of Ateneo de Manila University hosted Fr Bryan Massingale as a visiting scholar from Fordham University in New York City, NY. Fr Bryan Massingale is the James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics in the Department of Theology at Fordham University. He is also a leading figure in theological ethics, whose work on racial and social justice has been published in various journals and books, as well as discussed through his many seminars and lectures given.

Fr Massingale generously gave his time at three events.

Research and Publishing for Faculty

The first event was a workshop last 9 March 2024, to help faculty of the Department of Theology in publishing in theological journals. The Theology Department faculty learned much about the publishing process and what editors looked for in manuscripts. The event helped faculty learn more about what research entails, as well as what helps make a manuscript publishable, so as to help faculty participate in research conversations and publish in theological journals both locally and abroad.

A Talk for Students Celebrating Men and Women for Others

The second event was a lecture last 11 March 2024 celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Fr Pedro Arrupe, SJ’s speech titled “Men and Women For Others.” Fr Massingale’s talk was titled “[Blueboard] Invitation to "Truth-Telling and Hope-Keeping: The Evolving Challenges of Forming Persons for Others.” Fr Massingale discussed the importance of the truth and cultivating hope among students and members of Jesuit universities, if we are to truly continue forming persons for and with others. Students were also able to ask questions about how one can cultivate hope given these times, and how to respond to the extreme polarization that is at times so prevalent in the world. These questions helped students grapple with what it meant to hold on to hope, as well as continue truth-telling in our contemporary time.

A Sequel Discussion on Sexuality and Gender for Faculty and Students

The last event was a sequel to an earlier Ateneo Theology Department webinar by Fr. Massingale, called “Makinig at Makipag-usap:  Conversations on Sexuality and Gender in Religious Education” held last 30 April 2022, in collaboration with the Department of Theology and Religious Education of De La Salle University.  Hence, the 2024 conversation held last 13 March 2024 at Leong Hall, was a follow-up discussion on gender and sexuality in the Catholic Church, organized also in partnership with De La Salle University.  It was titled “Makinig at Makipag-Usap 2: Conversations on Sexuality and Gender in the Catholic Church.”  It was held in light of the release of Fiducia Supplicans by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the response of the Vatican to Brazilian Bishop José Negri on transpeople being godparents and being baptized, which renewed conversation on the topic of gender within the Catholic Church. This lecture was a space to learn more about and discuss these shifts within the Catholic Church, including the implications for the future of the Catholic Church in relation to the LGBTQ+ community, towards a more inclusive and equitable society. Participants gave positive feedback on the event, appreciating the conversation generated, and the questions raised during the talk, which helped illumine what was currently happening in the Catholic Church on the topics of sex and gender.

The event was hosted by Mr Ariel Diccion of the Department of Filipino.  The opening prayer was led by Mr Raphael Yabut. Dr Stephanie Puen gave the recapitulation of the 2022 talk and introduced Fr Massingale.  After Fr Massingale’s talk, there were 4 responders:  Dr Melissa Lao (Director of the University Gender and Development Office of Ateneo), Rylinne Aliscad (an LGBTQ+ advocate), Dr Michael Campos (Associate Professor of the DLSU Department of Theology and Religious Education) via Zoom, and Dar Tangco (of PRISM, an LGBTQ+ organization at DLSU). The event closed with Dr. Marilou Ibita (Associate Professor of the Department of Theology at DLSU) giving the certificates of appreciation to Fr Massingale and the responders. The event was livestreamed.

Photos courtesy of the Ateneo Department of Theology