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Ten
days ago, I took time explaining to my son, who is in prep
school, the life of St. Arnold Janssen whose feastday last
January 15 was a no-class day in Tagbilaran's premier Catholic
educational institutions. Holy Spirit School and Holy Name
University are run by the SSpS sisters and the SVD fathers,
respectively; two congregations founded by the revered saint.
Little did I know I'd be talking yesterday to the 9th successor
of St. Arnold.
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Currently
on his second term as Superior General of the Society
of the Divine Word (SVD), comprised of some 6,100 members
from around 70 nationalities spread out to over 65 countries,
the Very Rev. Fr. Antonio del Mar Pernia is native of
Tagbilaran City.
He
is the first Asian and among only two non-Germans to
hold the post.
While
the leader in the global SVD community, he walks among
his brother/sister Boholanos in truly unassuming ways.
In a gathering of Pernia scholars prior to our interview,
he was quick to assist the hotel staff in moving the
tables and chairs for a photo session and calls himself
the "poor brother" among the Pernia siblings.
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Following
are excerpts from a conversation:
With
the SVD electing an Asian leader and a Latin American among
those speculated to replace the late Pope John Paul II, what
could these indicate?
It
is already a fact that there is a movement from the global
North to the global South…I don't have the exact figures
but more Catholics are now situated in the South… the
biggest Catholic population in a country is in Brazil.
In
the SVD congregation, the shift is from a mono-centric (European-based)
to that of a poly-centric one, taking in the cultures of Asians
Latin Americans, Africans…and allowing unity in diversity.
The charism (which is the character and purpose of the society)
we'd like to achieve is one that is international - where
the society finds expression in every culture.
As
you travel globally and witness extreme poverty in many countries,
where do you get a sense of hope as you continue on your mission?
Indeed
witnessing poverty in huge proportions gives a sense of impotence
when you are not among the key players in the global situation.
But this sense of impotence comes when one wants to change
the whole thing overnight. The idea is not to be overwhelmed
with the big picture but try to implement small changes in
communities in the hope that this would lead to genuine change.
On
effecting change, can you comment on priests in active politics
like Fr. Panlilio?
In
principle, I am not in favor or priests entering politics…
The role of priests is not so much to gain political power
but to inspire and to motivate people in favor of life, human
dignity, human rights and the Gospel values.
But
I do not criticize Fr. Panlilio. I have heard that he is doing
well with a new type of governance. There may be certain situations
that make us veer away from that principle.
Can
you comment on the connection between corruption and poverty?
It's
a vicious cycle. Corruption is fueled by poverty. In turn,
corruption brings about poverty. It's like the hen and egg
situation.
With
the Pernia Scholarship, are you seeing education as a way
out of poverty?
Our parents instilled in us the importance of education. Our
father was a dentist; wewere
not rich but all of us nine children were sent to quality
Catholic schools.
Education is not only a way out of poverty but education as
leading to the integral development of a person. Quoting St.
Ireneus: "The Glory of God is in man fully alive."
Your
message to the Boholano community
Bohol
has always had a history of giving vocation to the Church
through the priests and religious. I hope Bohol would preserve
the Catholic atmosphere, Catholic families and continue giving
vocations… This is difficult especially with Tagbilaran
experiencing so much progress and with the coming of globalization.
The attractions of this world may dim the capacity of the
young people to hear the call of the Lord to the priesthood.
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