An Orientation

The birth of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel (USI) in 2001 is A CALL TO LEADERSHIP IN THE MISSION OF SERVICE WITH THE POOR.  Its shorter version is USI ACCLAIMS THE POOR! It is called to be a University of the Poor!

The birth of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel (USI) in 2001 is A CALL TO LEADERSHIP IN THE MISSION OF SERVICE WITH THE POOR. Its shorter version is USI ACCLAIMS THE POOR! It is called to be a University of the Poor!

1. MANDATE FROM CHRIST

Through a prince of the Church, Bishop Francisco Gainza, O.P., Christ entrusted His mission to bring the good news to the poor from the very beginning of USI as the First Normal School for Women in the Philippines in 1868 under the management of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul whose charism is Service of Christ in the Poor.

Today, USI is blessed to have four Saints of the Church whose common Vision-Mission is aligned with the PCP II Vision-Mission as Church of the Poor through Renewed Integral Evangelization:

St. Vincent de Paul

DC Founder for Service of Christ in the Poor

St. Louise de Marillac

DC Co-Foundress for Service of Christ in the Poor

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

USI Patroness, Queen of the Poor and Patroness of

Queen Isabela II, who decreed the birth of CSI in 1867

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

MSH Patroness, DC Foundress in USA

for service of Christ in the Poor

There can be no way that USI cannot be a University of the Poor for it is being commissioned by Christ and the "Vincentian" Saints of the Church whose permanent mission is to proclaim the good news to the poor or education in the faith. All those who are connected with USI are likewise commissioned to make USI a true University of the Poor.

2. THE MERGER OF THE SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL

With the merger of the former CSI and MSH in 1997, the mission of the USI became two-fold:

BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR- Education through Renewed Integral Evangelization and with revision of works. ALTERNATIVE and WHOLISTIC EDUCATION more affordable to the poor.

HEAL THE SICK- HEALING MINISTRY Hospital through ALTERNATIVE HEALING MINISTRY that is Quality Health affordable to the sick poor.

The great challenge of USI is how to make QUALITY EDUCATION and QUALITY HEALTH affordable to the poor with the poor themselves as the main actors and those with resources, the supporting cast in order to have an ALTERNATIVE WHOLISTIC EDUCATION and QUALITY HEALTH for the poor as empowered persons in their respective families and communities.

The USI flagship has eventually focused on Education in the field of Health so that the hospital offers a ready training resource and service for the poor.

Both the education and health services have each a well-established Social Services for the assessment of the needs and resources of the poor.

3. FAITH INTEGRATION:RE-SEARCH IN FAITH

The Learning Tool for USI is to become a University of the Poor is FAITH INTEGRATION or RE-SEARCH IN FAITH. The main expectation for a university is a strong research program towards a discovery of new knowledge and new ways of improving the well-being of persons in society.

Faith Integration is basically discovering the faith data for a faith response to any reality including the learning and teaching process in a Catholic University towards the well-being of persons. Another term for Faith Integration is ARFA, an acronym for Action-Reflection in Faith-Action, which is vey,very familiar to any DC school.

CHRIST is the CORE of the curriculum so it follows that FAITH is the basic element of the learning and teaching experience towards faith integration in Christ.

The ACADEMIC Program is the learning-teaching experience that is the matter for faith reflection which could be juxtaposed with the RE topics and the faith response could be in CES for a concrete service with the poor.

There is a need to apply synergy and synchronization of learning with faith translated into action. The ACADEMIC syllabi, the RE syllabi, and the CES services with the poor need to have a triple meeting through provision of copies to them to the triple component of faith integration.

Research is basic in the study of the triple component. For instance in CES, we need to know the ROOT CAUSE OF POVERTY and SICKNESS. The Academic component can make a study and research of this in the different aspects of life reflected in each subject area.

The RE component makes a research of the teachings of Christ and the Church regarding the matter of service to the poor such as those found in the Gospels and Social Teachings of the Church or its connection to their present syllabus.

The faith integration itself is preceded by gathering of data or research activity (ACTION) in the triple component and data gathered is provided to the learner who reflects on them in the light of faith (REFLECTION IN FAITH) and the calls, messages, challenges that surface from the faith reflection are translated into faith responses both personal or community (ACTION).

The art of raising questions is a very important skill both for the learner and the teacher for research is an answer to a question. Modules are then more appropriate than lesson plans or syllabi for the learner-teaching process.

4. INTEGRATED PERSONS IN A COMMUNITY OF FAITH (BEC)

The expected outcome of the faith integration process is an INTEGRATED PERSON who has helped build a community of faith (BEC) that is oriented to becoming a Church of the Poor.

This Integrated Person is first of all a Disciple of Christ who has enfleshed what Jesus has declared- "They will know you are my disciples if you love one another as I have loved you!" And how did Christ love us? He humbled Himself and became poor so that we can have life to the fullest.

We hope to have Administrators, Personnel, Students, and the Poor themselves become INTEGRATED PERSONS enjoying the FULNESS OF LIFE EVEN HERE ON EARTH in COMMUNITIES OF FAITH in BECs as Church of the Poor.

We hope to have the BEC Vision-Mission, Spirituality and Core Values become a part of the USI population. There are four posts that hold USI up as BEC: DIALOGUE, INVOLVEMENT, CO-RESPONSIBILITY AND EQUALITY (DICE). USI casts its lot with the poor; it throws its dice up: for USI ACCLAIMS THE POOR !

There was a school that was down to dust. A new President came and turned it into praying and caring community where everyone learned to center one's life in Christ who taught:
- to give an hour for adoration
- to spend an hour with the poor
- to re-search, and reflect on their studiees
- to enjoy life with one another in a commuunity of faith, hope and love as they grow in Christ

Our Dream: USI ACCLAIMS THE POOR IN CHRIST !
MABUHAY !!!

Sr. Teresa A. Mabasa, DC
16 November 2001
USI, Naga City

(Source: USIAA 2002 Souvenir Program)