Saint Louis University (SLU), through the delegation led by SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, attended the Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU) Annual International Conference held from 21 to 24 August 2024 at the Australian Catholic University, Sydney, Australia. The 30th ASEACCU conference focused on the theme, “What Makes Catholic University Catholic?” Expressing and Integrating Identity and Mission.
During the panel discussion, Rev. Fr. Anthony Casamento, CSMA; Prof. Isabel Gil, and Fr. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, reiterated that Catholic universities should strengthen the Church by serving as its ally through producing wise and ethical people, providing scholars who motivate people to think of answers to social problems and the most pressing issues, and teaching the perspective that ideas are a gift to the world. These initiatives further the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher.
In connection with this, Dr. Joselito C. Gutierrez, Executive Assistant to the SLU President, shared how SLU, through its humble and simple ways, implemented various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Laudato Si programs. Through his talk titled, “Catholicity of a CHEI in the light of Laudato Si and SDG”, he emphasized how SLU collaboratively prepared and contextualized these projects, ensuring that they are aligned with the Church advocacies and CICM thrusts on Justice and Peace, Integrity of Creation, Advocacies for the Poor and the Abandoned, and Dialogue for Faith and Culture.
Dr. Joselito P. Gutierrez with the panel of ASEACCU speakers
Dr. Gutierrez highlighted Fr. Sales’ topnotch programs like the Water is Life Refilling Station,the Sewage Treatment Plant, the use of Solar Panels, strengthening programs on the Earth Hour, and more. The programs that were implemented go beyond submissions for rankings and internationalization agencies. They affirm SLU’s continuous commitment to responding to the call of the Church and serving as salt and light to the world as Catholic member-universities.
A discussion was then held about how service learning programs help Catholic universities train students and staff utilize their competencies for the service of the people, the community, and most especially of the marginalized. As a result, Fr. Sales joined in solidifying SLU’s partnership with various Catholic universities during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, this time, with San Beda College.
Another significant highlight of the Australia excursion was the meeting of Fr. Sales with the SLU Alumni of Australia headed by Mr. and Mrs. Jaime and Myrna Lopez, Deacon Roberto and Yvonne Corpuz, Bernadette Lubina, Imelda Bondoc, Engr. Antonino Fagel, Elsa Collado, Espie Pogson, Emily Dingle – Rudd and Peter Rudd, Lilibeth Flores Bacani, Margarita de Vera, Jun and Bernadette Dulawan, Florian Boado, Jun Generalao, and Purzi Suanding Molintas.
In conclusion, what transpired in the three-day seminar was fostering the vision that a Catholic University goes beyond instilling hope. It should also give inspiration for the holistic transformation of the graduates of Catholic institutions who later on become the heartbeat of the society – the heart that beats like Jesus.
