In celebration of this year’s Indigenous Peoples and Museum Month, Saint Mary’s University through the Community Engagement and Indigenous Peoples Studies Center (CEIPSC) gathers Marians in an Ethnicity Mass presided by the University Chaplain Rev. Fr. Nemesio Huesca, CICM, at Fr. Cornelius Tonus Gymnasium, October 1.

Highlighting the theme “Honoring Indigenous Lifeways: Safeguarding Life and Well-being”, the University Chaplain underscored that despite having different cultures, tradition, and identity, we only have one God and one mission: to love and to serve.

The mass was celebrated along with the feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, with Rev. Fr. Huesca sharing her teaching that holiness does not require grand, spectacular deeds, but rather trusting God like a child and doing ordinary, everyday tasks with extraordinary love.

“Itinuturo sa atin ni Santa Teresita ang paggawa ng maliliit at karaniwang bagay nang may dakilang pagmamahal. Hindi kailangang gumawa tayo ng pambihirang bagay; ang isang simpleng ngiti, mabuting salita, pakikinig, pagtulong, pagpapatawad, at paggalang ay maaaring maging paraan ng pagpapakita ng pagmamahal ng Diyos ” he shared in his homily.

Anchoring this teaching in the celebration of the ethnicity mass, Fr. Nemesio reiterated that our differences should not limit us to doing  even the smallest acts of love because when done with great love, these things become great in the eyes of God.

“May tatlong bagay ang maaari nating dalhin at itanim sa ating mga puso. Una pahalagahan ang inyong pagkakakilanlan, ipagmalaki ang inyong kultura ngunit matutong igalang din ang kultura ng iba. Ikalawa, dalhin ang maliliit na bagay nang may dakilang pag-ibig at pamgmamahal. Ang misyon natin ay hindi nangangailangan ng dakilang mga gawain, nagsisimula ito sa simpleng kabutihan. Ikatlo, maging tagapagdala ng kapayapaan, kung may pagkakahati, diskriminasyon, hindi pagkakaunawaan, tayo ay maging instrumento ng respeto pagkakaibigan at pagkakaisa. Mga kapatid ipinaaalala ni Santa Teresita ang maliit na bagay na ginagawa nang may malaking pag-ibig ay nagiging dakila sa paningin ng Diyos,” he explained.

The mass included a special performance from the Saint Mary’s University Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao and Kalinga (SMU-BIBAK) group, along with the presence of the Marian Chorale Society.

Following the celebration, Laurice Kaye Laguinday, the Indigenous Peoples Studies Coordinator, officially declared the opening of the Indigenous Peoples and Museum Month through announcing the different activities laid out for the whole Marian community including the center’s #IndigeKnows which shall serve as an online initiative to share Indigenous knowledge.

The Indigenous Peoples and Musuem Month shall be held until the fourth of November.