Filipino American Catholics
A Treasured Presence details how Christianity took root in the Philippines — beginning with the arrival of missionaries and priests who came alongside the Spanish expedition led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. It then explores the subsequent process of Filipino migration to the United States: Filipinos were first recorded as arriving in the present-day U.S. at Morro Bay, CA in 1587. Filipinos brought a uniquely inculturated Catholicism, which has greatly enriched the Church.
Delve into this book to see the dynamics of how the inculturation of Catholicism in the Philippines and the growth of the Filipino population in the U.S. has become a multifaceted story of encounter, immigration, family, tradition and faith. Today, there are over 4 million Filipinos in the U.S., of whom about 65 percent are Catholic. As you read, consider how Filipino Catholics add to the diverse richness of the Church and how their experiences, history, culture and faith strengthen the Church.
This short book will be a great read for families in the Filipino community; for pastors, teachers and lay people who minister in parishes with a Filipino presence; and for all those interested in learning more about the Church’s treasured presence of Filipino American Catholics.
This timely book comes in advance of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, which will be celebrated in 2021.