WYD: young Filipino to proclaim Christ through project art
Manila (AsiaNews) - Through her projects, Liez Pascual wants to evangelise. When asked about the meaning of her work, she says she wants to be a "missionary designer" and proclaim her faith "through art". For now, the 21-year-old woman from the Diocese of Antipolo will be one of hundreds of young Filipinos who will participate in the 28th World Youth Day (WYD), scheduled for 23-28 July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For her, it will be her first experience at the WYD.
On the eve of leaving, she is all excited by the prospect of meeting Pope Francis and her peers from around the world. Her goal is to step up her missionary efforts through "design and projects", one of the many ways-as doctors, lay volunteers, and others do-to bear witness of the Gospel to her fellow man.
On the website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Liez expressed her feelings before her departure for Brazil. "I think this WYD would help me think of a way on how I can invite people to God in a different way and in the field of design," she said. To her, her craft can become a powerful means of "evangelisation".
A fresh graduate in interior design from the University of Santo Tomas, Pascual defines a missionary-designer as someone who "serves and proclaims the Word of God through art."
If regular missionaries usually use words and actions to evangelise, she explained, missionary-designers use art and design elements.
Pascual, who is one of the 35 WYD delegates from her diocese's sub-group, said she believes the WYD experience will strengthen her faith.
Her evangelisation through missionary-designing found its first outlet when she designed the San Roque Church in Alabang, Muntinlupa, for her undergraduate thesis.
She does not shy away from criticising fellow designers and architects who are drawn to more commercially lucrative projects like hotels and restaurants. In fact, up and coming artists interested in religious art are rare.
Her plans for the future include more training with liturgical designs in mind. This, she realises, is not as simple as it looks. "It's complicated . . . . Designs [in churches] should have meanings," she explained.
For the time being, she is already committed to help spread the WYD message by making videos about her experience in Brazil.
More than 300 young Filipinos are expected to travel to the South American country for the WYD. They will be accompanied by CBCP President Jose Palma, archbishop of Cebu, and four other bishops and numerous priests.
The number of young Filipinos will probably be much higher because many schools, institutes and communities are sending their own delegations to Rio to take part in the celebrations and prayers.
The "official" CBCP delegation is set to leave for Brazil between 13 and 15 July in time to celebrate missionary days on 17-21, hosted by the Diocese of Petropolis, some 70 km from Rio de Janeiro.
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27/06/2008
