The experience of association of Signum Fidei members during the pandemic

• Main Author: Garcia, Gerson R.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Signum Fidei (Organization); Religious institutions; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- —Religious aspects; Religion
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11766
• Institution: De La Salle University

Lasallian association is borne out of the commitment of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the first Brothers to bond together for the mission of providing a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor. This dynamic spirit of association, which has inspired lay partners to share in the charism, mission and spirit of the Institute through a deeper commitment and involvement led to the creation of Signum Fidei Association. This lay organization nurtures the spirit of association among its members through formation and accompaniment, community building and service through its different apostolates. But as the Covid-19 pandemic struck, programs and activities of the Signum Fidei had to be responsive to the needs of its members for it to continually live its charism. This qualitative phenomenological study describes the experiences of association of Signum Fidei members during the pandemic. Co-researchers identified this moment of crisis as life-changing, forcing them to be creative to sustain the association, inspired them to serve others despite the risk, and emphasized the importance of spirituality and accompaniment. This study also highlighted the spirit of association as anchored on Lasallian spirituality, as a shared experience in community and as always directed towards mission. In the end, the study pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic may not be the last crisis the world will experience. Every day, each one also experiences different kinds of crises. Thus, Signum Fidei needs to be creative and dynamic in living out its charism and mission by being responsive to the signs of the times.