USF Hosts First Meeting of Bay Area Filipino Religious Leaders
Local Filipino-American religious leaders and noted scholars of Philippine immigrants gathered at USF in May for "Filipino Immigrants and their Churches: Helping Shape the New San Francisco Community," a conference sponsored by The Religion in Immigration Project (TRIP).
Discussions focused on what churches are doing to help immigrants adjust to life in the United States, and the contributions of Filipino-American congregations to the ideas, beliefs, morals, and institutions that shape San Francisco culture.
The conference marked the first gathering of local Filipino-American religious leaders. "We are a university that is rooted in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition," USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J., said at the conference.
"We are a university that was established to serve immigrants...Voices not previously heard will be amplified and raised up to a new level of attention. I am delighted that this university is working to understand the role religion plays in the lives of immigrants."
The Religion in Immigration Project (TRIP) at USF was established three years ago to examine the effects of religion on immigrant communities in the five fastest-growing populations in San Francisco: Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipinos, Salvadorans, and Mexicans. The project was created with a three-year, $600,000 grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts.
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