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What is FIRE?
FIRE, or the Formation Institute for Religion Educators,
is a joint effort of both Ateneo de Manila University
and Loyola School of Theology. It offers a scholarship
program designed at forming highly qualified and motivated
teachers/catechists personally committed to the vocation
of educating Filipinos in Christian faith.
Why?
FIRE responds to the pressing need of the Catholic
Church in the Philippines and of the nation, for competent
teachers in Religious Education at all levels, and for
Religion coordinators in school, parish, and diocese.
The cry in educational circles -"back to essentials"-
is truer of Religious Education / Catechesis than any
other subject. Today's urgent call is for "education
in authentic Filipino maturity in the faith."
How?
FIRE proposes an integrated formation program, including:
- Content: basic Scripture courses as source for
courses in essential Catholic doctrine (creed), morals
(Commandments and values), and worship (sacraments);
- Methodology: a foundational theory of Religious
Education grounded in sound theology, education, psychology,
and cultural anthropology-as relevant to our Philippine
context;
- Practice: actual exercise in class teaching, drawing
up scope and sequence charts, syllabi, educational
materials for grade school, high school, and college
levels, provincial and urban.
Focus
FIRE's unique contribution lies in its tested integrated
program, based on our National Catechetical Directory
of the Philippines (NCDP) and our national Catechism
for Filipino Catholics (CFC). The program focuses on:
-
 The
essentials of the faith, connecting doctrine, morals,
and prayer-worship in an integrated harmonious approach
necessary for a holistic grasp of the faith;
- Using experiential methods that exercise the FIRE
scholars in the skills needed for "meeting the
students where they're at," and communicating
the gospel message in a manner that is truly Christ-centered,
nourished by the living biblical word of God and authentically
Filipino;
- Drawing on the unique resources of Loyola School
of Theology and Ateneo Theology faculties and libraries,
and FIRE's unmatched collection of catechetical/theological
materials.
In a genuinely inculturated program that constantly
relates to our concrete Filipino catechetical context,
in view of the vocation of the Filipino religious educator.
Program
FIRE offers a basic four summer program of 30 units
with concluding comprehensive exam. For those qualified,
this 30-unit program can lead to an MA degree: either
an MA, major in Theological Studies (36 units with thesis),
or an MA, major in Religious Education (45 units without
thesis).
The MA program can be extended into a PhD through LST's
Institute for Religious Education.
The program is also open to non-degree; scholars who
will be awarded a diploma at the completion of the fourth
summer.
The FIRE program is structured on a 3-summer axis,
each 6-week summer session
- One summer: Faith, Revelation, Christology, RE
1
- Next summer: Morals, Prophets, St. Paul, RE 2
- Following summer: Liturgy, Sacraments, John, RE
3
FIRE scholars can begin any summer, but must take three
consecutive summers. All FIRE scholars take a fourth
summer to complete the basic 30 units with a course
that synthesizes the three previous summers and prepares
for the comprehensive exam.
FIRE scholars qualified for an MA degree proceed to
thesis writing (36 units MA) or the 15 extra units (45
units MA-6 additional units in the fourth summer and
9 units in the fifth summer).
Admissions
Applicants for the FIRE program must:
- Have a bachelor's degree;
- Present official transcript of records;
- With letters of recommendation from school, parish
or diocese;
- A satisfactory score on the Ateneo' s Graduate
School Entrance Test (taken on one of the dates assigned
by the Ateneo Graduate School Services Office); and
- A personal interview with the FIRE Director is
usual to verify motivation and clarify objective requirements
of the program.
Both new applicants and scholars continuing in the
FIRE program must have finished applying before mid-February
to qualify for a FIRE scholarship.
Scholarships
All accepted in the FIRE program are granted full
academic scholarship, covering each summer's registration,
tuition, and library fees. In addition, scholars from
the provinces who wish to board in the Ateneo dorm are
offered a partial subsidy to help defray lodging expenses.
FACULTY
Scripture
Edilberto I. C. Jimenez, Ph.D. Cand.
Loyola School of Theology
Markus E. Locker, Ph.D.
Loyola School of Theology
Roberto O. Guevara, Ph.D. Cand.
Loyola Schoo] of Theology
Victor R. Salanga, S.J., S.S.D.
Biblicum, Rome
Herbert Schneider, S.J., S.T.D.
University of Innsbruck
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Systematic
Theology
Jose Mario C. Francisco, S.J., Ph.D.
Berkeley University, California
Daniel P. L. Huang, Ph.D.
Catholic University, Washington D.C.
Miguel B. Lambino, S.J., Ph.D.
Fordham University
Joseph L. Roche, S.J., Ph.D.
Catholic University, Louvain
Amalia Teresita B. Rosana, Ph.D.
Berkeley University, California
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Moral
Ma. Christian A. Astorga, Ph.D.
Loyola School of Theology
Adolfo N. Dacanay, S.J.,.C.D.
Gregorian University, Rome
Pasquale T. Giordano, S.J., Ph.D.
Catholic University, Washington D.C.
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Worship
Michael D. H. Asis, Ph.,D., Cand.
Loyola School of Theology
James T. Meehan, S.J., S.T.D.
Trier University
Victoria B. Parco, Ph.D.
Loyola School of Theology
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Religious
Education
Jaime A. Acevedo, M.A.
Loyola School of Theology
Raymond B. Aguas, Ph.D. Cand.
Notre Dame University, Indiana
Rosar P. Crisostomo, M.A.
Loyola School of Theology
Ma. Lucia C. Natividad, Ph.D.
Loyola School of Theology
Joseph L. Roche, S.J., Ph.D.
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INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
 Direct
all inquiries to:
FIRE Director
Theology Department
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108
Tel. no. 426-60-01, local 5370
Email: FIRE@admu.edu.ph
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