The subsequent enclosure phase took place at the Loyola School of Theology at Ateneo de Manila University, a Jesuit university that ranks among the top four universities in the Philippines. The experiences gathered during the exposure phase in Alaminos served as the basis for academic reflection on how theology and mission can be shaped interculturally in a globalized world.

In keeping with the mission of his institution—“Doing Theology from the Margins”—the discussion focused on the thematic priorities of poverty, social injustice, and labor migration (“Overseas Filipino Workers”) as pastoral fields of action for the Philippine Church. The exchange with Dr. Joy Candelario and Aleli Gutierrez from the Bukal Ng Tipan Pastoral Institute was also enriching: The central theme was synodality in the Philippines and the implementation of synodal processes in the local churches, in which the BECs play a key role. It was remarkable how the two speakers conveyed their spiritual understanding of the shared pilgrimage as a fundamental foundation for synodal transformation—by having the participants reenact the Emmaus story while walking in the seminar room. The program for the second week was expanded to include visits to “unusual” church services in Manila: In addition to attending a service in a shopping mall, the Basilica of the Black Nazarene Shrine was a particularly impressive site. Although the Eucharist is celebrated there every Friday—even hourly—the church was not only well-attended but completely packed. The large crowds made it clear what a central role faith plays in the lives of many people in the Philippines.

The in-depth discussions during the summer school once again underscored how crucial the interplay between exposure and enclosure is to the success of intercultural learning formats. While exposure facilitated a shift in perspective by “disrupting” familiar linguistic and cultural frameworks, enclosure provided a structured space for scholarly reflection on these lived, existential experiences. This methodological linkage enabled participants not only to deepen their understanding of the content of intercultural theological discourses but also to connect them with contextual references. A stroke of luck was the experience of attending the founding ceremony of a BEC during the first week of the summer school, while the second week was devoted to reflecting on its significance as a nucleus of the Christian faith and as an aspect of synodality in the Philippines. The learning process thus initiated sensitized the students to the cultural contingency of theological reflection, which must always be understood as a response to the diversity of pastoral challenges in global contexts.

The students’ participation in the summer school was financially supported by a PROMOS scholarship from the DAAD as well as by the home dioceses of the German participants—with the express aim of promoting the global church qualifications of their future staff.