Archives

  • Hitik: Internationa Journal of Catechists and Religious Educators (12th National Conference on Catechesis and Religious Education)
    Vol. 1 No. 1 (2024)

    This issue presents some of the research papers presented at the 12th National Conference on Catechesis and Religious Education last June 21-22, 2024 at the University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, with the theme “Research in Religious Education and Theology: Issues, Trends, and Developments”. 

    Other published articles are written by religious educators from different parts of the Philippines.

  • Hitik: Internationa Journal of Catechists and Religious Educators (13th National Conference on Catechesis and Religious Education)
    Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025)

    Faith, culture, and education in motion—insights from Gen Z to eco‑mission, shaping Religious Education Studies in the Philippines and Asia.

    Welcome to this new issue of our journal. We are delighted to present a collection of articles that reflect the vibrant intersections of faith, culture, and education in the Philippines and Asia.

    This issue begins with a study on Video App Usability and Creative Empowerment of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Learners, reminding us of the importance of inclusivity in digital education. We then turn to Generation Z, with two articles—Zoomers as Contemporary Adherents and Unveiling the Relevance of Reading the Bible among Gen Z College Students—that highlight how young Filipinos are reshaping religious practice and biblical engagement in contemporary contexts.

    Cross-cultural insights emerge in Nine Grains of Rice and the Messianic Society, which explores Karen rice–merit networks in Thailand, while philosophical and theological depth is offered in ‘Maganda’ in the Fifth Argument of Quinque Viae and Understanding Human Suffering among Black Nazarene Devotees. These works remind us that beauty and suffering remain central to theological reflection.

    The ecological and social dimensions of faith are addressed in Earth Rights in Religious Education, which calls for catechetical reform toward care for creation, and Exploring the Role of the Kariton Klasrum Project, which demonstrates service-learning as values formation. Finally, The Children’s Gaze on Benedictine Monks offers fresh perspectives from young students on monastic life.

    Together, these articles affirm that religious education is dynamic, contextual, and transformative. We extend heartfelt thanks to our peer reviewers, whose collegial contributions have strengthened this issue.

    May this issue inspire educators, theologians, and pastoral leaders to continue weaving faith and life together in ways that empower, heal, and transform.

    Dr. Rito V. Baring
    Editor-in-Chief

     

    13th National Conference on Catechesis and Religious Education
    Frontiers in Religious Education: Divergence and Convergence
    April 25-26, 2025 | Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Pampanga

    A frontier may be a physical border, an intellectual task to be resolved, or an unexplored expanse waiting to be explored. In Catholic practice, a frontier is “mission” which suggest pioneering work in new territories and new endeavors. In education this can include unexplored areas for understanding in teaching and learning. For Religious Education, it can be a “mission field” or a subject of interest that solicits understanding, analysis and reflection as it applies to students’ religious beliefs, dispositions and formation. These mission fields may include new technologies, arts and music, culture, human formation, values formation, justice and peace, dialogue, and ecology. Given that Catholic schools are collaborators in church mission, how do these fields affirm the mission of evangelization shared by the church with Religious Education?

     

  • Hitik: International Journal of Catechists and Religious Education (June Issue)
    Vol. 2 No. 1 (2025)

    The present issue provides an apt material that is needed for contemporary Catholic thought and praxis. This issue brings together insights from researchers working on current concerns on religion in general and Christian practice in particular in terms of: Synodality, sacramental awareness, dialogue with education, and religious attitudes. The Church's evolving encounter with vulnerable populations is explored within conversations of synodality, which is proposed in Catholic practice as a way of walking together in dialogue and discernment. The mystery of sacramental presence and the formation of religious consciousness through education remain central to practical discussions in religious education. These themes are not merely theoretical but rooted in lived experience and ecclesial responsibility, illuminating how theology, philosophy, and pedagogy converge in concrete contexts within religious education.

    This issue calls us to collectively reflect on the implications of synodality in relationships inspired by trust, listening, and co-responsibility. Our attention is trained towards contributions that magnify voices often marginalized—people with disabilities, those in the margins of social life, and communities bearing generational trauma. Their inclusion echoes the voice of justice. On the other hand, the study on sacramental awareness brings the focus on transformative dispositions as a way of recognizing the divine spark in ordinary realities and appreciating the nearness of God in community rituals and celebration. Overall, the research articles challenge us to reimagine religious formation as an empowering and creative life episode, where encounter precedes instruction, and attitudes shape understanding. Such a liberating journey resonates with those seeking to foster deeper faith amidst the complexities of diversity and the increasing dominance of digital environments.

    Dr. Rito V. Baring
    Editor-in-Chief