LEO-MARTIN ANGELO R. OCAMPO
Educator. Researcher. Author. Translator. Creative.
ABOUT
Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo completed his Master of Arts degree, Major in Theological Studies in Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, in 2015. He graduated from the same university in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Major in Philosophy (Pre-Divinity Track) while undergoing formation in San José Major Seminary. At present, he is a Faculty Member of the Institute of Religion, Academic Collaborations Officer of the Ecclesiastical Faculties, and Research Associate at the Center for Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomás where he is finishing his doctoral studies, major in Theology. Aside from academic articles in local and international journals, he has published more than ten titles, including three books and translations of important Church documents among them the Filipino edition of Laudato Si’, the first translation of a papal encyclical in the Philippines printed with permission from the Vatican Press. He is also the associate editor of Loyola Papers and hosts the program "Tinta ng Santo Papa" in Radio Maria Philippines every first and third Wednesday 8:05-9:00PM on the writings of Pope Francis. He is a professed lay Dominican of the Sanctus Dominicus Lay Dominican Fraternity.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Academic and Creative Accomplishments
CATHOLIC LITURGICAL TELEPARTICIPATION BEFORE AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND QUESTIONS FOR THE NEW NORMAL
Religion and Social Communication 19:1 (2021) 35-72
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the ways by which the Catholic Church sought to provide the faithful with continual spiritual nourishment, without breaking quarantine or transgressing social distancing protocols, was to harness the potential of online liturgies. This article traces the historical evolution of remote participation in liturgy in the Catholic Church from radio to the Internet parallel with the development of the Church’s official stance. It then gathers the experience of online liturgies during the pandemic in both its positive and negative aspects. Finally, it attempts to articulate and begin to unfold some questions for liturgical teleparticipation in view of the new normal.
CYBERGRACE IN CYBERSPACE: AN ARGUMENT FOR ONLINE LITURGIES IN LIGHT OF COVID-19
Landas 33:2 (2019) 1-36
From the Editor's Preface: The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated and accelerated the use of the Internet to bring the celebration of liturgies and sacraments into the confines of homes and quarantine facilities. And yet, how valid and efficacious are these for online participants? The Catholic Church still requires a person’s physical presence for the celebration of a sacrament to be valid and efficacious for them. Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo’s essay, “Cybergrace in Cyberspace? An Argument for Online Liturgies in Light of COVID-19,” explores the issue with foresight into what may happen to the celebration of the sacraments when the virtual world becomes more and more real and the real world becomes more and more virtual.
MARY AND ECUMENISM: HOPELESS CONFLICT OR FALSE DILEMMA?
Landas 33:1 (2019) 131-147
The role of Mary vis-à-vis the tenuous relationship between Roman Catholics and other Christians may be likened to the proverbial image of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the figure of the Mother of Jesus can serve as a common reference or rallying point among believers of various denominations. On the other hand, it can also act as an added obstacle to understanding and harmony between them. This paper explores the evolution of the relationship between Marian doctrine and devotion and the pursuit of ecumenical agreement and fellowship among the followers of Christ.
INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA: BRIDGE OR BARRIER FOR A CULTURE OF COMMUNION?
Landas 32:2 (2018) 33-60
Last year, the French bishops conference came up a document entitled "Eglise en réseaux - Quelle communion à l'ère du numérique?" In this pastoral text, they described the "digital networks" as a "huge challenge" and "double-sided issue" while they asked: "What kind of communion is possible in the digital age?" This paper aims to explore the challenges and opportunities posed by the Internet and Social Media in the way people relate with each other and how these rapidly evolving technologies can be a bridge or barrier for a culture of communion.
SAWÀ AT AWÂ: A FILIPINO PERSPECTIVE ON THROW-AWAY CULTURE AND POPE FRANCIS' SPIRITUALITY OF MERCY
Philippiniana Sacra 55:164 (2020) 3-50
In terms of his critique of contemporary society, one of the key themes that recur in Laudato Si’ and the other major documents of Pope Francis is "throw-away culture." This he identifies as one of the root causes of the ongoing degradation, not only of the environment (LS 22), but also of human relationships and of society in general (EG 53, LS 123, AL 39). Another recurring theme in his writings is that of mercy or what he also calls a "culture of care" (LS 231, AL 191) or "culture of encounter" (EG 220), which can serve as an antidote to the double degradation brought by the "throw-away culture." This paper explores these two important themes from Pope Francis and engages them from the lens of Philippine culture and experience through the words sawà and awâ.
DIGITAL EXPRESSIONS, EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES OF AND FOR RELIGIONS IN ASIA
Religion and Social Communication 16:2 (2018) 105-123.
As the world comes close to celebrating the golden anniversary of the first digital message sent between two ARPAnet computers of the U.S. Defense Ministry in 1969, Asia marked an important milestone as the halfway mark of Internet penetration was reached in Asia-Pacific on the silver anniversary of the advent of commercially available Internet in the world's largest continent. In this context of a highly digitalized Asia, with more people in our continent spending more of their day online, the Internet and social media can be both a formidable competitor and a potential ally for those who desire to build a culture of communication and understanding. On the one hand, these technologies, inherently social in nature, provide the means for faster and more convenient human contact. On the other hand, many have pointed out its adverse effects on the capacity of people to relate and communicate with depth and quality, both with others and with themselves. This article explores the positive and negative contributions of the Internet and social media towards building a culture of communication, following the stages of the development of the Internet from Web 1.0 to Web 3.0, as reflected both in the literature and in concrete examples. It also aims to provide a glimpse of what perils and potentials, opportunities and challenges lie in store for Asian religions vis-a-vis human communication and understanding in the coming age of Web 4.0.
SOLIDARITY AS PAGDADAMAYAN IN THE FILIPINO VERSION OF LAUDATO SI’: AN EXPERIMENT IN INCULTURATED TRANSLATION
Landas 32:1 (2018) 43-64
In the process of coming up with a Filipino translation of the encyclical Laudato Si', one of the challenges encountered is the absence of translations already in circulation of many key theological concepts. Nevertheless, instead of opting for mere transliteration, the principle of dynamic equivalence was adopted at least for the principal terms in search of inculturated translations that can hopefully contribute to the development of our local theological vocabulary. This paper is an attempt towards an exposition of the translation of the term solidarity as pagdadamayan. First, it will look at the development of the concept of solidarity in the context of Catholic Social Teaching. Second, it will explore the meaning of pagdadamayan in Filipino culture. Third, it will highlight key intersections and points of convergence between the two concepts in order to demonstrate their dynamic equivalence.
Landas 31:2 (2017) 103-116
Despite its strengths, one of the weaknesses of the latest K-12 Religious Education Curriculum developed by CEAP-NCR is its lack of emphasis on salvation history, which is given focus only in Grade 1 and Grade 7. This paper seeks to highlight the central role of narrating the history of salvation in a Catholic religious education curriculum, taking the cue from Scriptures and the Church Fathers, as well as modern theorists and practitioners of religious education, before attempting to describe how we can apply this principle in our own pedagogical practice today.
BUILDING BRIDGES OF CONSENSUS AND OPENNESS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD:
GEMS FROM HUMANISTIC BUDDHISM AND FO GUANG SHAN
Proceedings of the 4th Humanistic Buddhism Youth Forum, 77-92. Singapore: Fo Guang Shan, 2017.
In the context of today's highly digitalized world, the Internet is both a formidable competitor and a potential ally for those who want to build consensus and openness. This paper explores the phenomenon of Internet addiction, its symptoms and effects, and how these can be overcome. It will then continue with an exposition of more proactive means on how we can harness the power of the Internet and social media to help us promote understanding and harmony today and in the coming age of Web 4.0.
ASTARE CORAM TE ET TIBI MINISTRARE: ON STANDING AFTER THE CONSECRATION TO THE END OF THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Landas 30:2 (2016): 1-29.
This article explores the question regarding the proper posture of the liturgical assembly from after the Consecration to the end of the Eucharistic Prayer from a canonical, liturgical, theological and pastoral perspective.
Religion and Social Communication 14:2 (2016) 106-121
Laying down in broad strokes the various stages in the development of the Internet and exploring the challenges and possibilities it offers to religions in Asia, we ask: how can religions in Asia continue to share faith in the dawning age of Web 4.0, not only using Web 4.0 technology but with a truly Web 4.0 orientation that can connect with the Web 4.0 generation?
DISSENTIRE CUM ECCLESIA: HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY DISSENT
IN THE CONTEXT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Landas 29:1 (2015) 1-49
A more important and fundamental concern for theologians, beyond the legal aspects of dissent, is whether the nature of faith does itself preclude, and absolutely so, the expression of dissent against the official teaching of the Catholic Church. Is dissent truly the “road to perdition” not only for theologians but even for their students? Are all expressions of dissent, therefore, even in a setting such as the academe, the same as teaching something “objectionable”?
In the Service of the People of God
BOOKS
EASTER MEALTIME PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY
Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications, 2021
Although Ignatians and Dominicans may find differences in their approaches, the rosary provides a prayer where they can meet on common ground. With a focus on contemplation and exploring the creativity of imagination, the rosary and its mysteries allow participants to find new depth in their prayer and reflection. Each mystery is set in a dramatic scene, and the reader is invited to pray along as events unfold.
Available online: https://www.liguori.org/ignatian-rosary.html
COURSE OFFERINGS
Sharing Faith with the Digital Generation
THEOLOGY 1
CHRISTIAN VISION OF THE HUMAN PERSON
1st Term 2018-2019
An outcomes-based undergraduate theology course that enables students to understand the Christian view of the human person and to live out the fundamentals of the moral doctrine of the Church. The course focuses on Christ’s call to holiness and the human person’s response in faith. The students are expected to reflect more deeply and act more fully on the moral teachings of Christ so that they can lead lives worthy of the Gospel.
GET IN TOUCH
Institute of Religion
University of Santo Tomas
España Boulevard
Manila 1008
Philippines