The Society of Jesus and its network of nuns, seminarians and lay people marked the 25th anniversary of the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (Servant Church of the Nation) that played a crucial role during the 1986 Philippine people power revolution.

“We celebrate and give thanks for a story of Exodus and passing over. A story, less grand certainly, but a Passover story nevertheless,” said Jesuit priest Vic de Jesus during a thanksgiving Mass March 5.

Father De Jesus, one of the first directors of the organization, recalled the role priests, nuns and seminarians played during the people power revolution that returned democracy in the country in 1986.

The Philippine marked the 25th year of the peaceful revolution last month.

“The presence of clergy, seminarians and religious men and women accompanying lay poll volunteers prevented or discouraged violence,” recalled Father De Jesus.

He said that as Church people “we aimed to make a difference in social transformation through honest and peaceful elections under a regime that was set on manipulating them. And this was a political effort… it was not partisan politics.”

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