This study examines the role of seven rituals of the El Shaddai Catholic Charismatic Movement, founded in the Philippines in 1984, in deepening members’ spiritual lives and fostering kapatiran (spiritual brotherhood). Drawing on James Carey’s Ritual Communication Theory and employing empirical phenomenology within Sikolohiyang Pilipino, the research highlights how collective practices—praise singing, testimony sharing, communal prayer, mass participation, proclamation, offering, and blessing rituals—serve as conduits for faith formation, spiritual discipline, and communal solidarity by providing shared symbolic actions that reinforce commitment and belonging. These rituals, central to El Shaddai gatherings, were chosen for their significance in sustaining spiritual practices and communal ties. Data were gathered through pakikipagkuwentuhan and pakikipagpalagayang-loob with 15 long-term members, ensuring culturally grounded insights into their lived experiences. Findings reveal that these rituals are not merely personal acts of devotion but collective expressions of faith that actively cultivate kapatiran, strengthen communal resilience, and sustain a shared spiritual mission. Members experience a sense of belonging and mutual care while embodying Filipino values of kapwa (shared identity) and communal responsibility. By framing ritual as a communicative process that builds and sustains kapatiran, this study contributes to discussions on Filipino spirituality, ritual communication, and the socio-cultural dimensions of faith-based communities. It demonstrates how localized ritual practices uniquely cultivate kapatiran within Filipino spirituality, underscoring the significance of ritual as a vital site for faith transmission and communal identity formation in Philippine cultural contexts.

Authors:
Joven Makiling, University of Makati, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Prof. Joven B. Makiling chairs the BA Communication program at the University of Makati. His research spans cultural and religious studies, focusing on the El Shaddai Movement, fortification projects in Samar, and heritage churches in Pampanga.

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