Mary Grace T. Betsayda

"Bahala Na Ang Dios" ("leave It to God"): the Church's Role in the Socialization of Filipinos in the Greater Toronto Area Mary Grace T. Betsayda

This book investigates the role that the Roman Catholic church has played in the socialization of Filipinos in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The research is based on scholarly acknowledgement of the important place of social institutions?such as churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other places for religious and faith-based gatherings?in the settlement and integration experiences of immigrants. Roman Catholicism, first introduced into the Philippines via Spanish colonization, has become an important marker of identity for many Filipinos and has functioned as a means of easing the barriers to Filipinos' integration into Canada. To better analyze the role the Roman Catholic church has played in Filipino-Canadian immigrant life, this book provides an overview of the history of migration to Canada and discusses the place of the church as seen from the perspective of representatives of diasporic, transnational and second generation communities of Filipinos in Canada. As such, the main data is primary material comprising of interviews with Filipino-Canadians from each of these community groups. This book is an asset to those interested in religion, history, and immigration.