GRATEFUL FOREVER
By Martina J. Festin

I would like to share with you tonight some of my memorable experiences with priests to whom I owe much gratitude.

I will always be grateful to priests.  This I say not only because two of my sons (Raymun & Lorenz) became priests but also because priests have always been a constant companion ever since Toots, my late husband, and I started a family of our own. 

In fact, I can well claim that our marriage was partly due to my husband’s friendship and acquaintance with priests.  He was 44 and I was 22 when we got married, exactly half his age.  And I guess one reason why he waited that long was because his regular companions prior to our marriage were those celibate men who enjoyed beer and mahjong during their days-off.

It was they who prodded Toots to propose to me.  It was they who even accompanied Toots whenever he’d invite me and my friends for excursion at his seaside rest house.  And they were all there when we finally exchanged our marital vows.

And yet our married life did not change any of that.  On the contrary, priests came to have more reasons to frequent our home.  When I finally started giving birth to our eight children, Toots made sure that each of his priest friends would stand as ninong to our kids, something which in a way deepened our family’s ties with these consecrated men.

Was our closeness to priests the main reason why three of our sons decided to enter the seminary?

Probably, I cannot really say. But I’m sure their constant presence to our family was a big factor.  I remember how one time our parish priest mentioned to my two eldest sons the possibility of them becoming altar servers.  He had just finished blessing our newly constructed office building in Romblon when he suggested to my sons, “Why don’t you serve at the mass?”  And the rest was history.  All of my five sons eventually became altar servers.

I still recall the name of that young pastor who first invited my sons to become sacristans.  He was Fr. Didulo from Capiz.  At that time, Romblon was still under the diocese of Capiz and most of our priests were from Panay islands. His stint in our parish in the province was rather brief.  I learned a few years later that he died.  He was still very young, just a few years in the ministry.  But I would forever be grateful to him.  It was a very simple invitation – to assist at the mass.  But it was something that eventually led to those two sons of mine becoming priests. Fr. Raymun, an SVD missionary priest in Angola, Africa while Fr. Lorenz is connected with San Carlos Seminary.

I must say however that Fr. Didulo was just one of the several priests who have inspired our family in a million of ways.  Their presence to our family has always been a source of consolation.  And for that our family has always tried to be of help to them in any way that we could.

Indeed, I consider it a great privilege to be of help to priests, for it already gives me joy and comfort to think that wherever and whatever my priest sons’ assignment might be – whether in Africa or here in our home country, be it in a parish or seminary – there would always likewise be generous laypeople who are more than willing to extend their helping hand to them.   And again, for that I can never be more grateful to the Church.

Above all, I thank our Blessed Mother for her guidance and inspiration. I praise Almighty God for choosing my two sons from among those called to serve in the vineyard of the Lord.

Nowadays, we need more priests and we have to pray for their perseverance and faithfulness to God and His church.  

Thank you.
(Mrs. Martina Festin  is also a volunteer in the Lectors and Commentators Guild of the parish)



An Unforgettable Encounter
By Abby Condes Guiang

Last summer, I was invited to join the Youth Encounter Program of the Parish.  I asked about it from friends who have joined the program in the past, and their only reply was “Come and see.”  I was intrigued enough to want to join.  I got pretty excited only to find out that I would not be able to be with that group.  There was a last minute conflict in my schedule.  I was a little disappointed because I have always wanted to be a part of the activities in our parish.  They seemed to be enjoyable learning activities.  I also wanted to meet new people and experience new things.  This year, I was invited again, a few weeks before the scheduled Youth Encounter.  I wasn’t exactly sure if my mom would allow me because I also had a busy schedule this summer.  I had to attend review classes which should be my priority and I wasn’t sure yet when the last day of lessons would be.  But three days before the encounter, my mom finally allowed me to go!  At that point, I got both excited and anxious about the so-called “Y.E.”

On the first day, I was a bit scared because I did not know most of the participants.  It was like first day of school all over again.  I felt shy and uneasy with the company because it seemed that everyone knew one another, except me.  I felt like a fish out of water and I thought maybe joining the group was a mistake.  But I did not let these uneasy feelings get in the way.   I gathered all my confidence and decided to go out of my comfort zone.  I wanted to make new friends, didn’t I?  Thankfully, the activities were a big factor for us to interact.  As the days passed by, I got the chance to know the group and clicked with them.

At the start, it was not easy for me to open up.   I am not really the type of person who expresses her feelings.  Sharing my life with other people, especially those whom I just met, rarely happens to me.   Again, I decided to take the risk and let my guard down.  Every activity we had gave me the chance to know myself better as it also helped me release emotions which I have kept to myself for a long time.  When I shared my thoughts with my group mates and expressed what I really felt deep inside, I felt free and light-hearted.  I was happy that I could honestly share my feelings.  I found the peace of mind that I have been searching for a long time now.

But most importantly, the encounter gave me a chance to have a stronger relationship with God.  I realized He is someone whom I can talk to about anything and I know He will always be there to listen.  When I’m happy, He is there to share my joys;   and when I’m feeling down, He is also there to comfort me and make me feel better.  Because of YE, the way I see God changed.  Now I see Him as my best friend.

It was such a perfect time to have a deep conversation with God because our surroundings were so quiet.  The Center for Ecozoic Learning and Living, or  popularly known as CELL,  was the best place for the Youth Encounter.   Being  in a secluded area of Silang,  and  surrounded by trees that block the noise of the “outside world,” its serene atmosphere set us in a peaceful mood.  In daytime, we can hear the chirping of the birds while in the evening, the funny sounds of the “tuko” and the rhythmic noise of the crickets lulled us to sleep.  At nighttime, we were lucky to see the beauty of the stars.   The night sky was so lovely.  We were not allowed to make too much noise because it would disturb the animals nearby.  Our house rules were a big help to make us appreciate and respect nature more.  Because of them, too, we were able to concentrate and participate eagerly in the lectures and activities.

I do not regret joining the Youth Encounter because it made me realize a lot of things about life.  I can say that my perspective in life changed.  I learned to appreciate and love more the people around me - my family and friends.  I realized that we should not stereotype people whom we meet but we should grab every opportunity to know them better.  The encounter taught me to welcome new people in my life, not to judge them but to accept them for who they are.

After the YE, I am grateful to God more than ever.  I thank Him for everything that has happened and will happen in my life.  I have faith in Him because I know everything will work out just fine as He is always present to guide me.  I learned, too, that God shows us His love through unexpected ways; maybe sometimes we just don’t notice it because we are too occupied with our thoughts, with ourselves.  He shows us His love through our family, friends, and people who need our help or whom we meet in unexpected events.  We can also feel God’s love in nature; just like what we experienced in the Youth Encounter.  He shows His unending love even in the smallest things and those we expect the least from.

Indeed, my YE experience helped me found meaning in the words of Mother Teresa, who said,

“We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

May 19, 20 and 21 of the year 2010 are three of the happiest days of my life.  Those three days of my summer are unforgettable.   Probably, it was really meant to be that I join the Youth Encounter this year.  There are no accidents; everything happens for a reason.  Truly, it is an experience I shall never forget.  I am proud to be part of YE Batch 16!

(Abby is a senior high school student at the Collegio de San Agustin and a member of the Ministry of Greeters and Collectors.) 

  


CHRISTMAS 2009