seminary lyf

journey towards an old mission in the modernized world. this could be the exact words that could describe when i started my life here as an overseas training student. from planes, trains, buses, ferries and cars, these are needed to bring me into a world of complexities and modernity.
i come from a place where things are so simple and mostly are done manually. but here, i was thinking of a training on how to become an effective missionary equiped with the knowledge of an old folks in the mission but rather i learned how to use the push-buttons and the touch screens. to be well informed of the most latest technology.all the electrical stuffs and gadgets were becomong part of the training.
i was wondering how could this be related to my present situation and to the my purpose of coming into this overseas program. then, i come into a realization that this was a classic style of doing missionary work. when our grandfather first arrived here, they also come along with native folks into the fields. try to observed what was the thing they were doing

it’s lenten season again. another moments of reflection and penetence for what the whole year had happened to us. last year, if we could remeber, we were doing the same and perhaps cried a lot because of the shortcomings that we’ved done. and now, again we want to say sorry for these things for the second time. does it seems to you somewhat like redundant? then, what’s the purpose of all these penitence and reflections were in fact we will be doing it again later?

well, my answer to all these intellectual thesis and anti-thesis is clearly explained in our daily routine of cleaning our house. if you know very well what’s the purpose of cleaning the house everyday, then, the same for us christians. when we approach the confessionary for confessions, we promised to avoid sin again, nor that we do not like doing it again. but then, when we were exposed to the external world of the flesh, we could not avoid to be contaminated with all these things. St. Pual would say " we are of the world but not of the world". these means that the cycle of the church continues to remind us that as we travel outside we can get dirty and filthy, but as we come home, we take a bath, wanting to clean all the dust that stick unto us.

our house never gets clean until we maintain it everyday. we can only maintain it if we strive everyday too. never give up a lenten time every after the day. it might be tough or easy, always give time for recollection. of what had happened during the whole day. this is my toughest cahllenge too, as a language student here in Hong Kong. i got all the time to budget. the seasons are just a signboard to keep me informed that the way is still long enough to travel. keep the fuel level up. gudluck to all of us this coming lent. may at the easter sunday, all of us will be risen together with the risen Christ, amen.

times had past and its christmas again. but at this time, its a different atmosphere. i was evicted out from kuyas’ house in tagaytay (of course i applied for it). and now, i’m here in hong kong wandering and trying to find my luck in a new mission assignment. the most interesting thing that had happened was that, that was the first christmas to celebrate outside my country home. it been only months ago that i started to adjust and now i have to create a story out of my state.

i thought christmas was a season of joy and happiness. but not at all times. in fact few minutes before that christmas took place was a very sad and lonely experience of Josep and Mary. in a cold and dark town where they do not have any room to stay.

this was too my experience when on the eve of the twenty fourth, i decided to take a visit for several english communities around hong kong. of course, situation is extremely opposite for we have the efficient trains and buses here. it was a nice day for me until midnight. when we had done singing all the christmas carols and all the church goers are gone. when it was only me and the manger with the chasing lights put off. i was a little of quite and silence watching the little child waving his hands towards his parents. it seems that Jesus is telling me that He started His life on earth in simplicity and lowliness. as a continued to keenly observed my feelings, slowly the music comes, the lights move on and the baby has gone. he’s grown already and is doing his mission. there, He showed how to follow Him. and it brought me back to where i was standing and made me realized. that christmas is not only for that manger to remain. i have to go on and even face the troubles and persecution. lastly, the crucifixion in order that i might experience the second phase, the resurrection. thanks be to God, i exclaimed and silently, as the quite night fades, i went to bed embracing that experience in me, hoping that rising in the morning, i might be able to recall.

THE TRANSITION OF MY UNDERSTANDING

I since then a child and i always wonder about the image in the sacred corner of our house. a lady carrying a child that also carries a ball in his hand. my mother deligently explained  tome that that was the earth carried by Jesus in his hand. then, i said to my self "how big was Jesus’ hand tht he hold in his palm the whole of the earth.

science was introduced, and more planets are named.the galaxies, the whole universe with the solar system functioning in its exact time. thanks for the elelmentary teacher who patiently introduce one by one to us. my image of God’s omnipotent hand holding the earth also extends towards the endless and limitless bound of the whole universe which the human mind cannot no longer contain.

as I grew older and wiser, the more complicated things to be understood. in the church’s altar at the upper portion was an eye. my father explains that, that wasJesus’ eyewatchingus. down was the huge wooden cross with a man nailed on it. i thought, that would be the punishment if Jesus caught us doing infidelities to his commanmends.

my world furhter expands more than i could imagine. christmas came and there was a joyful presentations of images. i asked the parish priest why there are animals and stars in the church. he simply said ," its christmas time. the time when Jesus came into the world as a human like us.

years had passed and many chrismas had gone. many christmas trees had been uprooted for sale. until Jesus gave me a chance to know a bit about Him, i was sent in the seminary to study theology. they taught us the image of God in a magnificent way. that God was everything and in anywhere place we go and found. as i recalled my past experiences, ther are a lot of troubles and difficulties

my seminary life was not so colorful as some had. it hust went on as natural as nature. there are opportunities that come and go but to no avail. until one moment came into my decision of applying for an overseas training for further learnings.

God planned everything, i believe. when i tendered the letter for application, as if buying a pizza. everything went so smoooth that in a span of six months, i flew to hongkong.

here, its a very different life. people, color, cultural belief and lifestyle. as a filipino having tagged as the Divine Word Missionary, it is always a requirement to be dissolved into various cultures without losing my filipino taste. meeting different cultures is sometimes tiring and boring but later on is a hands on learning for becoming a fulfilled missionary.

working with confreres in a first world country is a challenging one. all mission areas are difficult. Jesus sent disciples not to the easy places but to the death-danger zone.

hong kong is still part of the communist China Republic. it just so happen that it is open for religion because it was colonized by the British ten years ago. Because of the high rising industry, people from different direction flock into a small mountainous city.

one of the focus in our svd confreres here is the apostolate to migrants workers. and unfortunately, the filipinos ranked no one in number according to the latest survey, and it continue to increase as indonesians also multiplied its number.

this will be my future mission also. it is a great honor to be of service to the co-missionaries here in hong kong. but this is not the only concern of the svd mission here. we could not set aside the fact that our first missionary was sent in china. and so our continuing dialogue to the chinese people will still be in the frontline.