I am very glad to have the opportunity to express my gratitude to the community of the Theologate. I have been living in Manila, the Philippines, for two years and in the same facilities I had my Postulancy and Novitiate. I started my Novitiate alone last year, along with one Filipino postulant who after a period of discernment decided to leave last November 2019. Being the only one Novice, I could enjoy a closer relationship with my Novice Master. The presence of the Theology students has brought me joy and encouragement too.
Living with the community of Theology, composed of nine nationalities, has been a blessing for me to share together our Xaverian vocation experience and cultural richness. Although we are coming from different countries and continents, we are all invited and motivated by the same charism and spirit and for this we live as a fraternal family. Being a little sensitive, at the very beginning it was not easy for me to “enter” this international community immediately. It was the first time for me to live with many “foreigners” and at that time I was still struggling with my English. As we gradually got to know each other, I began to enjoy this diversity in unity. I became interested in their own life stories, especially their vocational journey and their encounters with the Xaverians. The possibility to know them personally gives me opportunity to build new friendships with my companions of vocation. I am grateful for the greetings and sincere care coming from them in my daily life. When I am not afraid to make mistakes and I feel freer to reveal my heart, I experience their loving and brotherly care. In my vocational journey, their presence is a concrete and beautiful gift coming from the Lord.
Coming from different backgrounds, the community enjoys abundant richness, such as different cultures, languages, way to express thoughts and sentiments, songs, dances, and food. I am constantly learning something new from their different personalities and cultural experiences. Their personalities and perspectives have opened to me new horizons on the world, on the Church and on the mission. Of course, we have to accept our limitations and weaknesses due to our characters, temperament, immaturities, different visions and understandings. These elements can normally cause conflicts, but I have also experienced the fraternal moments of correction and reconciliation. Although we are in different formative stages (theologate and novitiate), I know that I share the with them the same ideal, the same call, the same charism, and the same family. In this community, the gift of vocation has been growing according to the formative stage of each of us.
As I am about to finish my Novitiate, I have already experienced the beauty to live in an international community and immersed in the spirit of family. I am happy to recognize that my formation has not been theoretical, but real. I am touched whenever we gather together in the chapel praying and singing songs in different languages. Especially in this very difficult moment of epidemic, our concerns and encouragements for each member is stronger than before, because we need the presence and the help of each other. I am very grateful when our community gathers together, such as praying and participating in the Eucharist, eating at table, and playing soccer, etc.
I desire to share my joy and peace which are the best fruits of my formation during the Novitiate. I want to thank each of them for their love and concern for me. As a novice, my experience living in the community of theology has shaped my heart and mind, and made me a brother among brothers. Indeed, the Lord could not have been more benevolent toward us, toward me.