Each one of us has a unique beginning my vocation journey started at Dangcagan, Bukidnon. My vocation started at a young age. I really wanted to enter the seminary because I grew up in a Catholic family. When I was a child we played kasal kasalan,and every time we play that game, I was always the priest, because I love to acting like one. After I graduated from six grade. I continued my studies in a private High School. I met new friends that turned into family from that Catholic School, that played a big role for me to prepare in achieving my dream that is to enter the seminary. I told my mother that I will enter a seminary. She was surprised at that time and she asked if I was sure to enter, because it is not something to be taken likely. She continued and reminded me that I must have a pure heart and good intention when I enter the seminary. I said to myself that one day I will become a priest.
My motivation in choosing this path is because of human and divine and at first my parents expected me to enter the diocesan. But after explaining the difference between diocesan and religious life. I decided to choose the latter and I am very happy that they supported me wholeheartedly. I chose this path because I want to preach the gospel to the non-Christians anywhere around the world. Missionary life is not easy. One must offer and devote his life to Jesus, but I believe that everything will be worth it.
Back when I was in my home town, I really prayed to God if it is my calling to be a priest, or not. When I was a child, I really want to enter a seminary because whenever I see a priest in their cassock, I feel that there is something special about it. That is why I want to become a priest. When I was in high school my desire to become a priest faded little by little, because I had a girlfriend at that time. However, I prayed everyday for my vocation and discernment growth and then God finally answered it. I am here because I heard the calling of God. First, I learned about Xaverian Missionary from a former seminarian who is one of my brothers friends. One day, I heard them talking about the differences between a Diocesan and a religious life. But at that time, I really didn't know what they were talking about. When I reached senior high, I heard that Joselino wanted to enter the Xaverian Missionary with his friend. So, I went to him and talk about it and I told him not to forget calling us. Later on Joselino introduced the life of the Xaverian Missionaries.
The population of Catholicism and Christianity in the Philippines is very high. But what about the other country? One of the many things that motivates me in becoming a missionary other than preaching the good news, is to travel in different places and countries where they other people may know Jesus our true saviour through me.
Every person have spirituality. Right? What moves or expresses your spirit or inner energy is part of your spirituality. Back when I was in my home town my spirituality is good somehow because I graduated from a Catholic school where my spirituality was formed other than my home. In our home, my mother would pray the rosary every night and novena to our Mother of Perpetual Help every Wednesday. Then as a student from a Catholic school, I was always a assigned to lead the rosary, but as week gone by. I didn’t attend the rosary, novena, and I had a lot of fake illnesses at that time so I excused attending the rosary or novena. And when the pandemic came I realized already how the prayer is very important. During the pandemic, we didn’t have food to eat and we didn’t know where to find one. But when we prayed to God he listened to us, and he gave me work so I could help my parents with our daily needs even though my siblings didn’t have work at that time as well. But through the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he gave us work I worked in a Milk tea house then a picker packer in a grocery. Then my other siblings, sold street food and worked as a wedding coordinator. When I entered here in the formation house or a seminary, they boosted my self -confidence and my spirituality, which brought me closer to God. We woke up early to prepare ourselves then go to the chapel and meditate, then followed by a Holy Eucharist. Here you experience the family spirit which changes my point of view, because I thought that when you entered the seminary you are alone and can't talk to other seminarians. But here in Xaverian Missionaries, you feel the family spirit, where you can talk to other priests and mingle with them.
Moreover, they also support you in improving yourself- confidence so that you can conquer your fear. I remember the phrase AGERE CONTRA which means to “act against.” For example when Fr. Patrick gave me this Audio-Visual Ministry, I didn’t know how to edit, how to do live streaming and other things because I didn’t like editing and to know how to use the computer. But when Fr. Patrick gave me this ministry, I need to learn more about computers and how to edit and other things. They gave me the self-confidence to conquer my fear and face it. Then now I know how to use the computer and its purpose; it gave me a lot of changes here in the seminary and discover other things that I thought I can't but I can. Being attentive to God's will is the key to conversion and an engaged and fruitful experience of seminary life. The process of conversion presents both opportunities and challenges, as we ponder God's providence of the gift of calling to the priesthood.
