When I was a child, we went to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Baclaran to attend Sunday Mass with my whole family, because my mother is a devotee of the said church, that’s why they taught us to attend on Sundays. If we missed the Mass in Baclaran Church some of my family members would get sick. The days passed by, and in 2009 we found out that the Xaverian Missionaries would create a chapel in our barangay which is the chapel that they will create is the Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Tumana. Before that, I saw some altar servers in the chapel, and the exact word that I said to my mother was “Gusto ko katulad n’yan” (I would like to be like them) which means I want to be an altar server, and the days passed, my mother, told me that we went to the chapel because she wanted me to undergo formation.
I started dreaming of little things and it was fulfilled. I dreamt of being a sacristan and a few months later it came true although it was hard but, I loved it. Until I saw a Xaverian priest, which is father Mex, who Inspired me to have that kind of life too. But there are some people who told me that kind of life is difficult, and that kind of work is only for a good person or wise, but I said that there was nothing wrong if I tried because if you didn’t try you wouldn’t know. At that time, I was disappointed. After all, some people didn’t believe in my abilities. In the homily by Father Mex, he asked if I would want to become a priest someday, but I didn’t answer because I want to become a police officer at that time. As the day passed my dream to be a police officer was fading because when Father Mex delivered his homily, I felt that he was directing it to me, and with his repetitive question if I want to become like him and I thought about it because being a priest is a huge responsibility.
A few weeks after, he asks me again the same question and I thought that “It might be my calling. I was becoming more interested in it. While I was serving in our parish, I seemed to be attracted who are wearing cassocks, and everywhere I went I always saw a priest. I served as an altar server every day and I met other than Fr. Mex, two more and they were Fr. Alex and Fr. Em. And that’s where my dream as a priest has begun. I guess it was 2018 when I joined the “Come and See” and I met Father Justin.
One day Father Justin talked to me if I wanted to go to seminary and my answer was “Yes, Father”. I didn’t join the online search-In, because our internet connection was poor. So, that day was thinking if my decision was right. I also thought that when talking about God there was no reason to think. The days passed and Father Justin went to our home and gave me the acceptance letter and also the requirements, Father Justin also talked and asked my parents if it was okay with me and they answered that it would depend on me and that’s where it all started.
Now, I entered seminary to respond to God’s call in becoming a missionary priest to share Jesus Christ with non-Christians. But there is still a long way to go on this journey. Although there are many challenges that I’m currently facing, prayer is my greatest weapon to surpass my difficulties in this journey. amen
