Back when I was still in high school, I dreamed to become a priest or a teacher. My schoolmates and teachers have seen my own capability and talents that I am suited for those ambitions; in short, they encouraged me to become one. My affiliations as Knight of the altar and a Student-Catechist manifested my interest in Church works. So, I attended the vocation workshop in a diocesan seminary and after few days, I received a letter telling that I qualified and can enroll now as a pre-College Seminarian. I was very happy then. See? A fourth year high school like me decided to study to become a priest someday. Sad to say, I didn’t and might not become someday. Although my father was an ex-seminarian, he opposed my decision for the fact that I’m the only son and the first sibling in the family, and have only one younger sister. My mother told me that if it is a real calling from God, it will comeback to me when I am already matured enough to understand my own life. Instead, they encouraged me to study first in college and look for promising job just to experience the life of comfort and sufferings in looking for money. I studied college through the help of DOST-Science Education institute, and finished a course that gave me a chance to work. I was employed first in Davao City as CY foreman before reassigned in gen. Santos City as Operations Assistant and at the same time, as Customers Service representative of American President Lines, a foreign shipping line based in Singapore. I managed and worked with people of different types of personalities for less than two years while enjoying the opportunities and benefits for a typical employee. My life then was just very ordinary and seven days a week routine, it was not really boring but it was not also satisfying. Those times were meaningless that I even forgot to take care of my own social life, love life and myself since I was very busy and serious about business matters.
One day, I visited my family; I was already living on my own that time; I found a brochure at my study table; my sister brought it from school. It was an invitation to be “in-contact” of the Marist Brothers. As I was reading the brochure, I begun to reflect and asked myself, “What am I doing now in my life?” Am I really happy? Then I started looking for meaning in my life. I brought the pamphlet with me, filled it up and sent it back to the Brothers addressed in the Novitiate. Yes, I graduated in a Marist University but didn’t know exactly who they are. That move gave me a chance to know them well especially when I was invited to come over to their Formation house in gen. Santos City. It was for six mo months of just staying overnight, once a month, joining with them in prayers, conversation and meeting with the other brothers. My interest was deepened and attracted to their way of life. Reflecting on my career, the real happiness I was seeking was not there so I decided to make my own decision to join the religious life, particularly in the Marist way of life. At that time, there was a company that wanted to pirate me and work for them as Assistant Comptroller. They were offering higher salary and benefits but I declined. I informed my parents after resigning from the company. Again my parents opposed it, but by my strong stance, they just agreed hesitantly until they confirmed that they are supporting me in my desire.
I attended the summer vocation workshop for three weeks and formally informed the brothers that I am joining the next formation year, May 2002. My parents showed their support by attending programs at the formation house, especially during the Postulancy proclamation.
As time passed by, when I was already in the Aspirancy stage, my father was the one who visited me frequently since my mother was always busy. Unfortunately, one month after I received my soutane, he died of kidney failure, and that became another turning point of my life. I visited him once and that was the last time we saw each other. I was really encouraged to discern about this way of life, when he asked me to go on with my vocation; he was crying then and he knew that he would not be living any longer. I was very sad and really affected but one thing for sure, he was very happy of my decision. What happened to my father was a stepping stone for me now as a Brother for it showed me how short life is and what is the meaning of dying.
You might be asking, “Why Marist brothers?” In fact, there are many still other congregations for men or be a priest. The difference was what made me decide to choose them. It was their way of life itself that attracted me, even though I had always the chance to search for other congregation that time. I tried to search for others, actually but finally settled on them. But still, why? There are always opportunities for growth with a purpose of extending myself to others, it was my initial motivation that time but as formation continued, this motivation was replaced with a meaningful one that is beyond others’ understanding: the consecrated life of being a Marist Brother. The Marist way of life is a life in an active apostolic action that is rooted in the love of God to his people. In this way of life, I can express my ambition by the capabilities bestowed on me. See? My first ambition was to become a priest or a teacher but in this way, it is more than becoming one, and that is the reason why I have said earlier: it is beyond human understanding.
To become a religious is not a popular option in life and it needs courage to know the will of God and respond to his calling for us. Constant discernment is needed to know his will and I should say that I am really called in this life when I reach six feet below the ground.
Posted in vocations
