Patterns of Thinking for Our Way of Living: The New House of Studies- Chicago, IL.
Returning to the United States after the completion of my Canonical year in New York in January 2013, it is funny how little things serve as a reminder that not everything is the same between Anglo-American friends. The paperwork that accompanied me from Glasgow does not fit into the neat little pockets I purchased from Office Depot. It was only then that I remembered the U.S. standard letter paper is not the same as A4. However, the rest of life seems to be a good fit. The formation journey that formally began in the Community Chapel with the St. Jean Baptiste SSS Community on 6th January 2012 has many voices to narrate it. A bit like Fr. Peter Julian’s intuitive sense of the aspects and episodes of his life being knit-together for the purpose of promoting the ‘Reign of the Eucharist’, I am mindful that I am being given a new opportunity for ministry within the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and that nothing ought to be wasted in that mission. Formative experience in professional social work, ordained ministry in the Anglican Church, and more recently the experience of day-to-day living in countries and cultures other than my own are making this precious time of initial formation a particularly rich and internationally flavored experience. In fact the more I reflect on days past the greater the summons of today to recognize and live Religious life joyfully as the gift it is. It is the re-wording of Soren Kierkegaard’s famous statement about the nature of our understanding. “Life can only be understood backwards”, he insisted, “but it must be lived forwards.” Because we are never given the vantage point of remaining still in time and looking at life at it is, how we understand is always something ‘becoming.’ Increasingly, I am understanding the life of St. Peter Julian’s Eucharistic Congregation, and my place in it, as ‘life understood backwards, but as lived and celebrated TODAY.’ The Acts of the XXXIVth General Chapter clearly proclaim, “We are ‘one body and one spirit’, one single family, and we should collaborate and express a solidarity at all levels of the Congregation, as regards personnel, economy and formation. The intercultural community springs from the Eucharist.” [Acts VI, 5, a.] At this stage in my formation I am realising powerfully that whilst I belong to one Congregation, its life is expressed quite differently depending on location and culture. To deny that is to naively deny the humanity of who were are as Religious. It is for that very reason that being part of the formative days of the new House of Studies here in Chicago is such a tremendous opportunity because it is a presence that is animating where the Congregation desires to be TODAY. The initial student community here at SSS Chicago will comprise student priests from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, as well as a British scholastic, with Fr. Mike Arkins SSS, a native of Chicago as our pastor. I cannot stress enough how such international initiatives, when they have as their horizon a sense of trust, hope and joy in the truths contained within our Eucharistic charism, prove to be far more than fashionable gimmicks in our increasingly trans-cultural and globalized-world. They actually lead to the formation of a more humble sense- yet at the same time- confident Religious life. As a fellow scholastic Brother from the Philippines came to realize during his exposure-year in Ireland and Scotland, when the seed of formation is planted in different soil, suddenly the seed becomes aware of its own growth in a radically...
Read MoreChallenging Africa
“In situation of widespread poverty, the proclamation of Christ must be the means for restoring human dignity.” -John Paul II’s Redemtoris Missio #37 Conscious to our vocation as religious called to spread the good news which emanate from the Eucharist, we are predisposed and unfastened to go anywhere for mission with the aim to proclaim, testify, live out, and share the profound treasures of the Eucharist. Moved by the Spirit who is the principal agent of mission, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament has had the opportunity to reach as far as Africa. And fortunately enough, our community in Uganda, East Africa has been fruitful in living out our Eucharistic charism for a valuable fifty (50) years now. Certainly our religious vocations in such place are not intended to be a soft life. The demands it makes on a Priest’s or Brother’s nerve and courage are great, they have to inevitably face the challenge and difficulty, some loneliness, moments of disillusion and hesitation, and even trepidation and disappointment. But amidst all these threats however, we can only claim with the Lord’s promise “do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Not all are called to go for mission outside one’s home country, but to those who are being sent to far places like Africa is indeed an opportunity and at the same time a test of endurance which consequently determines one’s commitment and witnessing to the real essence of religious life. Having embraced this kind of opportunity I have experienced myself the way of life in Africa particularly in Uganda. At the onset of my journey I felt I could only survive for not more than a month because psychologically and emotionally I was threatened by my own misgivings, prejudices and even biases. It was an ordeal to mingle with people absorbed by cultural differences, and a sheer travesty for one who is not used to immerse in a foreign poor land. Days, weeks, months have passed since the time I landed Uganda, and meeting with people from all walks of life is indeed life-changing. By now a different but affirmative disposition grips into my being more so to my missionary mindset. Appreciation and the desire to live and serve with the people have become my preoccupation. Realizing the value of giving out of my own self for whatever legitimate means of service enkindles the very purpose of my mission. Actually this service embodies the Eucharistic charism that I am committed to adhere as a religious of the Congregation. And to lose out consciously this Eucharistic value will ultimately wanes out the anticipated fruition of the Eucharist that we celebrate. Even if one has not personally visited Africa or has seen or tasted their way of living, our common assessment of this part of the world maybe similar. Flat, grey, dusty, disease-stricken, undeveloped – yes to some extent these are true. But interestingly enough, people survive. As much as they could, faith in God has been their strongest claim of countenance albeit the adverse impact of economic, environmental, and political uproar of the country. Moreover, amidst all these challenges and difficulties encountered by people, our Eucharistic apostolate and presence continue on because undeniably the Eucharist is the antidote to this culture of scarcity and economic upheaval. Our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist is the means of restoring our human dignity injured by many external inflictions. Unfortunately enough, children mostly are the affected ones – food insufficiency and malnutrition, poor education opportunities, and health threats are among of the consequences. But what broke my heart and brought me to...
Read MoreMy colourful life with God
“Life is not black and white. It is a beautiful kaleidoscope of colours, textures, shades, and distinctions. it is a canvas of details, tones, differences and diversities.” Just like also the call of God— many forms, many ways, mostly unexpected; but always going towards the same direction… towards the greatest artist of all who is God. God who is the light of the world who enables us to see and understand His marvellous canvass of life. Sometime in April, 2008 a total stranger asked me what time the last train would leave the LRT station somewhere in Manila. Without any hesitation, I assisted and generously gave him the information he needed. Me, I just came from the Church and I asked God to give me a sign for what I am longing for. I believe there was a divine intervention because he introduced himself as a seminarian… a Blessed Sacrament brother. It rung a bell! I was praying for a deeper meaning in life, but I didn’t expect more than this. As we part ways we exchanged mobile phone numbers and he referred me right away to Fr. Randy Vergara, SSS, who was the vocation director then. From then on until the time I entered the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, the ray of light of God always gives meaning to my life. His wisdom, little by little, was revealed to me as I discover my vocation which is a gift of God to me. Christ is the light of the world, as whoever comes to see His light will have the light of faith. I have come to see light upon gazing on Him at the Crucifix – as Christ was revealed as the Son of Man and truly the Son of God; He suffered for us because of God the Father’s tremendous desire to redeem us from our sins… a sacrifice born out love. As a seminarian, my prayer-life sustains me to persevere. My prayer-life connects me to God who constantly inspires me to give myself generously in His heavenly mission here on earth. Doing my ministry in my apostolate area becomes an invitation for me from God to love as He does. The Holy Eucharist is a witness to the truth and love which Christ himself teaches us from God,the Father. The Holy Eucharist is an inexhaustible expression of God’s love which fills me with His divine presence. His divine presence is a spark of hope where I always cling-on to in times of sorrow… His divine presence is a ray of light that sheds meaning to all chaos and adversities that wounds and breaks me most of the time. The Eucharist, as the source and summit of the Church’s life and my life, there, I always draw my inspiration to do my mission with joy in my heart. To become a Religious-Priest someday is to become a faithful lover of the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is Jesus Christ Himself who is really present in the form of the Bread that is broken and shared. Like Him, in doing mission, I will also be broken and be shared to others. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————– Admin note: Br. Alvin Manaois is a professed scholastic of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Province of Our Lady of the Assumption (Philippines). He is now on his philosophy studies at San Carlos Seminary, Manila, Philippines. Would you like to follow Jesus as a priest or brother in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament?Please click here to contact...
Read MoreFilipino Scholastic on Mission to Africa
Despite of the great distance of Uganda from the Philippines and the danger of Ebola Virus that now plagues the Western part of Africa, Br. Aldi Bureros, SSS remain courageous in answering God’s call to serve our mission in Uganda, Africa. Br. Aldi, a Filipino Scholastic, left for Uganda last June. He will be staying in that country for the next ten months. As of now, he works as the treasurer of our Masaka community and helps the Parish which the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament administers in Uganda. Br. Aldi recognises the importance of his mission in Africa. He said “mission is always there in our midst. It is opening our heart to find God where ever we are. Sometimes, we try to avoid this mission because it is always challenging on our part since there are so many things that we need to surrender just to make ourselves totally available for the Lord. I think, to be open for the invitation of the Lord is the key to follow Him. Discipleship means to trust fully in the providence of the Lord and to serve Him with Christian joy despite of our personal shortcomings to fulfil this great task from God. Let us always remember that MISSION is the work of God. With this, I see myself as a humble co-worker in God’s vineyard.” Please help our Uganda...
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