St. Luigi Orione strongly once said, “The
society without priests would be like a menagerie of wild beasts, and the world
would plunge into barbarity”. Priestly life is a paradigmatic dimension of
Jesus’ passion narrative and ministry who promotes salvation. In a sense, making a life in front of the Crucified Christ entail self-denial and total dedication.
The 26th of September becomes more meaningful as the seminary
witness the outpouring blessings of God through drops of rains. The Montalban
Community were celebrating the gift of abundant vocations in Our Lady of the
Assumption Chapel as the seven of our Seminarians pledge their desires to Fr.
Oreste, the Superior of the Delegation. A
postulant (from Latin: postulare, to ask) is the one who originally asks, makes a request or demand
therefore a candidate. In God’s Providence, seven Filipino seminarians entered
the postulancy- and are willing to be guided by the help of the postulant
master. These are Post. Jeric Batas, Post. Nestor Taroy, Post. Czar Lawrenz
Ponaya, Post. Randy Pasuengos, Post. Antero Mejos, Post. Antonio Ogardo, and
Post. Mark Kevin Tuprio. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist was presided by Rev.
Fr. Oreste Ferrari, FDP, assisted by Fr. Anthony de Souza, FDP and Fr. Stan
Achi, FDP. The Mass was attended by some lay people who often come for masses
on Saturdays in the chapel outside the Cottolengo Filipino.
Vocation is all about seeking. When someone seeks, he will also learn to
leave everything. It is a matter of sacrificing one thing for the sake of
priorities. Life is all about having the courage of looking with high
intentions. Religious people are invited to face this truth with courage and to
look Jesus as the foundation of all realities.
To be Christ’s disciples doesn’t require having names or doing goodness.
It must be established clearly in the heart who speaks what we will desire. Fr.
Oreste in his homily, emphasized two main things to reflect on. He invites
everyone to be attached with Christ, to be in love with Him. If things are done
with love, it will harness the way to perfection. Christ’s love can heal
everything and by this love, missions will be more manageable if everything is
established in LOVE which is Christ Himself. The second thing he
mentioned was seeking for vocations that witness the truth of life- hears the
cry of the lowly, feels the agony of the abandoned and feels the quest of a
restless life. It is a life who can set examples to the many. It is a life who promotes
God’s Kingdom. Choosing a religious and priestly life should be accompanied
with prayers and the love of God. Prayer gives strength, love flourishes the
human wisdom. Jesus will say, “Don’t scandalize my little friends of mine”.
Jesus is a good mentor and the response to this charitable sweetness is a great
friendship to Him and His people.
The Liturgy was said in Tagalog, the language of every Filipino. Fr.
Anthony who mastered clearly the language concluded the mass with sayings and
prologues to the homily. The event was ended by the postulants receiving the
St. Francis Cross as an acquainting sign for the challenges they have accepted
inside the postulancy stage of formation.
-Sem. Pablo B. Jordan
Seminary Beadle, Contributor
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