The Entrance to Postulancy

In view of religious parlance, discernment is being made from the deepest reflection out of solitary moments and prayerful encounters. Imagining a person in decision crisis, the Holy Bible will say, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "HERE AM I, send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

On the evening celebration before the festival of Christo Rey, the Little Work of Divine Providence Congregation here in the Philippines acquainted the seven (7) neo-postulants. Solemn and momentous, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist was officiated prayerfully by Fr. Oreste Ferrari, fdp, the Vicar General of the congregation together with Fr. Tarcisio Gregorio Vieira, fdp, the Superior General with FDP priests: Fr. Anthony, the local coordinator of the mission and novice master, Fr. Stefan Bulai, the director of the Cottolengo, Fr. Justin Bamouni, the in-charge of the religious professed brothers and Fr. Stan as rector of the seminary and will take the responsibility as postulant master to shepherd the new men being renewed by Christ's Mercy and Providence.

In the classical etymology, postulant in the religious life is defined as “postulare” from the Latin word, “to ask”, is the one who originally asks, makes a request or demand therefore a candidate. People who knocked on the door of the new stage of formation are: Post. Dandy Dela Cruz from the Diocese of Catarman, Northern Samar; Post. Jan Mikhail Bangcaya, Post. Eregie Estaris, Post. Pablo Jordan from the Diocese of San Jose de Antique; Post. Julius Maguljado from the Archdiocese of Caceres, Camarines Sur, Post. Loiue John Paul Navalta from the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo; and Post. Rio Jose Gregorio from Diocese of Antipolo, Rizal.

After the Eucharistic celebration and the Rite for the Entrance to Postulancy, the congregation of people flocked in the seminary garden in front of the chapel. Seminarians shared their unbreathing portraits of how they accommodate their vocation calling –  a very nice play being displayed who made the night more colorful. After the cultural night, Fr. Tarcisio and Fr. Oreste gave their message to the crowd and it became so legendary the fact that it was their last day of visiting Philippines as a council.

In such great felicitation, the celebration of Orionight this November touched some various realities - up to the extent of formulating vocation as result of mysterious inspiration and freewill. It is God who calls and it is also God who liberates. It is indeed a deep-seated appreciation in the workings of Divine Providence that God manifested his love and mercy in the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year to mark the pastors of the church who will later on became propagators of faith and the Word of Life.