EXPERIENCE OF THE POSTULANTS – Part 1: A Gift: An Immersion Experience in Cottolengo Filipino

Four of our Postulants:

·         Post. Kenneth Arteta PINEDA

·         Post. Keven Escalante OPERIANO

·         Post. Jesus Francisco BERDIN                     

·         Post. Jerick Juanites SERANDON

 had our 10 days mission immersion at Cottolengo Filipino during the Christmas break last December 16-26 of the year 2017. Here is what they share of this immersion:

Four of us at the stage of postulancy were called for this extraordinary mission. Cottolengo Filipino is an institution managed by the Congregation of the Sons of Divine Providence, and a home for mentally and physically challenged children. We intend not to call them generally disabled children, for you will be amazed that some of the children in Cottolengo are able to do something that will touch your consciousness and heart.

When we arrived at Cottolengo, Fr. Julio Cuesta, FDP, as the in-charge of Cottolengo Community oriented us for our daily schedule and activities. After that, we settled ourselves in our assigned room and prepared for work. The work in Cottolengo is not that easy, but if we tell ourselves that this place is a home and the children need a clean environment, everything becomes light. We are thinking for the good of the children who are not really able to climb and clean the ceiling until we develop in ourselves the love and charity by which our founder St. Luigi Orione would like to impose. One of us remember that to love means to sacrifice, but not every time, because if there is already love sacrifice is easy.

If you really allow yourself to immerse and see the life inside the Cottolengo, you’ll experience the force of charity and the burning fire of love within you. One time we recited the prayer of the rosary with some of the children. Personally, I was surprised to hear that some of them can actually recite the prayer. Although they have limits to speak fluently, we realized that they tried their best to recite with a low tone of voice which expressed their humbleness. We prayed and played with them, assisted them to eat, and roam them around inside the compound. Then we reflected, that every child in Cottolengo has his own style and technique to make us realize the essence of love that connects us to one another.

We are moved that to see the life in Cottolengo is to cultivate and learn our virtues of love, charity, patience, understanding, carefulness, and sympathy. They say every child has a gift. In Cottolengo, there is the industrious Ryan, Joey and his creative art, Gilbert and Darwin who love to dance, the artist John, gracefull Gosen, the cuteness of Francis and Micheal, and more to see. If only we let ourselves delve into their world, we can learn good things from them.

The good thing, being in the Cottolengo is the gift of family. Being with the children of Cottolengo is easy since there is no barrier for us to become a family. We instill openness for each other to know one another. We will not know the children unless we try to be with them in every activity. To know them is also a way to know ourselves. Four of have agreed that it’s not important for us to be happy, happiness belongs to the children. However, it is unavoidable for us, because making the children happy will make us also happy.

Our experience with the children is the greatest Christmas gift that we received.