EXPERIENCE OF THE POSTULANTS – Part 2: An Immersion Experience in Payatas - Being in Payatas such a great experience

Two of the Postulants, Post. Rodrigo Dominic D. Clarito and Post. Brian Luzon were assign in Payatas to had their emersion from December 16 to 26 2018. Here is what they say about that stay in Payatas:

            Two of us in the stage of Postulancy were assign in Payatas, Quezon City. The place there is a parish dedicated to Mother of Divine Province. This parish is managed by the congregation of The Sons of the Divine Providence. Mother of the Divine Providence Parish is not just a simple parish but a charitable parish that help the poorest of the poor.

            The community of Payatas is composed of two priests and two temporary profess. The parish priest there is Fr. John Castillo, presently in Italy for some further study. Fr. Anthony De Souza from Brazil is the one who is acting parish priest there with the companionship of Fr. Bernardo Seo Young-Tae from South Korea. The two brothers that was assign there is Bro. Aldrin Magsilang with Bro. Jerick Batas.

            In the first day of our immersion, we were welcomed by Fr. Anthony with short orientation. Fr. Anthony explained to us about the things that we are supposed to do while we will stay there. First day is full excitement, curiosity, and especially pressure because one of the Priest is the local superior of the Philippines. Post. Brian was assign to go always with Bro. Aldrin if he has schedule for house blessing and funeral blessing. And Post. Dominic was assign to Bro. Jerick to do some stuff like house blessing.

         

Our work there was not that easy that you can just enjoy it. For us it was a big sacrifice to wake up early in the morning and sleep late at night. That time is the season of advent that is why we serve always in the mass especially in Simbang Gabi and Misa de Gallo. We always serve in the parish and we serve once in the chapel of Sto. Nino.

            Being there in Payatas was a great joy for us. We saw the reality of this world that we know can help us to grow. We saw the work of the congregation for the people in Payatas. We realize that our community is rich of love. We are rich not because of money but because of the people who are willing to help the poor. Most of the people in Payatas are not rich. For us the congregation is a big blessing to the people there. There are many scholars and children who need guidance that our congregation is providing to them. There is always feeding program in many chapels and many malnourished children was guided and reach the proper weight for them.

            For other seminarians to be assign in Payatas is a big challenge in terms of your vocation. There in Patayas everything is provided. The temptation is not far enough for us but very near that can be with until in your dreams. But for us who were assigned there, we wanted to change the perspective of our superiors that not all postulants who is assigned there is always with those things that can destroy their vocation. Temptation is already there, but it’s up to you on how you will deal with it. In vocation temptation is not the problem but the person itself.

            Being in Payatas was such a great experience for us. We can say after the immersion that our experience there was not just full of enjoyment but full of learnings that we can share to our younger brothers who will become one of us in the future.