Dear Bro. Julius,
Today in the midst of problems and difficulties in the lives of Catholics, I a still surprised and excited by meeting a true devoted Catholic in serving the Lord. I hate saying good byes because it symbolizes the end of something, but this good bye I am making to you does not show the end but the temporary farewell untill we see each other again.
You have been with us for about 5 months or so which may seem such a short time but you have greatly influenced me a lot. Ever since I met you, I felt/ see you as a very strict person that we won't have fun with but after sometimes I saw who you really were a firm, friendly and loving servant of God... We have talked to each other and have a lot in common, sabi nyo nga kung magklaklase tayo, naku tawa ng tawa tayo the whole day. I had a lot of fun with you bro and I reallized how it is important to educate the youth of Christ and His saving ministry. With such a short time you have touch my life. Sayang nga na paalis na po kayo marami pa po ako matutunan sa inyo. When you included my name in your program in RadyoVeritas, you made me feel so special. I was laughing, thinking myself in ythat kind of position.
In you, I see greatness, I see the glory and glory of being a priest. You will, one day, be the best priest you can be and you will proudly proclaim God's message of Salvation.You would be a priest, a strong confident priest that would be able to move the live of millions. In you is the devotion of serving God. I wish and pray that you would continue your devotion to become a priest. I would never forget you po. One day we would be able to celebrate the mass together as both priests!
God bless Bro. Julius! More power! Always count on me for your prayers!!! God bless again bro! Keep in touch! 'Till we meet again, Au Revoir!!
Frater in Christo
Anton Heinrich L. Rennesland
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
An Open Letter: My Sentiments to the People I Served
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4, 2010)
Dearest KOA and your parents,
I bet that while you are reading this, you have too many assumptions of what should be the content of this letter. Dont worry! This is a fraternal letter, a simple sharing g of thoughts.
I understand that many of you have known me as a very “strict” formator. Perhaps it was very much evident when I burst out with my emotion last September 26 right after your investiture/ renewal.
To tell you honestly, my (almost) 5 months of formation program with you is neither easy nor a joke. For you to know, in every meeting that we had, I was seeing to it that my modules are well-prepared with all the lecture, visual aids, and quizzes. For our practical trainings on altar services, I had to study the movements that are demanded by the liturgy and missal. There were also moments that I had to “fly” from an appointment (from my other apostolates) just to be on time for our meeting. Behind all these, however, I had the first hand experience of waiting for you until 2 or 3pm while our meeting was actually set at 1pm. While many were coming late (if not absent), I noticed that many of you were speaking even louder than I do during meetings while chatting with seatmates. I know and I am convinced that many who were there had the intention to listen and to learn but they were sidetracked by some who were playing and chatting about the computer games they played that caused the delay of the meeting.
Behind all these observations, the most common thought that I got (even from parents) was: “Brother, ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!”. I just wonder if that reason can be given to your teachers when they observe the same from you.
During our preparations for the investiture/ renewal, last August 15, I remember vividly that I requested you to bring your “2x2 picture” to be attached to your application form for investiture/ renewal. I also remember joking with you after some weeks of waiting for your pictures: “kahit hindi na 2x2 picture. Kahit pa may katabi kayo sa picture, gupitin nyo na lang ang sarili nyo para lang may mailagay kayo dito.” Would you believe that up to this moment, October 4, I have at hand only 25 application forms and 17 pictures out of the 32 altar servers who were present during the investiture? What happened? During our practices for the rite of investiture and renewal, many were absent. Did you forget that you were the ones who chose the date of those practices? More so, many of those who were present were playing even in front of the altar to the extent that I asked one of you to lead the group in taking a “bow” after the rite in order to satisfy his desire to be noticed by many. I will not forget as well that a number of you were drinking coke inside the Church describing himself as “natutuyo na po ako!”. While I muse over those experiences, mind you, I cannot control myself from laughing because I already imbibed the common line “Brother, ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!”.
September 25 and 26 were the days jam-packed with events. That was the date when PYM had an overnight retreat with me. The following day, nevertheless, was supposed to be the “big day” for the KOA, I was caught by numerous surprises behind our preparations... I mean one after the other... There was an absentee who was supposed to be there, there was somebody present there whom I saw for the first time after all the meetings, there were bloopers caused by no less than the persons who were playing around during practices. I was indeed surprised that I told myself: “gusto ko matunaw sa hiya!" One thing, however, that I did not take as a surprise was the reaction of Fr. Neil. It was not surprising at all; perhaps if I were in his place I will also react that way.
I know that many of you garnered a hard feeling when I got mad on that same night. I don’t blame you. In fact, I thank those who took courage to approach me to explain their side and to say sorry as much, you are forgiven though! Meanwhile, I humbly admit my fault especially when I called you as “mga tanga”. Back then, I was no longer speaking as a seminarian, whom you are expecting to be meek, soft-spoken, and good at all times. I was speaking then, however, as a human being... a very tired and disappointed formator. I humbly beg for your pardon because that particular part of my piece was not true. The truth is that you are all intelligent and good, so much that I was hurt when you don’t use those “powers” to prove that you can do something more than computer games, absences and complaints on meetings, bloopers during the special rite, failure to show up on your schedule, and a lot more. At one hand, I am no longer angry! I want to clarify that to all of you. On the other hand, I exhort all of you to ponder upon these thoughts; including myself and your parents too...
1. Why is it so easy for us to demand from priests (and even from priests-to-be) to become "good models" but we when are the ones demanded to become "good followers", we respond with no other than our resounding "REKLAMO"! Why?
2. Is reason like “ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!” be the best answer when we notice the deterioration of values among the young? Bakit? Wala na bang naituturo ang mga magulang dahil lang sa “mga bata yan”? If disciplinary problems are rampant with the students of Catholic and exclusive schools, what more can we expect from those who did not get any education?
Until when should reasons like “ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!” be effective? What if they grow old undisciplined because they are tolerated now? If that happens, I will not be surprised if I will hear reasons like “ganyan talaga! Mga bata pa lang sila, ganyan yan eh!” I hope not!
Dear friends, don’t get me wrong! I told you, I’m no longer angry. I am just sharing my thoughts in the light of reflections, thus without any hard feeling at all. In fact, I am enjoying my last days in your parish seeing that many youth are still responding well to the invitations of the Church. What a hope!
I am praying that the Lord may lead us to the fulfilment of our goal to serve His altar with committed hearts. Rest assured that I will always be your “Kuya Julius” who praise you when you accomplish your duties, who go round the bend when you fail, and who admit my fault in humility when I know I hurt you. Salamat sa karanasan! PLEASE PRAY FOR ME TOO!
I would candidly crack once again my closing joke during our last practice: “Now you are happy because I am leaving. Yes, you are now free again! But, please do not celebrate that much because soon I’ll be back... as you parish priest!” Please keep in touch! I hope good Catholics would bloom from your group and vocation to priesthood would resound to your hearts... Let’s make these happen. Let it be now!
In the Lord,
BRO. JULIUS DE SAGUN
Dearest KOA and your parents,
I bet that while you are reading this, you have too many assumptions of what should be the content of this letter. Dont worry! This is a fraternal letter, a simple sharing g of thoughts.
I understand that many of you have known me as a very “strict” formator. Perhaps it was very much evident when I burst out with my emotion last September 26 right after your investiture/ renewal.
To tell you honestly, my (almost) 5 months of formation program with you is neither easy nor a joke. For you to know, in every meeting that we had, I was seeing to it that my modules are well-prepared with all the lecture, visual aids, and quizzes. For our practical trainings on altar services, I had to study the movements that are demanded by the liturgy and missal. There were also moments that I had to “fly” from an appointment (from my other apostolates) just to be on time for our meeting. Behind all these, however, I had the first hand experience of waiting for you until 2 or 3pm while our meeting was actually set at 1pm. While many were coming late (if not absent), I noticed that many of you were speaking even louder than I do during meetings while chatting with seatmates. I know and I am convinced that many who were there had the intention to listen and to learn but they were sidetracked by some who were playing and chatting about the computer games they played that caused the delay of the meeting.
Behind all these observations, the most common thought that I got (even from parents) was: “Brother, ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!”. I just wonder if that reason can be given to your teachers when they observe the same from you.
During our preparations for the investiture/ renewal, last August 15, I remember vividly that I requested you to bring your “2x2 picture” to be attached to your application form for investiture/ renewal. I also remember joking with you after some weeks of waiting for your pictures: “kahit hindi na 2x2 picture. Kahit pa may katabi kayo sa picture, gupitin nyo na lang ang sarili nyo para lang may mailagay kayo dito.” Would you believe that up to this moment, October 4, I have at hand only 25 application forms and 17 pictures out of the 32 altar servers who were present during the investiture? What happened? During our practices for the rite of investiture and renewal, many were absent. Did you forget that you were the ones who chose the date of those practices? More so, many of those who were present were playing even in front of the altar to the extent that I asked one of you to lead the group in taking a “bow” after the rite in order to satisfy his desire to be noticed by many. I will not forget as well that a number of you were drinking coke inside the Church describing himself as “natutuyo na po ako!”. While I muse over those experiences, mind you, I cannot control myself from laughing because I already imbibed the common line “Brother, ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!”.
September 25 and 26 were the days jam-packed with events. That was the date when PYM had an overnight retreat with me. The following day, nevertheless, was supposed to be the “big day” for the KOA, I was caught by numerous surprises behind our preparations... I mean one after the other... There was an absentee who was supposed to be there, there was somebody present there whom I saw for the first time after all the meetings, there were bloopers caused by no less than the persons who were playing around during practices. I was indeed surprised that I told myself: “gusto ko matunaw sa hiya!" One thing, however, that I did not take as a surprise was the reaction of Fr. Neil. It was not surprising at all; perhaps if I were in his place I will also react that way.
I know that many of you garnered a hard feeling when I got mad on that same night. I don’t blame you. In fact, I thank those who took courage to approach me to explain their side and to say sorry as much, you are forgiven though! Meanwhile, I humbly admit my fault especially when I called you as “mga tanga”. Back then, I was no longer speaking as a seminarian, whom you are expecting to be meek, soft-spoken, and good at all times. I was speaking then, however, as a human being... a very tired and disappointed formator. I humbly beg for your pardon because that particular part of my piece was not true. The truth is that you are all intelligent and good, so much that I was hurt when you don’t use those “powers” to prove that you can do something more than computer games, absences and complaints on meetings, bloopers during the special rite, failure to show up on your schedule, and a lot more. At one hand, I am no longer angry! I want to clarify that to all of you. On the other hand, I exhort all of you to ponder upon these thoughts; including myself and your parents too...
1. Why is it so easy for us to demand from priests (and even from priests-to-be) to become "good models" but we when are the ones demanded to become "good followers", we respond with no other than our resounding "REKLAMO"! Why?
2. Is reason like “ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!” be the best answer when we notice the deterioration of values among the young? Bakit? Wala na bang naituturo ang mga magulang dahil lang sa “mga bata yan”? If disciplinary problems are rampant with the students of Catholic and exclusive schools, what more can we expect from those who did not get any education?
Until when should reasons like “ganyan talaga! Mga bata yan eh!” be effective? What if they grow old undisciplined because they are tolerated now? If that happens, I will not be surprised if I will hear reasons like “ganyan talaga! Mga bata pa lang sila, ganyan yan eh!” I hope not!
Dear friends, don’t get me wrong! I told you, I’m no longer angry. I am just sharing my thoughts in the light of reflections, thus without any hard feeling at all. In fact, I am enjoying my last days in your parish seeing that many youth are still responding well to the invitations of the Church. What a hope!
I am praying that the Lord may lead us to the fulfilment of our goal to serve His altar with committed hearts. Rest assured that I will always be your “Kuya Julius” who praise you when you accomplish your duties, who go round the bend when you fail, and who admit my fault in humility when I know I hurt you. Salamat sa karanasan! PLEASE PRAY FOR ME TOO!
I would candidly crack once again my closing joke during our last practice: “Now you are happy because I am leaving. Yes, you are now free again! But, please do not celebrate that much because soon I’ll be back... as you parish priest!” Please keep in touch! I hope good Catholics would bloom from your group and vocation to priesthood would resound to your hearts... Let’s make these happen. Let it be now!
In the Lord,
BRO. JULIUS DE SAGUN
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