As a counselor-educator in a state university, it has been my passion to form our future Registered Guidance Counselors. There is an immense need of young blood to join the the counseling profession. This helping vocation is an expression of faith, hope and love. While my graduate students in the Master’s Level were enrolled in their Practicum course, I toyed the idea of inviting them to join the Pastoral Care and Counseling Ministry of St. Clement’s Church, Redemptorist Mission Community of Iloilo. They were all excited to be part of this healing ministry so I tagged them along to meet with the founding members. With God’s grace, we will be celebrating our 5th birthday on December 23 of this year.
Fr. Jomil Baring, C.Ss.R, one of the founding members of the said ministry decided to transfer to San Isidro Labrador Parish in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur. The ministry then had a thanksgiving lunch with him. We jokingly told him that we will visit him there someday. Never did I expect that this will be a reality much earlier than we expect it to happen.
While Fr. Jom was sharing with me an experience in the Parish which calls for a need to organize a mental health program/ministry, I quickly told him that I am willing to visit him for a Capacity-Building. I then invited another founding member and my good friend, Ms. Nove Jalandoni to join me in this endeavor. It was easy for us to prepare the Training Design because we are both counselor-educators. We made use of our instructional materials – power-point presentations and notes for our classes in Mental Hygiene and Counseling class. We just have to tailor these to suit the needs of the Parish for the Capacity-Building for Parish Community-Based Mental Health Program Personnel.
This is clear manifestation that God has prepared us for this simple and short mission in one of the municipalities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). God never fails to provide us with all our needs in order for us to carry out our tasks and responsibilities.
When the day came for us to leave for Mindanao, my road trip started at around 3:30 am to catch our early morning flight since the airport is at the other side of the Province. This poses no problem with me since I am used to waking up early as I am travelling to my workplace everyday for four hours. We had 2 plane rides – Iloilo – Manila – Pagadian and a 3-hour road trip to Balabagan. The tiredness of our bodies was replaced by the blissful reunion with Fr. Jom. Seeing him with some of the participants for the Capacity-Building allowed me to pray silently in deep gratitude to God for blessing our plans – our friendship goal unlocked.
The road may be long and winding but the scenery in this part of Mindanao was truly beautiful. We arrived past 7 in the evening and was welcomed warmly by the convent staff and Nanays of Fr. Jom – his immediate community. We had a lively conversation over a sumptuous dinner of fresh fish & shrimps – all the way from General Santos City and a yummy welcome cake for us. We had to go to bed early since it was a long day for us.
Meeting the participants from the 3 Parishes in the Prelature of Marawi for the Capacity-Building for the first time was truly a joy for me and Nove. There seemed to be an instant connection among us. During the initial workshop, we had a glimpse of the scenario of the mental health program and practices in the Parish and the entire Prelature. It was a good take off. The rest of the sessions was truly engaging. We had a wonderful conversation about their practices and experiences in handling cases. I truly admired their humility to acknowledge their misconceptions, shortcomings and malpractices in dealing with people who have come to ask for help – who needs a listener.
The participants were authentic people – no pretensions, no air – only a genuine desire to be of help to their fellow Parishioners who are struggling emotionally and mentally. Our workshop, simulation activities and lectures turned out to be light and enjoyable. All of the participants were engaged and actively participated in the activities. The participants crafted practical and relevant Mental Health program which hopes to prevent the occurrence of severe mental health issues and illnesses. Promising helpers were identified to be part of the core group who will spearhead the organization of a Mental Health Ministry in their own Parishes. With God’s grace, the plan that they crafted will be implemented and realized soon. Our deep gratitude to Fr. Jom for his initiative to organize a mental health ministry in his parish and the other parishes within the prelature.
Listening to their stories and impressions on how much they have learned and valued the Capacity-Building brought real joy to us. In silence, I whispered a thanksgiving prayer to God for blessing our endeavor, our goal of assisting the Parish of San Isidro Labrador in Balabagan and other Parishes within the Prelature of St. Mary’s in Marawi. All our efforts, hard work and financial expenses paid off. We shouldered our air fare as a way of expressing our support to the good people of Marawi whom we now consider as our good friends. Most of all to express our support and affirmation to our dedicated and loving friend, Fr. Jom who serves as the Parish Administrator of San Isidro Labrador Parish. His agility, passion and dedication to his ministry is always a source of joy and inspiration to us.
It was indeed a moment of grace – a life-giving and enriching quick visit to this Parish. I
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As a side trip, we were blessed to have joined the 2 barrio masses of Fr. Jom. It was a grace moment for me to witness the faith of the Catholics/Christian people from all ages, in the midst of a Muslim community. They were generous and hospitable to share a meal with us after the mass. Bountiful gifts and fruits were shared to us. It was a true source of joy to be recipients of their generosity – sharing their blessings out of poverty and not from their excess. We also attended the Sunday mass in the Parish Church. It was moving to see the faithful from all ages participating actively during the celebration. I admired the Altar Girls for their dedication and commitment to serve in the mass.
It was indeed a moment of grace – a life-giving and enriching quick visit to this Parish. It was a life-changing experience for me since it deepened my faith in a loving and faithful God. It moves me to love more my vocation as an educator-counselor – to be more available to people who needs help. I have been blessed a thousand fold even after our short mission in Balabagan. I am now reaping the fruits of this endeavor in so many ways. Indeed, it was a beautiful and wonderful journey – a participation in God’s desire for all people to live fully. In the prayerful words of Fr. Jom, “may the Lord of healing, freedom and life bless us and this ministry.”
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 
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