Journey of Faith and Safeguarding

My journey as a member of the Redemptorist Province of Cebu Safeguarding Dissemination Team has been deeply intertwined with my faith experiences, especially in the period following my Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (TAHBSO). It is a story of openness to God’s stirrings, call, and presence—guiding me through challenges and allowing me to flourish and thrive.

Embracing the Call

After TAHBSO, I felt a renewed sense of mission. The call to join the Safeguarding Dissemination Team was not merely an organizational role but a spiritual invitation. By saying yes, I embraced God’s call to protect, guide, and nurture communities, especially children and vulnerable adults. This undertaking also allowed me to revisit my good old friends, renew my friendships with them, and reminisce about beautiful sights in different cities.

Navigating Challenges

This calling was an addition to my busy life in the academe, as well as my role as a Volunteer Guidance Counselor and Director of the St. Clement’s Pastoral Care and Counseling Ministry. Yet each challenge became an opportunity to listen more deeply to God’s voice. Prayer, reflection, and the support of family and community—particularly the Redemptorist Missionaries through the Ordinary Provincial Council, the Provincial Secretary, the local communities, and the Safeguarding Dissemination Team, along with WVSU and COE officials, faculty, and staff—sustained me, reminding me that safeguarding is not just a task but a ministry rooted in compassion and justice.

Faith as Anchor

My openness to God’s presence became the anchor of my work. In times of doubt, I found strength in scripture and in the Eucharist. Faith transformed difficulties into stepping stones, teaching me resilience and patience. Through this lens, safeguarding became more than policy—it became a living expression of God’s care.

Flourishing and Thriving

A year after my TAHBSO, my physical examination revealed normal results, despite my busy schedule at the university and weekly travels to different Redemptorist communities within Visayas and Mindanao. This is God’s grace—amazing grace, indeed!

Through God’s guidance, I discovered new capacities within myself. I flourished as an educator, counselor, and advocate. Thriving meant not only achieving goals but also growing in humility, empathy, and courage. The journey revealed that safeguarding is a path of personal and communal transformation.

Conclusion

My post-TAHBSO journey with the Redemptorist Safeguarding Dissemination Team is a testament to the power of openness to God’s stirrings. By listening to His call and trusting His presence, I was able to navigate challenges and thrive in service. This experience continues to inspire me to live faithfully, lead compassionately, and safeguard with integrity.