Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: Prelature of Marawi

  • Weaving Hearts: Towards becoming a reconciling presence

    Weaving Hearts: Towards becoming a reconciling presence

    by Mark Gil I. Saverola, a seminarian of the Prelature of St.Mary in Marawi.

    Weaving is defined in the dictionary as the act or process of forming (cloth) by interlacing strands (as of yarn). In weaving, there has to be lots of threads, because obviously we cannot weave with just one thread at hand. This has been the image which dominates my consciousness as I recall the wonderful encounter I had with our young people of Marawi during the Kasing-Panaw. Weaving hearts; connecting hearts in its deepest sense; interlacing each other’s experiences of pain and happiness, failures and success, moments of brokenness and strength, and allowing the Spirit to form our hearts, making us into a wonderful creation – a reconciling presence ourselves.

    Weaving is a delicate process which requires the ability to choose the right thread. As evident in the Kasing-Panaw, weaving hearts, as wonderful as it is, also needs certain values and abilities for it to be genuine. This leads me to reflect on three characteristics of a heart that ushers genuine encounter, a kasing-kasing nga tinuod nga nagpanaw.

    An open heart. In our world enveloped with mistrust and suspicions, where identifying the truth from what is not is a laborious task, where passing on judgement is easier than knowing the whole truth, an open heart is an imperative. To open the heart is to be vulnerable before others. It is taking the risk of being hurt and broken. But only hearts that are open can usher genuine encounter. Our young people who were gathered in the Kasing-Panaw came from different contexts.

    They brought with them their hopes and visions, but they have also carried their burdens with them. The journey was long. The place was unfamiliar. But their hearts were open. They shared what they have deep within. They have allowed the other young people, the activities, and the environment to be part of their hearts. In the Kasing-Panaw, their struggles and burdens did not vanish, their fears were not gone, but their encounters made them face their challenges and accept their burdens with new enthusiasm.

    Their hearts became bigger, their soul enriched. Their vision is that of hope. A hope which springs out from their common experience of being loved. A hope ushered by an open heart.

    A listening heart. The world is filled with different noises. Some tends to define us; some makes us confused and discouraged. This context calls for a listening heart – a heart who listens not just to those that are spoken but most importantly to those that are kept deep within.

    The encounters of our young people in the Kasing-Panaw allowed them to listen not just to what they wanted to hear but also to the realities that young people are facing – challenges in the family, their mental health, their studies, and even challenges in terms of dialogue. These are not so pleasant to hear but they listened. Their hearts listened, with patience, with sincerity, with deep love. And in that listening heart, creativity was born. Evident in their enthusiasm, our young people found creative ways to face the challenges around them.

    In our world so much influenced with individualism and division they build friendships. In the different challenges they are facing they find inspiration in other peoples sacred stories. In the face of liminality, they were empowered by the creativity of love.

    A discerning heart. As good choice is important in weaving cloth, so as to in weaving hearts. Our choice of words, our way of relating, our perspective – these matter in our encounters with others. The energy of the young people to take on different challenges and their ability to adapt to certain situations exhibit a wonderful characteristic of a discerning heart, that is maturity.

    In the duration of the Kasing-Panaw, our young people joyfully participated in all our activities. They accepted without hesitations their foster family assignments even if they will be separated from their friends. Truly, as their hearts are discerning, there’s depth in their thoughts and actions.

    The entire Kasing-Panaw is a wonderful experience of weaving of hearts. Our experiences, hopes, visions, and even our struggles and pains are threads which were carefully and contentiously interwoven by the Spirit to form this wonderful masterpiece – The Young People of Marawi, pilgrims of hope, reconciling presence in our time.

    The Kasing-Panaw has indeed inspired us to be agents of dialogue but it also challenges us to touch the hearts that still need to be opened, the hearts that still need to learn how to truly listen, the hearts that still need to appreciate and practice discernment. This is not a light burden to bear. But it is noble task to fulfill. As what Bishop Tudtud said, it is “a plan of hundred years”[1]. And so the weaving of hearts continues… until all hearts are formed into becoming a reconciling presence.

    [1] Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, “Message of Silsilah Dialogue Movement”, Tatay Bido @ 25 in memoriam (2012): 76.

  • The National Conference of Youth Ministers : HOPE IN CHRIST

    The National Conference of Youth Ministers : HOPE IN CHRIST

    A Reflection by Miss Jossivel Rodriguez, PYM Youth Leader

    I can’t get these questions out of my mind, questions that fill me with doubts about serving the church, the youth, and especially God. Why me? What is my purpose? What would my mission be?

    Being able to attend the NCYM was a big opportunity for me, especially since I was facing a significant crisis in my life—self-denial and self-doubts. I thought I couldn’t make it; I was sick, and my body resisted attending the NCYM. But then I prayed, and my prayer went like this: “Lord, just let my fever return after the NCYM, please, it’s only for 5 days.” It may sound strange, but yes, God answered. It was July 16 in the morning that I was able to stand, take a shower, and prepared myself for the journey.

    On July 17, 2024, we arrived safe and sound in Palo, Leyte, where the NCYM was hosted. A warm welcome greeted us as we encountered youth leaders from all over the Philippines, from different dioceses. The opening mass was a great eye-opener for me, making me embrace the beauty of the word “Hope.” It touched me deeply when Archbishop John Du shared their stories on how Typhoon Yolanda brought devastation.

    My first realization on the first day of NCYM was this: everything given by God in your life, whether good or bad, is a grace from God for us to see the beauty of life when God is present, sustaining us and giving us hope to continue living, just as God works in the lives of the victims and survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.

    Before NCYM started, I had many questions about myself that I couldn’t answer because I was planning to step down as a youth minister. However, this became a challenge for me as a leader in our parish. The Day Two talk taught me a lot of realizations about why I should continue serving Christ, the Church, and especially the youth.

    The Gospel for Day Two, Matthew 11:28, where Jesus invites those who labor and are burdened, resonated with me. Bishop’s homily made me realize about my presence in the ministry that I was invited by God to encounter Him through the lives of my fellow young people.

    This invitation made me think, “Ah, this is my purpose—to bring youth to synodality, to accompany them with Christ’s image, and to provide a joyful journey together as we commemorate the beauty of God’s love for us.”

    Each talk by the speakers touched my heart, sharing stories and applying the purpose of the word “hope” given by God to everyone. This is in terms of journeying together and reflecting with those who are in the peripheries and those who needed to be reached out.

    Bishop Rex emphasized on not resisting and grasping, which are the characteristics I sometimes exhibit in my service. He taught me to gradually let go of these traits and open my heart and mind to learn from every life’s difficulty, especially in animating and serving the young ones. He also stressed the importance of being prayerful, connecting with God, and entrusting, hoping, and surrendering all worries and burdens to Him.

    I am one of the luckiest people to have participated the NCYM. This presented me with challenges that I need to face for the benefit of the youth and to discover what more I can contribute to the ministry. As I return home, I carry these reminders of my duties in serving the ministry:

    Hope in Christ: No matter what challenges test my faith in Christ, I will remember that God is present and is the only constant in my life. Though unseen, He gives me the strength to continue facing life’s challenges and to serve Him faithfully.

    Be Joyful in Serving God: Regardless of what I achieve, the problems I face, or the evils of the world, I will always stay connected to God. I will serve with love, embrace small wins, reflect on my purpose, grow with Christ’s image, practice gratitude, trust God, and express joy.

    Patience and Perseverance: In service, patience is essential to continue despite many obstacles. This can be achieved through perseverance in prayer, as God is generous and loving.

    Lastly, NCYM 2024 was a blessing and a way of calling me to address the concerns of our community. It reminded me to abound in joy and that Christ is our hope in continuing to transform the image of the youth into the image of Christ. Being one of the youth leaders means that God sees the goodness in my love for Him, which can bring change to the community, especially to the youth who are still on the fringes. I believe He has chosen me for a brighter future for the youth in the Church.

  • A Beautiful Journey to SILP Balabagan, Prelature of Marawi in God’s Perfect Time: Friendship Goal Unlocked

    A Beautiful Journey to SILP Balabagan, Prelature of Marawi in God’s Perfect Time: Friendship Goal Unlocked

    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

    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.”

  • Kalilintad. Kalinaw, Kapayapaan. Peace

    Kalilintad. Kalinaw, Kapayapaan. Peace

    A Reflection by Charles James S. Antolan – a College Seminarian of the Prelature of Marawi

    Kalilintad, kalinaw, kapayapaan, these are just some of the many other translations of the word “peace” that most people seek to live in. It is a state which people especially in Mindanao, thirst for over the years, decades, even centuries.

    On June 19-21, 2023, I attended a Peace-Building Seminar held in Midway Minkay Resort, Tubigon, Initao, Misamis Oriental. The said program was actually entitled “Culture of Peace and Peaceful Conviction Workshop for Catholic and Faith-Based Leaders“,  organized intentionally for the Lay Parishioners/Leaders of the Prelature of Marawi, by Pakigdait, Inc., a Non-Government Organization composed of Muslim, Catholic and other Christian-denomination leaders. The workshop aimed to provide a safe space for interfaith conversation and to co-learned on peaceful convictions and connections.

    The three-day peace-building workshop was composed with three inputs and series of team building activities. The first input was given by the Bishop of the Prelature of Marawi and Pakigdait BIL Chairman, Most Rev. Edwin A. dela Peña, MSP, DD. His talk narrated the history and interfaith journey of the Prelature of Marawi where the late Bishop Bienvenido “Tatay Bidu” Tudtud was remembered and paid homage. Bishop Edwin put emphasis and elaborated the Prelature’s Vision, “To offer a reconciling presence among Muslims through dialogue of life and faith“.

    The second input was given by Ma’am Jenny T. Sanguila, the Program Manager with her topic “Introduction to Peaceful Conviction and Culture of Peace“. And the third input was about “Islam and Peacebuilding” given by Ustajdh Abdul Kareem Ambor.

    With all of these three inputs, the common thing that struck me the most is the word “dialogue.” It is through dialogue that we overcome conflicts. I agree that conflict is a normal part of any relationship; people tend to have conflicts because each of us has our own unique history and character, and perspectives in life. But it is dangerous, in the sense that, if not addressed properly, it might lead to violence. Thus, the challenge is to direct this conflict towards a process of positive change.

    Throughout my life, I have experienced several kinds of conflicts in the family, among my friends, and even with myself. Years ago, I remember specific persons where I had conflict with, it just started with a small miscommunication and led to ignoring and avoiding which lasted for several months before becoming friends again. Honestly, I am not proud of saying it because the relationship was restored not through dialogue or any process of reconciliation. It just so happened through a particular situation where there was a need to deliver a word and from then slowly repairing the broken relationship without dealing the problem.

    I recognize that I was driven by my ego to choose not to make an initiative to reconcile. The same situation happened in me four times with different persons. Now, whenever I got conflicts with other persons, I struggle to set aside my pride yet I also strive to manage myself and try to start dialogue with the person I’m having the conflict with. For me, it does not just give peace but makes me more humane and to grow in my humanity.

    Before her input,  Ma’am Jenny Sanguila gave us an activity of drawing our sign of peace. On the blank sheet of paper, I drew three intersecting circles. For me, it shows that despite of our differences, culture, religion, philosophies, personalities, we still have lots of similarities that bind us, that make us united, and that we are all human persons sharing the life and a home entrusted to us.

    So much for that, I enjoyed every team-building activities we had. Teamwork was enhanced and messages were pondered. The “Build that bridge” activity taught me how important communication skill is, the capacity to understand and to be understood, and most especially the capability to connect with others despite differences.

    My most meaningful activity for me was that activity (activity name unidentified) where a representative from a group was blind folded and had to pick up specific emojis as many as possible that were scattered on the ground with the help of team members’ guidance. With that activity, I realized the importance of listening skills. When I was blindfolded, I found myself in need of others’ guidance by listening to their voices. What made the challenge difficult was that there were many shouts, dictations, and directions that even the other team was also giving me false directions.

    For me, one of the significant messages it conveyed was to identify the most reliable and trusted individuals. Today, there are many deceiving voices that we may hear that claim to be right but would only lead us to misfortunes and wrong outcomes. In line with our faith, we have to identify the voice of God constantly calling and talking to us.

    The peace-building seminar was fun, enjoyable and full of takeaways. I am glad to meet some parish leaders and youth in the Prelature and made memories with them. I hope and pray that we may continue to become peace builders in our respective parishes and communities. May God continue to bless all of us. Maayong Good Morning.