Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: Travel

  • NYD 2025 Reflection: OUR FOSTER HOMES

    NYD 2025 Reflection: OUR FOSTER HOMES

    A Reflection by Diovelene Francisco, Youth Coordinator

    MAOGMANG PAG-ABOT SA AMONG HARONG!—the very phrase that welcomed me in my foster family’s home in Brgy. Carolina during the NYD 2025 at Caceres, Naga city. The smiles were wide, the hugs, warm; the foods, masiram asin nakakainit nin puso (delicious and heart-warming); and the people, made me feel at home.

    Participating in this nation-wide activity for the Catholic Youth made me feel excited—looking forward for a fruitful and worthwhile experience; and at the same time anxious. I was anxious that I may find it hard to get along with other people because of my personality. I was anxious because of prior events (PAR- Personal Area of Responsibility) that left my heart heavier than the baggage I paid for. And I was anxious that I might create an awkward atmosphere between me and my foster family or my safety might be compromised. This anxiety and all its “what ifs” weighed heavy on me, until I got the chance to spend a silent hour with our Mother on our little stop over at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran. I prayed. I believed. And I walked forward though scared.

    Pilgrims were fostered. The place is new to most of us. There’s also the health risk of Mpox in some areas where the pilgrims came from. At some point, this gathering was a bit scary.  Our harong (host parish) the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, was quite far from the centro in which the major activities were held. There were only six of us pilgrims from the Prelature, yet, I felt uncertain for what would come for us in the next four days of the event. What more for those who were with a larger number of pilgrims?

    Yet, God works wonders when we persevere in prayer. I was scared, but I was hopeful. This was enough. As we arrived in Caceres and right then and there, our patience was tested. But the warm welcome from our Pueblo and foster family offered comfort and security. Since then, I felt at peace and relieved, knowing that our foster families were ready to accompany us in this youth gathering. I felt reassured from the very first day.

    My foster nanay, Mama Gina Bobis, gave us her social media account and assured us that whenever the activities are unbearable for us (me and my foster sibling, Ate Rassel), we can message her. They were reading to pick us up and drive us to their house so we can rest. If the food during the activities would not be enough or not to our liking, a message from us would make her pack home cooked food for us (but the food offered by the pueblo and harong, the organizers during the activities were more than enough. Dios mabalos!).

    This short conversation around the dinner table on our first night in our foster family ate up all the anxiety I had before coming to Naga. I was assured. I have a safe place to go when outside becomes unbearable. I have a home.

    And so, my NYD days have updates like “Na sa venue na po kami, Nanay”, “We had snacks/ lunch/ dinner po given by our Harong po.”, “Pauwi na po kami, Nanay.” And then, it wasn’t very scary anymore. I wasn’t that anxious anymore. I was happy and at peace. The kindness this family have shown us from the day we arrived was inclusive, light in atmosphere, and genuine; so does the other foster homes that catered the other participants. Our foster families made sure we never felt unwelcomed.

    In return, we made sure they know how grateful we are in everyday that we’ve lived with them. The mutual respect, care, and trust were shown and felt. God blessed us with these households that opened their home for us young pilgrims.

    The thought of an unfamiliar place and people could be scary, threatening our sense of security in almost all aspects. But people, like our foster families in NYD 2025 Caceres, whose hearts and hands were open to welcome us even before we’ve arrived in their doorsteps, made us felt home.

    Despite their own busy daily schedules, they accommodated us and treated us like we are family; full of consideration, understanding, prayers of safety, and genuinely happy with what we are doing. The four days we’ve spent under the roof of their home was enough to cherish the family we had in Naga for a lifetime. 

    And before we knew it, we’re already exchanging goodbyes and promises of keeping in touch and praying for each other, a bit of tearful “We’ll visit again po, Nanay. Puhon.” And a long tight hug. And that, this NYD experience was a core memory because God, once again made His presence known, through the families who opened their home for us, assured and created a safe space for us, and made our NYD 2025 Caceres experience memorable and worthwhile. Dios mabalos!

  • Travel with Him

    Travel with Him

    June 20, 2021 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062021.cfm)

    As a Redemptorist missionary, traveling is a big part and parcel of my life and work. As we all know, to journey around the Philippine islands would entail a lot of travel by land, sea or air. This would mean taking the car, bus, tricycle, boat, walk, bike, horse, fast ferry or plane and/or combination of all.

    Once at the pre-departure area of Cebu SuperCat terminal, it was announced that our trip to Dumaguete on that day was cancelled due to incoming typhoon. A number of us were grumbling as we lined up ourselves to get our ticket refunded. It happened that one of the passengers recognized me and chatted with me. Expressing her disgust, she suggested to me, “Father, why don’t you pray like Jesus did, for the storm to pass us by.” I replied to her, “It never and will never cross my mind that I am Christ, or I am the Christ. I am a Christian, just a mere follower of Christ.”

    Our Gospel today about calming of the storm, I think, teaches us about our life as Christians. It tells us what it means to be a Christian. The word Christian comes from the proper noun “Christ”, which means Messiah or Savior and the suffix “ian” which mean a follower of, a fan of. Meaning, to be a Christian is not to be Christ, but to be a disciple or follower of Christ. It is like if one is a follower of Vilma, they are called “Vilmanian,” and “Noranians” for Nora. The suffix “ian” could have an acronym. If we attached IAN to Christ, IAN could mean I Am Now with Christ. But if we detach or separate “ian” from Christ, IAN could mean I Am Nothing without Christ. Meaning, if we only remain in Him, we are assured of our salvation and eternal life. Apart from Him, we are nobody. With Him, we are blessed.

    In our world today, we could recognize that there are people who claim that they are Christ, who promised that they will save us, thinks that only them who can save us, and through their own efforts, on their own, they can save themselves and others – in other words, people with messianic complex. There are also people nowadays who expect others to be their Christ who will do and save the day for them. Just like people, who wants and expects others, like their priests & government officials to heal them from sickness, forgive their sins and faults, solve their problems, fix their mess, help them financially and even perform miracles like calming the storm, exorcised their demons, and others.

    Our Gospel is a clear reminder that Jesus is the Christ, and we are Christians – His mere follower. As Christians then, we need Christ – we need to be and live life with Him for without Him we can do nothing. We thus need to travel & journey with Him in our day to day lives.

    Jesus also is teaching us today about PEACE, COURAGE, and FAITH. First of all, Peace is not the absence of war, conflict, storms or turmoil in life, but Peace is the sense of Calmness in the midst of life-storms, and the sense of Serenity despite wars, conflict, and difficulties in life. We cannot avoid storms in life, but what is required of us is the calmness and serenity of Jesus who says: “Quiet” amid these storms, and difficulties.  He also teaches us that Courage is more than just moving on – moving fighting forward, but more on holding our ground, facing the odds, still holding on standing, and asking for help.

    Jesus who says: “Be Still” shows us courage in the midst of the storm not by fighting or controlling it, but by facing the storm without being overwhelmed by it. In the same way, courage in the midst of life-storms and difficulties would mean the Christ-like attitude of not only “no retreat, no surrender”, but also “don’t fight nor flee but face it and ask for help”. Facing life-adversities is not about getting rid and getting out, but more so getting through life-challenges.  And lastly, Jesus who asks: “Do you not yet have faith?” is also teaching us that Faith is not more than just the absence of fear and doubt, but to remain steadfast and trusting in the Lord’s will and ways, even when in fear and doubt.

    In life, then, as His followers, we travel with the Lord in peace, courage & faith. Via con Dios. Go with God, Walk with Jesus.

    As Christians, followers of Christ we pray that we may always recognize His presence and help in our life journey and so bless us with peace, courage, and faith in the midst of storms in life, most especially during these pandemic times. Amen.