St. Expeditus: Patron Saint of Speedy Causes

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St. Expeditus:  Patron Saint of Speedy Causes The venerated image of St. Expeditus in  the Lipa Cathedral In the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Lipa City is a venerated image of a young Roman Centurion saint named Expeditus. Every month of April, a nine day novena in his honor is held in the cathedral that culminates in the celebration of his feast day on the 19th of the month. Who is this saint whose intercession was also invoked in the Oratio Imperata  to avert a catastrophic eruption of Taal Volcano prepared by the Archdiocese of Lipa when the volcano exhibited extra-ordinary activity early  in January, 2020?  St. Expeditus could have found affinity with the Lipenos since the martyr shares a lot of commonality with St. Sebastian, the city’s patron. St. Expeditus, like St. Sebastian was also a young Roman soldier who converted to Christianity and was also martyred as a consequence, during the period of Diocletian persecution.  Hence, a devo...
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Episode 11. Ang Pamamaalam

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Repost (from 2012)

"Good bye is not an ending but a beginning.  A saying hello to new experiences and adventures." 
Medyo matagal din akong nawala dahil sa napakarami ko na namang pinagdaaanang kung ano-ano. Pagkatapos ng mahabang Psychological exam noong March 4, talaga namang katakot takot na pag-iisip at pagdidiscern at sympre, kasama ang pananalangin ang ginawa ko upang harapin ang katotohanang ito - natanggap ako sa seminaryo at gustong gusto ko na talagang pumasok doon.

Pero magflashback muna tayo nang kaunti sa mga pangyayari this week. March 27, nagkataong birthday ko ito. Nakatanggap ako ng text message sa isang fellow applicant na nag babackground check na daw si Fr. Dxxx. Pinuntahan na daw yung mga taga Manila at Bulacan na applicant so malamang, sa aming area naman daw siguro ang target dahil tatlo nga kami from our province.

Dahil dito, kaagad-agad akong nakipagappointment sa aking Dean upang sabihin sa kanya ang mangyayaring background checking. Baka kasi magulat sya pag may dumating biglang pari na nagtatanong-tanong tungkol sa akin eh wala naman syang kaalam-alam sa aking plano. Nagkaroon kami ng maayos na pag-uusap. Medyo napaluha pa nga si Sir kaya't ako'y napaiyak na rin (haha) at sinabing ako daw ay suportado niya sa aking balak. Wala daw akong aalalahin sa kanya kung may paring pupunta sa kanya para magtanong tungkol sa akin.  And if I feel na doon na talaga ako, and I need to resign, kahit with a very short notice, I should go ahead, siya na daw ang bahala.

March 28, A.M., napakaulan... Nakareceive ako ng tawag sa intercom. Yung kaibigan kong Dean sa College of Hospitality Management, binalita sa akin na nakausap na daw sya ni Father, parang umiiyak sya (wag kang tatanggi, dahil obvious. haha) nakausap din daw yung isang faculty member at yung secretary nya at sabi daw sa kanya eh pupunta naman daw sa bahay para kausapin ang nanay ko. Pero kahit may oras pa, di na ako tumawag sa bahay para warning-an sila. Gusto ko kasing maging spontaneous ang sagot nila duon sa mga tanong ni Fr. Dxxx.

March 29, umaga ulit. Nakatanggap ako ng LBC mula sa seminaryo na nagsasabi na ako daw ay tanggap na at nakalagay na rin ang mga requirements na dapat kong i-accomplish bago ang entrance day sa May 20... Tuwang tuwa ako! Pero natigilan din ako sumandali... Totoo na ito. Magkahalong saya at lungkot ang aking naramdaman. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, kailangan ko talaga ng panahon para makapag-isip-isip. Nagkataon namang maghoholy week kaya may panahon akong magnilay at magdasal. Salamat sa Diyos at ako'y kanyang binigyan ng kaliwanagan. Noong April 12, nagpasa ako ng resignation letter sa dean at magaan naman ang loob ko nang ito'y aking ginawa. Nawala na ang bigat ng kalooban dahil kalakip ng sulat na iyon ay ang napakaraming sakripisyo at mga bagay na dapat kong i-let go. Unang una, ang aking posisyon na hinawakan ko sa loob ng siyam na taon at pansampung taon na sana next year kung di ko ginive-up. Sa susunod na taon din ang ika - 10 anibersaryo ng aking departamento at napakarami ko nang naiplanong mga activities para dito. Napakahirap ang gagawin kong paglisan ngunit kinaya ko. Salamat sa Diyos.

After thought: (2020 na ito, April 2 - Birthday ng tatay ko). Noon palagi kong iniisip na hindi pa ako handa at marami pa akong gustong gawin at tapusin kaya ninais ko sanang magpa-defer ng aking admission sa susunod na formation year. Pero sa aking pagdadasal at discernment, ipinakita ng Diyos na hindi dadating ang araw na talagang ako ay magiging ready. Palaging may kulang, palaging hindi pa handa. Ang inaasahan lang sa akin ng Diyos ay ibigay ko sa kanya ang aking "Oo" at sya na ang bahala. Dahil siya ang nagkaloob ng regalo ng bokasyong ito, siya ang nagsimula, siya rin ang tumapos.  At ang inakala kong magiging mahirap na adjustment period, ang pag-iwan sa mga mahal ko sa buhay, sa pinakamamahal kong trabaho, hindi naging totoo.  One week pa lang yata, fully adusted na ako sa routine ng seminary life.  Pero that doesn't mean na Seminary life is "just a walk in the park".  Hindi.   I had my own taste of struggles, hardships and issues na halos magpalabas sa akin sa seminaryo in that span of 7 years.  Pero salamat pa rin that I persevered.  To the Lord who has called me to this vocation, a resounding AMEN! Salamat sa Diyos.


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