Who Are We? Whose Are We?

Once again, the season of penitential preparation for the Church’s celebration of the Paschal Mystery is upon us. It is a season that compels us to confront certain challenging and uncomfortable realities of our life as a Christian.

Let me focus my sharing on these two important points: First, on the Gospel reading. And Second, on the occasion of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lenten Season.

Our Gospel reading today is the opening verses of chapter six on the account of St. Matthew. We are immediately being confronted with one most important question- What is the place of the reward motive in the Christian life? Jesus speaks of God rewarding those who have given to him the kind of service which he desires on matters concerning alms giving, prayer and fasting. For the Jews, these comprise the three great cardinal works of the religious life. Yes it is true; these are the three great pillars on which good life is based, but what good do these things bring if they are being done from the wrong motives. Jesus gives us an admonition that when these things are done with the sole intention of bringing glory to the doer, they lose the most important part of their value.

I myself fall into the same trap without even being conscious about it and I attribute it to my childhood experience. I have a brother who is two years younger than I am. It seemed to me that our parent’s attention, love and care were totally bestowed on him. I couldn’t help but feel so envious of him and turned out to be KSP-“Kulang Sa Pansin” in the family. Still fresh in my memory was how I strove to get my parent’s attention: doing the household chores, gaining good grades at school. Even my talent in singing was acquired by an impure motivation, and I could attest to that since no one in family knows how to sing, except me.

Up until now, I am still carrying a portion this attitude: doing good things for the sake of recognition especially from the formators and those persons in authority. Yes, I may be able to get the glory that I want, but what good is that, to me, when the value of doing it has already been impaired, it will bring no good at all.

What Jesus is trying to tell us today, is that, if our aim is to get ourselves the rewards of the world, no doubt we will be able to get them; but let us not expect for the rewards which God alone can give. And thus, we may consider ourselves as short-sighted creatures that grasp the rewards of time and let go the rewards of eternity.

On the other hand, today marks the beginning of that 40-day Season called Lent. The church encourages us to observe the beginning of lent through the imposition of ashes in our foreheads. Have you ever wondered why we have ashes marked on our foreheads at the beginning of Lent?

As we all know, ashes are sign of our wickedness and we are supposed to be reminded of our own. Remember the movie, “The Scarlet Letter”? A woman caught committing the sin of adultery was forced to wear the letter “A.” on her gown at all times as a sign of her sin. She experienced public humiliation and being treated as an outcast. By receiving the mark on our forehead, we also tell ourselves that we are sinners and deserve to be labeled as such and as a consequence, we deserve to be ostracized and excluded from God’s kingdom. We carry this label on our foreheads so that we begin Lent remembering that we are weak and fragile people, capable of sin and even greater sin, and deserving of punishment. The Ashes on our forehead are supposed to tell us who we are.

But there is a second reason and we see this in another practice of labeling. We know of the practice of marking animals like pigs, cattle, and horses with the initials of the owner. The animal is held down while the initials of its owner are burned on its back. The purpose of this labeling is to indicate ownership. In our case, instead of initials, the label that we will receive is the sign of the cross, which is the very sign of Christ. And because of this sign of Christ on our foreheads, we may tell ourselves that we belong to Christ; we are his. All of us, though we are sinners, have been saved and redeemed by his death on the cross. The ashes therefore remind us of two things: firstly, who we are? That we are sinners; and secondly, whose we are? That we belong to Christ and we are his own.

Finally and most importantly, the ashes on our forehead also tell us who God is, which is the very heart of the mystery that Lent invites us to reflect and pray about: That this Jesus, this God who is all-holy and all-good, willingly permitted himself to be labeled as a sinner to be crucified among criminals and to be rejected by his people so that we, who are sinners, may precisely be redeemed and owned by him.

If this Ash Wednesday finds us far from God, it is about time for us to return to His loving and far-reaching arms.


Joseph Borja
1 March 2006

Inner and Outer Godliness

Mk. 7:14-23

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” We often read this common saying in different corners of our society especially in offices, schools, formation centers and others. But have we tried to reflect thoroughly on this saying? “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Does this mean that when I eat with washed hands and wear clean and formal clothes or attire like polo barong, dark pants and shoes with sacks, I am already godly? When I take a bath everyday before going to Mass, entering my class, refreshing myself with fascinating perfumes, having my hairstyle look attractive and wearing branded t-shirts and pants, am I already godly? When I am dressed in white soutane or clerical, have my fingers looked clean for the celibacy ring and wear my white dalmatic and stole, am I already godly? Not really. When cleanliness of the external is made an essential, but godliness of the inner person is neglected, how can cleanliness be next to godliness? As Jesus says in the Gospel, “Listen to me, all of you and understand. There is nothing outside which can render him unclean; but it is the things which come out of a man which render the man unclean.” In other words, man does not live by externals alone.

Very often, we are gentle enough with what gets into us. But are we as gentle with what gets out of us? We are very watchful with what we take or what we drink or eat so as not to suffer stomachache or LBM. But are we as watchful with what we give? We are very receptive with what enters into us. But are we as receptive with what comes out of us? Therefore, in our future ministry as pastors, should we not be careful with what we give as a homily to our parishioners just as we are careful with what we listen to? In our apostolate, must we not be cautious with what we teach to our students or BEC just as we are careful with what we study? Should we not be sensitive with what we practice outside our seminary structures just as we are careful with what we believe in? Following Jesus’ logic, I suppose we must.

External appearance should not be the basis of the notion of “clean and unclean,” but rather, it should be the heart of a man which is the source of moral action. Even though we declare our food and drink as unclean, still they cannot defile us. They enter our stomach only to be digested; they cannot touch our hearts. The true notion of cleanliness becomes visible; man is pure and consecrated to God, not by reason of a multiplicity of ritual ablutions, but by faithfulness to the divine law. Holiness does not lie in the area of clean over against unclean. It is not in the realm of things but in the realm of ethics. It is to be found only in the human heart and is a matter of personal responsibility. What makes us good is not what we entertain, but how we entertain others can make us evil. What we patronize can’t make us righteous, but how we patronize people and things can turn us into heretics. It is never insincerity that brings us to heaven. Instead practicing what we preach can lead us there.

So, as seminarians and priests, what do we give? What gets out of us? What comes out of us? Are we vigilant with what gets out of us? Just as a tree is judged by its fruits, so shall we be judge by our produce. God bless us all.


Rev. Dioszalde A. Cutas
8 February 2006

PAUL: SIMPLY CHRIST'S MAN

The best seminary in Asia is…. St John Vianney Theological Seminary. And of course, to say so, is another way of saying that San Jose is by far only the second best! San Jose –de Mindanao!

Who else could ever doubt this claim? We have the best professors with us! If people want a Biblicum star, we have Fr. Pops. If they want the likes of Chupungco, who else they want but Fr. Boy. If they look for George Santayana and Leonardo Boff, we have Fr. Allan and Fr. Joe, respectively, or a summa in Fr. Norlan or a magna in Fr. Chris or doctor in Fr. Dhems.

Here in the seminary we have first-rate persons with unique talents: Look at Rev. Roy … sa iyang pahiyom pa lang managtapok na ang simbahan sa Cagayan de Oro… the songs and refined voices of Glen, Jojo, Nieve, Nilo Dagpin,… the acrobatic shots of Elric, Louie, Frank, Marwen, Alvin, (apil pa ana ang “hayop pa sa ahas” nga talent ni Rodrigo og init nga kalayo nga gibuga ni Jade tillo…) nindot kayo! We have certified artists of Casi, Jeany, and so with, the music of Popong, Ading, Gregmen, Amie, and the ala-Malacañang decoration of Noe. All these are some of our bests!

We have the best fashions in town: tan-awa si Rev. Nonoy sa iyang dress-up-day attire…dili jud mailhan nga kulang siya og tulog… ang uban sab murag witnesses of the now famous “hello, garci” tapes… and some in their never-say-die kagawad looks… etc…

Here, we have the equally best brain in English and in Theology and leadership factor: hear the well-polished words of Vince, of Alvin, of Corsi, the tank brain of Ian, Alner, Casi, Jeremy, the leaderhip that is in Mark, Dondix, Domino, and many more..

We do have something, as it were, to say that we are indeed the best. And it feels great even if we are only a shadow of some of the best that we have here. It matters a lot where your best come from, and if it comes from Vianney, it differs largely enough. It adds teeth to your priesthood. Di ba, kasagaran mahitabo as atong tagsa-tagsa ka mga dioceses, moingon dayon ng mga pari: graduate na sa vianney bay, kuyaw na bay!… and we gain respect from our parishioners…even respect from our bishops… maduol na dayon ta sa iyang dughan.

My dear friends in Christ, it feels great to be considered among the best; but, mind you, believing in such a criterion is a risky one. For at times, as apostles of Christ, in our own little way, my dear friends, IT IS BEST TO BE NOT-TO-BE!

Think of the life of St. Paul, whose feast of conversion we are celebrating today. See the life of this man, himself a convert of Christ, to whom he owed his entire life. If he were one of us today, would he have claimed that he is the best? Let us posit a few points: What could be he really in his person? What would be his looks like? And what could be his knowledge? We know that his encounter with the Lord on his way to Damascus was really a turn-around of his life! The Saul that was, became, in the making, Christ’s triumph in spreading the Gospel!

What sort of claim he could have of himself? For me, he would be unique too. If he were alive today, for sure, he would be using the best rhetoric we use too, probably the same talent that each of us is gifted with, or probably the same best PR technique, the same best leadership! But what is worth noting in his person would be his acceptance of that weakness within him. His claim of his weakness made God’s power visibly perfect in his person. In his second letter to the Corinthians, verse 9, he says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me…” A statement of reliance on what God can do other than who we are and what we can do count a lot for him.

What could he probably do of his looks? Perhaps if he were with us today, he would be wearing the very clothes we wear, but enough only to be decent. He would certainly choose to be simple. He would fashion himself like any of the ordinary farmers I have met in Claveria in their Sunday’s best. Hundred percent he would be secured with what he has physically bisan opaw-opaw, mobu, bangason, bakang siya. Because he fashioned himself for Christ! His letter to the Galatians 3:27 says it rightly: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ, clothe yourselves with Christ.” Am I protesting that we have to stop this dress up days we have? No, for there is nothing wrong about dressing up. Arang-arang na man gani ang porma. Tawo na, matud pa ni Fr Norlan. But fashioning in Christ is precisely the key here.

What about his preference for knowledge? If he were alive today, I am sure he would make it to the top, being brilliant himself, but I know he would not make of it just for its own sake. He would surely imbibe, literally, eat what he knew and lived up to it concretely. For to him, knowledge is love of Christ. Clearly he meant this in his letter to the Ephesians 3:19: “And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Am I saying here that all this P.E. that we have is seemingly useless? No… para nato nga mga gahi og dila kinahanglan adunay “assist program”…and PE is the program. What is asked here is reframing our mind to Christ.

This is St. Paul claiming nothing of whatever is best in the world. He is simply (the) man of Christ… Simply Christ’s man… He was not best for something nor for anything he could be, but he is honored as the greatest apostle the church has seen. His truest person is his weakness in Christ, his finest fashion is his being clothed with Christ, His brilliance in mind is his full knowledge of Christ.

My dear friends of Christ, like St. Paul, each of us is called to be passionate preachers and dedicated leaders in the Church the BEST way we can, but ALWAYS having in our minds and in our hearts JESUS CHRIST, our Savior! May God be praised!

Nino Maconrey Supremo
Jan. 25, 2006; Feast, Conversion of St. Paul

Healing of the Paralytic

Mark 2, 1-12.

One boring late afternoon of that wintry Saturday of December, after preparing my homily for the next day’s barrio mass, I sneaked out of the parish convent to visit a family friend. While sitting comfortably on the monoblock, waiting for the snacks to be served, I scanned the pages of that not-so-interesting physics book lying on top of the center table. I read a portion of the book, there I found Newton’s Law of Motion. Accordingly it all began with an apple, the single apple that hit Newton’s head while he rested. That paved the way for the discovery of one of sciences’ greatest breakthroughs. I still recall the First Law that states: THE BODY AT REST WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT REST AND A BODY IN MOTION WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE UNLESS AN EXTERNAL FORCE ACTS ON IT.

While traversing the dark alley of Purok Malinong, the FIRST law still boggling my poor mind: THE BODY AT REST WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT REST AND A BODY IN MOTION WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE UNLESS AN EXTERNAL FORCE ACTS ON IT. But before I reached the parish convent, something engulfed me to reflect deep. Nobody here ever lives without something or somebody in his mind and heart that propels him to move on -- and that is I guess the “force” that Newton calls, that drives us to move on in life though the road to it seems bleak and murky. And that every act we do is always package-dealt with an outcome.

This First Law, for me serves as a reminder for us to always apply an appropriate kind of force, either internal or external—so for us not to be dragged out of the track of life we are trudging. In other words, we should always check out our motive why we do this and that. And let us not be preoccupied with just doing this and that for MYSELF- OWN SELF, ONESELF, always for the EGO and the SELF…

Yet sometimes we forget to realize that at times to achieve something in life accelerates more if there are others to push us toward our goal when it seems that our own toil doesn’t measure full. Indeed, many times, when we are so preoccupied of how to get things by our own effort alone, we wallow more into failure than to success.

At times life is full of dark alleys and doses of frustrations. Probably because we are engulfed with the fussy things of this world—and before we knew it, we are part of the noisy, panicking and colliding with frown-clad faced crowds, and we sometimes, if not at all times, tend to be preoccupied with simply blabbering on our own—even lose sight of the real meaning of life and essence of living.

Our gospel today teaches us about prayer, authentic Prayer! It teaches us that SALVATION is never achieved by one's self alone. We need others to make it happen. To depend on our own FORCES and efforts is a sure ticket to stardom in eternal damnation!

Mark’s Gospel narrates the healing of the paralytic and tells us three important things:

FIRST: The friends of the paralytic and the paralytic never said even a single word to each other. Yet, even if they never said a word to each other, the gesture of taking him to Jesus and wanting him to be healed was in itself prayer. In order to pray, we must show much faith in the Lord. And we might ask ourselves why our prayers do not have any effect to others and even on us, could it be because we talk too much at prayer! The friends of the paralytic did not even talk, yet in all honesty, with all their hearts and souls, they prayed sincerely!

SECOND: because they put their trust to no one else but only to Jesus. And as soon as they brought the seemingly hopeless paralytic to Jesus, they completely withdraw. In simpler words, they were saying to Jesus: “Lord, wala na talaga kaming magawa sa taong ito, BAHALA NA PO KAYO! They did not even tell Jesus what to do, they did not even ask for healing, they simply surrender and let Jesus take charge of everything. Because they firmly believed that Jesus has the FORCE, Jesus has the POWER, and that JESUS is the FORCE and POWER himself.

THIRD: The Lord saw the faith of the paralytic’s friends. This signifies how POWERFUL and effective our prayer when we ask it sincerely especially when it is for the others. I still remember a relative of mine in Marbel was asking me to pray for her mother because she was diagnosed with colon cancer, and it is already in its terminal stage! The doctor told the family that she could only enjoy her life only until this summer. In all sincerity, we prayed for her, and still asked some friends to storm heavens for God to do the best for Nanay Anecia and her family—as she prepares herself for the sojourn ahead.

Last December 25, I visited that relative of mine, and to my amazement, the husband of Nanay Anecia told me that after the last chemotheraphy last year, the doctor saw some changes in the former diagnosis—some butlig butlig in the intestines were miraculously erased… ingon sa Doctor, “this is not my work… it is from Heaven.” In joy Nanay Anecia exclaimed, “See, what prayer can do!”

In the Gospel, it is indeed one great healing story-- not of the faith of the sick man that touches Jesus, but the faith of his friends, of the community— this signifies that SALVATION is never achieved by ourselves alone. We need the others to make it happen.

The FIRST Law states: THE BODY AT REST WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT REST AND A BODY IN MOTION WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE UNLESS AN EXTERNAL FORCE ACTS ON IT. The body will not move unless a force acts on it. Let that force be our burning passion to follow Jesus in our life. Let that force be JESUS Himself who not speaks of hollow promises nor empty words of Life. Let that force be not solely our effort, bcoz our effort isn’t always enough. The bare fact is that we can do nothing without the GRACE of that SOMEONE who propels us to toil toward our goal—when our toil and effort don’t measure full. We need to come to that SOMEONE who is the wellspring of all the FORCES that suffice our needs.

Newton’s laws don’t just apply to a body at rest in motion but also to us all. We don’t only need ourselves to achieve our vision as Christians. We also need others to encourage us and bring out the best in us. And in return we let others be encouraged to keep living, keep hoping, and keep loving—by the very values we set before their eyes. That is primarily what is to be Christian. We don’t talk much, but we walk our talk!


by Rev. Noe Pedrajas
SJVTs Chapel; Jan. 13, 2006

The Better Wine Served Last

THE BETTER WINE SERVED LAST
Saturday before Epiphany (Jn. 2:1-11)

Last Thursday night in Manila, I was asked by a friend to say Mass for her mother-in-law who was diagnosed with lung cancer and was told by the doctor that it is just a matter of weeks or months before she could go. Of course, the question in my mind was: What would I say to her and to the family? What do you say to a 63 year old lady who still wants to do many things, but for whom the end is just around the corner? And how do you talk about new year, new life, new hope, when death’s door is about to close in on her and on her family?

Thanks be to the God, the readings for that day gave me some idea for my homily. If you remember, the first reading last Thursday spoke about God being greater than our hearts. The Gospel was about Jesus saying to Nathanael, “You will see greater things than this.” Greater! What’s the word? That’s the word! Greater! I wanted to say to the patient, “Tita, your life here on earth is a gift from the Lord. It is a great gift, isn’t it? But don’t you know that there is a greater life, a greater gift? Eternal life! Life after death!” But since I was not sure whether such theological assertions were appropriate for the occasion, I simply shared with them my experience before and after ordination.

When I was still a scholastic/ seminarian, my ultimate goal was to be ordained a priest. For me, that was the greatest thing that could happen to me. And so, with God’s mercy, came April 9, 2005, my ordination. Yes, it did feel great to be at the center of the show. People congratulating me, kissing my hands, giving me gifts. I thought that was it! Everything after that would be anti-climactic, a downhill movement, including going to this seminary to teach and be a formator.

But I was mistaken! To my surprise, I enjoyed teaching Revelation and Morals! I felt privileged listening to ICs and SDs. I delighted in accompanying my buildingmates in preparing for the Intrams cheering, for the Xmas caroling and decorations. I look forward to our bi-monthly formators’ recollec-nics. Ordination, I discovered, was not the final curtain. It was simply an opening curtain, that was to unveil a still greater reality: that of a joyful and meaningful, although admittedly, sometimes straining and draining priestly ministry. In a way, ordination was not yet greatest thing that ever happened to me, for greater things were still about to happen to me. And…you…are one of those things!

Hence, in my prayers on these first few days of the New Year, I echo the headwaiter’s remarks: “Nabatasan sa kadaghanan ang pagdalit pag-una sa labing maayong bino, ug kon makainom na pag-ayo ang mga bisita, anha pa idalit ang bino nga dili mayo kayo; apan karon pa nimo idalit ang labing maayong bino.” (Usually, the good wine is served first, and when the guests have been drunk, then the inferior wine is served. But you have served just now the good wine!) Abi nako nga gihatag na sa Ginoo kanako ang labing maayong bino sa akong ordinasyon! Dili pa di-ay! Kay dinhi pa sa Cagayan de Oro, (sa Dakbayan sa Bulawanong Panaghinigalaay), sa St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, the best seminary in the Philippines (?), dinhi pa niya ipatilaw kanako ang hilabihang lami-tam-is ug maayong bino! (I thought that the Lord has already given me the best wine during my ordination. I was wrong, because it was only here in Cagayan de Oro, the City of Golden Friendship, in SJVTS, was he going to make me taste the much better wine!)

My brothers, if you think you have already seen great things in your life, as a seminarian, as a deacon, as a priest, think twice…for that is not yet it! (Just recall how surprised you were upon seeing each other dressed up yesterday… some in clericals, some in barong, some in long-sleeves and tie, looking much better, much smarter, much more human than before!) Indeed, the Lord has in store for you, for me, for us, much greater things, much better wine, much deeper joys this new year! We only have to believe, just as the disciples did who saw the first of his signs, by which he revealed his glory. As Mariah Carey sings: “There can be miracles…if you…believe!”

by Fr. Norlan H. Julia, SJ
January 7, 2006; Mass at the end of Monthly Recollection

Faithful Priests and Pastors

FAITHFUL PRIESTS AND PASTORS
Monday of 32rd Week in OT
Text: Luke 17:1-6

Why did you return to the seminary? When in your homes, there are no bells to wake you up at 5AM, no bible verses texts and canons to be memorized, no papers to revised and manualia to be done? I have 3 guesses: first you returned to the seminary because you want to become priests. Because in your dioceses you noticed the tight schedule of priests: 4 or 5 masses on Sundays, excluding baptisms and sick calls etc. etc. misa pa lang daan hurot na ang oras ug kusog sa pari (just the Masses consume much of the priest's time)…the harvest is always plenty, and the laborers are always few…hence you want to become priests to add to the number of priests the people of God needs…and if you don’t return to the seminary, you can not be priests. You can simply remain sacristans forever!

I have a second guess, though…you returned to the seminary, and not just to any seminary, but this seminary, SJVTS, because you want to be, not just priests, but pastors. Dali ra man mapari, di ba? Sulod ka sa seminario, magbinuotan ka, tumana ang mga balaod sa seminario, ayaw pagbinuang…o kung magbinuang man gani, ayaw lang ka masakpi, ug naa pay pakapin nga pa-impress sa formators, ma-ordenahan jud ka! (It's easy enough to become a priest, isn't it? You enter the seminary, behave, follow the rules, don't do some foolish things..or if you will, make sure you are not caught. Then you also try to impress the formators, and you'll certainly be ordained). This might be true in other seminaries, but you believe (don’t you?), at least I do, that that is not the case here in Vianney.

Here in Vianney, we seek to form, not just priests, but pastors. And what are pastors? They are caretakers of souls…they are those who take to heart Jesus’ words in today’s gospel: “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” A pastor aims not to lead his flock to sin, but rather to God.

And isn’t this what we have been saying that when you go to your apostolates, whether in catechism or campus ministry or BEC, the young people who call you “brother, brother” are entrusted to you so that you may lead them to God, and not to some other places. And this is the second thing that a pastor does: he brings people to God. Isn’t this what forgiving a brother/sister means…making him/her experience the mercy of God.

In the Gospel, our Lord says, “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” The SDs, ICs, PSIs, Thursday conferences and other human-spiritual development activities, through which we are confronted with our woundedness, our shadows and dark sides, our sinfulness, are meant not to make us feel depressed or hopeless, but to make us aware of our humanity, how precisely in our woundedness and sinfulness, the grace of God works, and works powerfully, triumphantly. And with this experience of being “loved sinners”, we are just to glad and willing to be agents of reconciliation, to be channels of God’s mercy and forgiveness to our parishioners. Where else do you get this kind of formation, if not here in Vianney?

Hence, my third guess why you returned to the seminary, to this seminary; why we, formators, also came back, having gone to our hometowns and perhaps could have opted to stay there and do other things, is that in order to become priests, in order to become pastors, we first must become faithful/ magtutuo. For aren’t we all lay faithful before we become priests and pastors? Kay usahay man gud, kung mapandongan na sa kamot sa obispo, ug natuboy na sa pagka-klerigo, mura bag dili na magtutuo! Busa moingon ang uban, ako diyakono na, kamo laygo pa! Kamo’y mga magtutuo, ako inyong tuohan! (Sometimes, when one has been ordained and raised to the clerical state, it seemed as if that person has ceased being a believer. Hence, some say, "I am already a deacon, you are still lay people. You are the believers and you believe me!)

With our return to the seminary to continue with our formation, we address to the Lord the same request as that of the apostles in the gospel, “Increase our faith.” We acknowledge that we can only become priests, holy priests, pastors, good pastors, if we are first of all faithful people. And I would like to think that your return to this seminary means that you believe that your stay here has somehow increased your faith, and that you do want that faith to grow even more.

Are my guesses right? Only you can say.

by Fr. Norlan Julia, SJ
November 7, 2005; Beginning of 2nd semester, 2005-06