Every love story is beautiful, but my love story with Jesus is my favorite. Let me tell you why. This story has three parts.
First, it was nurtured in my family of six siblings: four boys, one girl, and a priest. Both of my parents exemplified Christian virtues from which we children drew inspiration. Their deeds showed their religious spirit…Sunday devotion, a proactive role in our parish, and daily devotion to the Holy Rosary. They formed our character and conscience by educating us through the Dominican Sisters of Siena and the Marist Brothers.
My father was a “convent boy” of the Passionist Fathers in South Cotabato, Philippines. Most of these American priests were expelled from China bearing the marks of torture on their bodies. Papa Fred was their jack of all trades… handyman, driver, cook, catechist, and translator. Papa shared heroic stories about these dedicated priests with his children, which entered my heart and mind unconsciously.
Family values of storytelling, sharing, forgiveness, respect, and dialogue were practiced at home. My missionary vocation began to take shape in this background. How did it mature? This takes us to the second part.
As a student at Notre Dame University, I frequented the library browsing entertainment magazines that featured beautiful and famous actresses. Once, I saw a strange magazine next to my favorite one… the World Mission magazine. I read the story of St. Daniel Comboni and his African adventures. One issue featured his fight to free African slaves by buying them from cruel Arabs in the 18th century. This man impressed me with his radicality in welcoming a former African slave to become the first African Comboni Missionary! In an epoch of rampant slavery, Comboni went against the tide of the world by establishing one family called humanity. I told myself this is the man I wish to follow. Last June 7, 2024, I celebrated my Silver Jubilee! Most of my missionary service was done in Africa bringing us to the third part of this story.
I first set foot on African soil in August 1995 in Nairobi, Kenya. Here, thrill and danger spiced up my vocation journey. My most marked experience happened in 2004 when I witnessed the horrific killings of nine of my people – adults and children – right before my eyes. It took place in Bubisa town near Marsabit. My life was spared after failed attempts by the chief to eliminate me. By God’s grace, I managed to leave Kenya but the government charged me with obstruction to justice after I refused to testify. I was declared persona non grata in East African countries.
This painful experience strengthened me and did not deter me from going back to Africa where Comboni offered his last breath. My world leader called me to work in South Africa where I was fortunate to have an incident-free mission for 16 years.
Working as a Mission Promoter in the Philippines has been fulfilling… sharing my humble missionary experience with various Metro Manila parishes. But I long to go back to the continent that made me strong and resilient. I wish to continue my love story with Jesus in Africa where I see myself best having mastered local languages and broken cultural barriers. The greatest challenge remains: my Beloved’s way of self-giving is difficult, given my reluctance to die and allow Him to work in me, to trust Him more so that He can do great things through me. This metanoia is a lifetime process. May my love story continue under the shadow of the cross of my beloved…Jesus Christ!
