The highlight of my vacation was the preparation for and the ceremony of my Final Profession.  It was my dream to have it in the Philippines, in my own parish were I had made my First Communion, was confirmed and worked as a volunteer catechist.  My grandparents were very active and generous donors of the parish, and they were the ones who helped me deepen my Christian faith.  It was in this parish also that the late Fr. Rufus Halley was waked.

The preparation was made easier because of the help of our parish priest, Fr. Joel Lusat, a friend of many years.  With him, we delegated the tasks.  Because my parents are very active in the Family Life Apostolate, I received generous, warm and impressive help from the people of the parish even though I had been away from the parish for 13 years.  For this I was very grateful as we don’t have any Columban Sisters in the area.  The Columban Fathers in the Mindanao area were very supportive of me too.  Their Centre House is only a few meters away from my home.

One of the reasons for having my Final Profession at home was to promote missionary vocations.  So, a lot of my energy was spent in organizing a Columban Encounter with youth  - college level and young professionals - on the day before my Final Vows.  I worked with the coordinators of the Columban Fathers, Lay Missionaries and our very own Sister Minerva to help me with this event, emphasizing the Columban Family.  The half-day event went very well and we had a Columban exhibit also.  So, please God from among the 66 young people who attended, some will be inspired by God to become missionaries.

March 30, 2003 was, indeed, a very memorable day for me. A lot of those who were present with me that day were people who are very much part of who I am now – my elementary teachers, classmates at all levels, friends at different stages of my journey, especially the Subanen people, my loving family and the Columban Family most especially.  I would have loved to have had the Sisters from Peru present, but I am positive they were there in spirit.

The celebrant was Bishop Jimenez of Pagadian Diocese, a friend whom I got to know when I was working in his diocese for two years with the Subaanen people.  There were 13 priests concelebrating, mostly Columban Fathers.  Six Columban Sisters from the Philippine region were also there.  The liturgy was very much part of my personal journey for the last nine years as a Columban.  The First Reading, Isaiah 43 speaks to me of God’s assurance of His call and the constancy of His loving presence.  The Psalm, sung by my cousin, “Before I Was Born” by David Haas is a summary of how God took care of me from the time I was born.  The Second Reading was Romans 8 reminding me despite the odds against me along the journey, God is always there, never allowing me to be separated from Him.  And the Gospel, the Parable of the Treasure from Matthew 13, is my YES to God.  I found in God the real essence of my being in this world – God is my first and last – and that is why I chose as my motto “My God and My All.”  Sister Ann Rita Centeno, my former novice directress, gave the homily.  My feeling during the ceremony was one of deep joy, peace and gratitude to my loving God who cares and loves me unconditionally.  My family were very much part of the liturgy, and I thank God most especially for them who sowed this seed of vocation in me.

Before the final blessing, Bishop Jimenez gave an inspiring and challenging message to the parishioners, especially to the young people.  A lot of people expressed how they had been touched by the ceremony – witnessing the authenticity and realness of someone responding unreservedly to the mystery of how God calls.   It was a joy for me when some of the young people expressed how inspired they were.   

After the Mass, refreshments were served to everyone, courtesy of the parish. Later in the day, a meal was celebrated in the Columban Fathers’ garden in Patag followed by dancing, including the “huayno,” the typical Peruvian dance which was led by the South American group.  It was enjoyed by all.

Now, I am back in Peru on my second term.  The good-bye was a bit difficult but I felt a  great joy when I landed in the airport in Lima.  It’s nice to be back and the warm welcome of the Sisters and some good Peruvian friends made me feel so much at home.

I know there will be lots of surprises in the coming months but I trust that the God who called me from the beginning will be there to guide and care for me lovingly.

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