I was informed that CG has a thanksgiving mass for all the helpers who were part of the Bicentennial celebration. I thought all the gang of ‘cookers’ from CHS will attend. So, I went along, only to find out that I am the lone ranger from the food committee and the other two CHS parishioners who were there are the lecturers. *roll eyes*
However, I love celebrating mass at the chapel atop the hill, overlooking the sea and feeling on top of the world. There is something magical climbing those rustic steps to Mariophille.
I also got to listen to Archbishop Soter’s homily and just like Archbishop Pakiam, they do not have any airs but only warmth, friendliness and basically, nice fatherly figures. So, in a way, I am very thankful that through helping in the Bicentennial celebration, I get upclose with these two extra holy men. Otherwise, the meek me probably freaked out at the mention of titles like Your Lordship. *shivers, run and hide*
The nuns from the hospital were there too and for once, I get to see them in their normal clothes without the head coverings and their brown uniforms. That way, they are less intimidating to me ‘cos usually, when I am there, they are in their nuns garbs and I do find that rather scary since I never go to a convent school and think nuns are fierce headmistresses with a cane in hand.
On that little hill in the old chapel, from where I sit I could see a photo of the Vietnamese saint looking back at me. I do not know his name but I certainly wonder what his life must be like back in the time when he just arrived in Malaya to spread the religion? What kind of challenges he and all the other saints and martyrs and priests and brothers faced? How did they overcome them? What makes them choose the hill at CG and how did they build the chapel?
Then, my attention is drawn to the seminarians in CG. I get that awesome feelings of thankfulness that they are willing to leave everything to journey to be a priest. Otherwise, without them, there will be no us. Who is going to shepherd the flock? Who is going to hold the community together and build the Kingdom of God? So, yes, my prayers go up to Jesus to keep these young men’s faith strong and remain faithful to Him.
Before I went to CG to help in the Bicentennial celebration, I do not even know what seminarians are. In fact, I have never seen one. But after spending a few days in CG to help and thereafter, taking the psychospirituality course with them, I am beginning to understand them. It is certainly not easy to live the life they live and yet, they persevere. They are indeed way above those who live common lives like us. Their sacrifices, the amount of things they need to learn, the kind of discipline they must have and things they need to do. Wow, they are really multi-tasking, from being good lectors, to cantors to priests-to-be.
Actually, I do not intend to blog this but Fr. Edwin asked, “You blogging this?” and yeah, why not? To me, it wasn’t just a short trip to celebrate mass and have some dinner. It is a journey of discovery of what life in the seminary is like. Not everyone has the opportunity to see it because seminaries are not public places. Since I am blessed to be there once in a while, it is good I share. Remember, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to pray harder for our brothers in the seminaries and also to pray for vocation. That the Lord may continue to bless them and lead more young men to join the priesthood.
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