As they commonly shared: “Quit speaking ill to each other. We are called to serve the Lord and His church.” Photo: A.Yango
SAN MATEO, Rizal – The 3rd episode of Ubasan called “Usbong” was held at the shrine last Sunday, September 23. The said episode was done through a panel discussion where invited parish workers told their stories as a parish server and the challenges that they have encountered throughout the span of their service.
The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) invited five parish workers to be part of the panel – Sis. Aranzazu “Aring” Blanche, Coordinator of MSK Dulong Bayan 1 (DB1), Sis. Luisa Noche, Coordinator if Abuab, and Bro. Roger San Miguel whose role includes being a Coordinator of the San Mateo Catholic Charismatic.
Also members of the panel are Bro. Leodan Leceta, Coordinator of Vocation Ministry and Sis. Camille Cabal, Editor-in-Chief of Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu (DSPNSDA) website.
During the discussion, the guests were asked to detail their professional works and what were the struggles that they encountered in balancing their life in their respective ministries and their professional life.
Sis. Aranzazu whose past work has been related with culture, said that as long as we keep our strong faith to God, he will never let us handle our tasks alone. Sis. Luisa, a retired consultant, proudly said that she still managed to balance her life despite the load of work in her professional life. She added that she actually spends more time in the ministry than in her job.
Popularly known as a public servant, Bro, Roger said that the two facets of his life are actually interrelated. Being able to regularly interact with the people in the community helps him promote the activities of the Shrine. It is also an advantage that he lives near the parish.
Bro. Leodan works as an elementary teacher in San Mateo Elementary School, transferring to a public school, he admitted that his work doubled due to more activities in the said school but same with Sis. Luisa, he still finds time for his responsibilities in the parish.
Though Sis. Camille’s professional work as a writer is the same with her role in the Media Ministry, she did not deny that there were really times that the two are conflicting and can sometimes be draining sometimes that is why it is very important to manage time. She told the attendees that she even makes use of her travel time to work to edit the articles for the parish website.
Following the first question, guests were asked if there was ever a time when they thought of quitting as a parish worker because it conflicts with their personal life and professional work.
Bro. Roger shared that there are selected circumstances that we have to prioritize one from the other but that doesn’t mean to neglect the least prioritizes one.
Sis. Camille, as a newbie in the professional world said that she experienced more struggles when she was still studying, that was the time when she joined the parish community. She frankly answered that there was a time when she really wanted to resign from her work in the ministry but failed because she found herself still coming back for the love for her ministry.
Bro. Leodan said that being a teacher also requires a lot of time and attention. There are endless paper works which sometimes have to be taken home just to be accomplished. Just like everyone, managing the time between his job and his responsibilities for the Shrine is the main challenge.
Bro. Roger shared that there are selected circumstances that we have to prioritize one from the other but that doesn’t mean to neglect the least prioritizes one. He remembered when he had to temporarily leave his parish work to run for elections but he emphasized that during those times, he still managed to attend the meetings of the organizations where he belongs.
Sis. Luisa proudly said that he never felt the stress in balancing her life. She inspired the listeners when she said that her tasks became easier because she always asks for the Lord’s guidance in whatever she does. She strengthened her statement by saying that she cannot work without God and encouraged everyone to lift everything to God and trust Him with whatever will be the results.
Aside from balancing her time before as a teacher from her ministry work, Sis. Aranzazu shared that she also had to divide her time and pay more attention to her children after her husband died. Her strength was totally inspiring when she uttered that her husband’s death did not stop her from serving the Lord but she used it to strengthen her faith. She also asked the Lord’s guidance in bringing up her children who eventually became parish servers as well. She is a living proof that everything is in God’s plan.
Lastly, the speakers gave their advices and messages to their co-parish workers and even to parishioners on how they can maintain the passion and love for serving the church.
Sis. Aranzazu: As parents, let us introduce God to our children. And as children, let us bring ourselves closer to God. Invite your parents, invite your children, invite everyone you know to the Church so they can get to know Him more. “Isama natin [sila] hindi yung tayo lang ang nagsisimba, yung mga maliliit pa, isama natin. Yung mga ang hirap dalhin, magulo, takbo nang takbo; yun yung kabanalan na pagdadanan natin para lumapit sila pa Panginoon.”
Sis. Luisa: If you are serving the church or you want to serve the church, let us deepen our faith in God. My years of service in the Church taught me to lift everything to God. It doesn’t matter if I spend more time in the activities of the ministry, at the end og the day, I talk to him and pray that may He guide me in my work. God is always bigger than our problems, He is always the answer.
Bro. Roger: To the parish workers, let us unite. Quit speaking ill to each other. We are called to serve the Lord and His church. God is holy so you must be holy. This is our aim in life, to be holy. Keep on praying, pray everyday and read the bible everyday. Let us support each other in living a Christian life.
Bro. Leodan: To the youth, use your strength to serve the Lord. Let us live to what our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal said, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan” and we are the hope of our church. Use your strength in spreading the word of the Lord. Make use of our talent and time to widen our faith to Him. In everything you do, put God first and we will succeed.
Sis. Camille: To the students who are serving the church, let us use our challenges in our ministries for us to learn and grow. Don’t take it too seriously when you are being preached by the elderlies here in our church but take them as lessons instead. Later on, you will realize its purpose, it will help you be a disciplined individual. Let us make use of our time in meaningful ways, know your priorities. No one busy, if you love something, make time for it. Lastly, as a media representative, let us use our social media in inspiring other people instead of using it to drag other people down. Be mindful of your posts because although you have the right to put anything on your post under the freedom of speech. every freedom we enjoy has limitations.
Ubasan is Aranzazu Shrine’s new evangelization confab that is held every 4th Sunday of the month. Keep posted on the next Ubasan and other activities of the parish.
