My First Fiat To God's Call
By Jude M. Garceniego
The author is now studying in St Joseph Regional Seminary, Jaro. His sister Cherryl is a novice with the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. It was during a high school retreat in Sacred Heart Formation Center, Bacolod, that I made my first ‘fiat’ to God in His calling me to priestly formation.
Our adviser, Ms Alicia Calexterio, now Mrs Alicia Dalanangbayan, the faculty and staff of Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Candoni, Negros Occidental, decided to have the retreat of the graduating class on 6-7 December 2000, with our outing the following day.
I was baptized by Rev. Fr. Donal Hogan, a Columban Missionary, on February 10, 1985, a day before the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Candoni, Negros Occidental. I was then two months and one day old. I finished my secondary education in Our Lady of Lourdes High School of Candoni established by the Columbans, and attained my bachelor’s degree in Kabankalan Catholic College, also a Columban school. Furthermore, I finished my five years of Philosophy in the Little Way College Seminary, as one of the pioneering seminarians, supported by the Little Association – a group closely connected with the Columbans Missionaries. Presently, I am a priest of the Kabankalan Diocese assigned to the Parish of St. Paul in Cauayan, Negros Occidental. This was the last Columban parish in the Diocese of Kabankalan. Fr. Michael Doohan served as the last Columban parish priest in this parish. Fr. Seán Coyle confirmed this in his message to me during my transfer on September 2, 2017.