A Special Seminar for Balikbayan Missionaries

By Fr. Leonardo Mercado, SVD

Missionaries have the temptation to overwork -- add to that the shock of a new culture and maybe a new diet and climate and you have the perfect formula for BURN OUT. The Divine Word Missionaries are trying to do something about this. They offer a special program for Balikbayan Missionaries several times a year at their retreat house in Tagaytay City. Here we have some of the comments or returning Filipino missionaries who have done this one-week seminar organized especially for them.

• The seminar was truly an answer to a prayer: the solution to the alienation of a returning Filipino missioner.
• One important feature is the sharing of mission experiences, especially our woundedness and frustrations.
• The seminar has been God’s way of telling me that He keeps on caring for my growth as a Filipino missionary. I was deeply touched by the sharing of our fellow Balikbayan missionaries. We have here probably more than 100 years of total missionary experience, unique, enriching, encouraging, spirit –filled.
• The seminar has answered my need for: 1) an open heart, honest trustful, loving, joyful environment to share and process my missionary experience; 2) actual, personal, broad knowledge of the Philippine situation; 3) a course to refresh, renew and strengthen my missionary spirit and commitment.
• The sharing of experiences of the balikbayan missionaries was very enriching for me and enlightening. The experiences were encouraging even without forcing us to be interested in their missionary activities.
• The seminar encourages the participants to have liturgies according to continents. For example, the African would bring in their drums, song and similar inculturated features. The celebrations of the Holy Eucharist in different cultures gave me ideas for being creative in the missions.
• Although the seminar is meant for balikbayans, the program has accepted a few departing missionaries (alisbayan). These were not able to wait for the program (Missionary Orientation Course) meant for departing missionaries which is held every May in Tagaytay.
• A Don Bosco seminarian assigned to Papua New Guinea who joined the program wrote in his evaluation: “The seminar is not only helpful for balikbayan missionaries but also for all the Alisbayan Missionaries. By hearing the experiences and reflections of Balikbayan Missionaries, I have become more prepared psychologically for the mission.