Responding to the Call

By Arlenne Villahermosa

The Missionary Society of St. Columban’s centenary celebration has been blessed with two ordinations in the Philippines in the month of February: Diaconate Ordination of Rev. Peter Dong, the first Chinese member of the Society in one hundred years on February 4, 2018, and the Priestly Ordination of Rev. Erl Dylan Tabaco on February 17, 2018.

These two occasions speak not only of jubilation on the day of ordination but also of a journey filled with the grace of God, a process of listening to and answering the call. They speak of formative years so that each one may discover and know the depth of God’s love in themselves, and by the same love reach out to others in mission. Eph 3:16, 19 says, “May he strengthen in you the inner self, through his Spirit, according to the riches of his glory . . . that you may know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled and reach the fullness of God.” They also speak of people who have become part of the whole process, of structures, of experiences, of faith and dialogue, of creation that nourishes and sustains, and of the participation and openness of Fr. Erl and Rev. Peter to the call.

On separate occasions, five Columban lay missionaries, Joan Yap, Reins Mosqueda, Sheryl Lou Capili, Ana Flores and John Din renewed their commitment to the Society. These are occasions of joy and thanksgiving as well, praising God for the gift of vocation and mission. From out of the depths of their being, they again said a joyful “Yes” to mission. With this commitment, they have opened-up themselves to the movements of the Spirit, inviting each one of them to see beyond one’s confines.

In the same way, people from all walks of life are also responding to the call to love in their own life’s situation. Sr. Carmela has responded to the call by becoming a religious nun; Larry has responded to the call to care for the earth; and Va has responded to the call to love and embrace another culture, another language through the gift of music. God is inviting all of us to share in His love, in our own unique circumstances in life, drawing from us what we have and giving us the freedom to respond in our own creative ways.

Responding to the call to love is responding from the depth of our being where the indwelling God manifests the vastness of His love in all the circumstances of our life beyond our comprehension.