Summer Vocation Workshop 2012 – General Santos City
Reflection of Br. Nolasco Gavilan III, FMS
Marist Brothers Aspirancy House, Lagao, General Santos City
Every summer in the Philippines, young people, families, adults and children always plan to have some rest and recreation. These events become the traditional nationwide because it is their consolation to their hard works in a long school year, office works, workloads and etc… It is a gift to themselves and people they love. It is a common idea to all of us, Filipino.
Indeed, it’s pretty amazing to think why some young men also plan to search for their life and its meaning, promote to their destiny, follow the will of God, and they come and see to the Workshops prepared by Marist Brothers.
When they came, they are called workshoppers. The Summer Vocation Workshop 2012 started last April 15 until May 1, 2012 at Marist Brothers Aspirancy House, Lagao, General Santos City. This event was conducted by the staff Brothers, who become the models and guidance of the Workshoppers for a quite longer of time. They are Br. Larry Sevilla, as Coordinator with Bros. Joe Torrcampo, Cristino Sta. ana, Nelson Beltran and I as part of the team.
We are blessed because we have ten (10) young men participated in this events. Though they were young to respond to this call yet they pursue to come and experienced our life. They travelled and came from different schools, city and province like Acosta, Kevin James from Notre Dame of University, Cotabato City; Aquino, Jose Rene from Notre Dame of Cotabato Inc. Cotabato City; Liggayo, Luise Paolo and Valios, Glenn from San Vicente Academy, Cotabato City; Labio, Karl Angelo and Java, Engel Freed from Saint Mary’s Academy from Midsayap, Cotabato; Ama, Leonale Rey from Bukidnon National High School, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Tio, Radny from Imelda National High School, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Española, Zypper and Cantoneros, Jayland from Baluan National High School, General Santos City.
The 16 day’s program helped the workshoppers to discern and discover the life of the Brothers. The designed program touches the different aspects of Brothers’ lifestyle in different timeline and different speakers or immersions they had experience; such as spiritual life, apostolic life, social life and community life. They, the workshoppers, experienced the 24 hours of the Brothers’ life while living in the house, from rising to its setting. The design programs also showed the formative structures of the community. They wondered yet they become responsive to every challenge and uncertainties happening during the whole duration of limited time.
Though, in every program, we can’t deny the fact of the trials and successes are always together. After all the hard works of our staff and deep discernment of the workshoppers, there were 7 young men, who decided and invited to continue on the next stage of the formation, the Pre-Novitiate Program. Their desire was confirmed during the visitation period of the staff to their house. We saw the support and dedication of their family to help and promote the vocation of these young men. And so, as one of the staff, I’m so happy and I can say: “Job well done.”
The summer of these young men became a history and very significant because they gain friendship, respect, care, understanding and love. It’s not just ordinary love but they become “The Precious Lovers” as their moniker of their batch.
At the same time, this Summer Vocation Workshop 2012 represents the saying; “It’s not about the quantity but the quality”. Perhaps, let us continue praying for the perseverance to their vocation and openness to the Holy Spirit.
God Bless them all.