My Experience in Ministry
Written by seolinkvine27 on July 2nd, 2010 in Uncategorized.
When I was in college doing my weekly apostolate, I went to my place of ministry with a heavy heart. Somehow, I know the reason why. My apostolate is to take care of the chapel youth ministry in one of the far-flung barrios in the Parish of Mayapa, Laguna. Not really to organize activities, but to make sure that the young people in that chapel are mobilized so that whenever the Parish would call for a meeting, somebody from the young people of that chapel would be present. But you see, there are no much young people in that area. I mean, there are of course young people in that place, but they seem to be unaware of the fact that there is such a thing as a ‘Sunday Mass.’ But then, I cannot totally blame the young people since the adults in that barrios are also missing in action. Even those few people present in mass were dressed in shorts, sleeveless, and slippers.
That is one reason why I am not happy to go there, seeing this kind of people around.
While waiting for my three young sacristans to arrive (I give them basic catechism before the Mass), I decided to take a walk within the vicinity. Seeing some actions happening in a nearby basketball court, I thought to drop by for a visit. It was nice to see some of the children playing basketball. Some of them are about 10 years of age. I tried to make a small talk with them, asking them basic questions I normally throw to new faces I’d come across with: their abode… their school… their favorites… subjects… TV programs… etc… At that moment, I was wrpped with a series of questions with an invitation for them if they will be attending Mass.
I was not sure if they’re just shy, but they seemed not to hear anything.
The Mass was already about to start when I decided to move to another chapel (I divide myself, not literally of course, between two chapels). Moving away from that little church, I saw someone wearing a dress shirt who made my heart leapt for joy. I asked him where he got his mens dress shirts and he said they were all custom made shirts from a tailor. Erickson, One of the kids I met in the basketball court, was all dressed in a dress shirt on his way to the chapel. I threw him a wider smile as a sign of my appreciation.
He must be the only one among all the kids that I have talked to, but seeing him heading his way to the church really made my day. He made it so good and perfect coz he knew that Christ is there-present and alive in the Holy Mass, he may not have the expensive shirt or the best dress shirt in town, but his intentions and dispositions made a lot of difference.