A sressfull situation... my dilemma

When I started my preparations for my application to the Diocese of Sacramento for the continuation of my seminary formation, a lot of problems arose. But first I would like to give you the general picture of my situation. Since I migrated here to the United States, I worked as a full time employee of Fidelity Information Services in Sacramento (formerly in Auburn). Every day before I go to work, I drop off my mother to her job and pick her up after work because she does not drive. I am the one who buys at the grocery store. I am the one who drive them when they go to the hospital, stores, bank, anywhere. Basically, my parents are dependent of me. Moreover, my dad has a Parkinson’s disease that needs to be taken care of.

I asked God, how am I supposed to continue my seminary formation if all these problems are present? If I leave them, who will drive my mother to work? Who will go to the store to buy food? Who will drive my dad to the hospital in case of emergency and even for the regular checkups? In the United States of America, driving is a necessity in order for the citizens to live well and better. Not like in the Philippines, public transportation is available anywhere. These are the questions that are in my mind that needs to be answered only by God. These are the simple situations that will totally affect my future and the rest of the family. For me this is a stressful situation. To be honest, I thought that there will be no hope for me to apply to the Diocese of Sacramento.

“You have too much on your plate” said by one of my co-employee. I asked myself, how can I reconcile the situation given to me? Choosing my vocation to priesthood or choosing my family? This is a very tough situation for me, a dilemma…

I really prayed to God for the guidance and assistance. I said to Him: God please straighten the paths and the roads for my journey. But as they say: “there’s a light at the end of each tunnel”. God showed me the ways on how to deal with it. The whole family will sacrifice just for me to continue the chosen vocation. Right now we are planning to move to a new place where I don’t have to drive my mom to work. It is also near the grocery store, banks, and hospitals.

Choosing God above all else is so hard. I remember what Jesus said: "take up your cross and follow me." Jesus did not promise us an easy life but a hard one. We have to bear our own crosses and before we can follow him. We just have to believe that in this stressful situation, God will always be with us. He will not leave us because “if we see only one set of footprints in the sand, it is then that He carried us”. “Let go and let God”. I will try my best and I know that God will do the rest perfectly.

bestfriends...

Henry Nouwen said "When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."


sr.benedicta, vivian, ericson

Jonas Paras

Jonas Paras, son of my cousin kuya jojo, sufferred from pnuemonia, when the doctors attempted to put him on a respirator something went wrong during the procedure, and Jonas went into cardiac arrest, causing brain damage. The spunky, athletic second-grader is now bedridden and unable to speak.

let us pray for my uncle... DIOSDADO PARAS

i would like to ask for prayers for my uncle diosdado salas paras, cancer patient. he is in virginia beach, virginia. last march we visited him at the hospital fighting the battle against cancer. although the body is so weak and the spirit is almost giving up... i still hope that he will still be okey. prayer is the most powerful tool that we can offer him, asking God to help him and rescue him from pain and suffering.

immaculate conception major seminary

The Immaculate Conception Major Seminary started as an Institute of Formation in November of 1983, through the efforts and inspiration of his Most Rev. Cirilio R. Almario, Jr., D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos. Its first Rector was Msgr. Fernando G. Gutierrez. On December 4,1984, the college seminary was inaugurated by Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila and the Most Rev. Bruno Torpigliani, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines. In 1986, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports gave it full recognition as a College. Thus the seminary confers the Degree in Bachelor of Arts (Classical Philosophy) in 1988. Then in 1987, the Immaculate Conception Theology Department was born. By February of 1992, the Theology building was blessed and inaugurated by the Most Rev. Gian Vincenzo Moreni, then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines. Its first graduates were ordained on February 28, 1992. Today, after the full recognition by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in 1994, the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Graduate School of Theology also confers Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Master of Arts in Theological Studies.

immaculate conception minor seminary

immaculate conception minor seminary is a high school seminary of the diocese of malolos located at tabe, guiguinto, bulacan philippines. founded by his excellency most reverend manuel del rosario, first resident bishop of malolos.

"seminaryo minor immaculada concepcion tahanan ng kabataang may dakilang nilalayon, butil ng pananalig dito yumayabong. ang pag-asa at pagmamahal, namumunga't nag-uusbong.

kabataa'y minimulat sa buhay ng kabanalan. paglilingkod sa lumikha, kapwa tao't daigdigan. hinuhubog sa matuwid yaong puso at isipan. sa dalangin at paggawa, si kristo'y sinusundan.

ang mahal na birhen ay siyang gabay sa landasin. larawan ng pagkalinga at malinis na damdamin at payak na pamumuhay na marapat namang sundin. upang itong sintang lupa at simbaha'y pagpalain."

turbulence...

turbulence is a term commonly heard and use in the airplane. it is also defined as irregular motion of the atmosphere, as that indicated by gusts and lulls in the wind. it is also an eddying motion of the atmosphere that interrupts the flow of the wind.

two women while they were in the airplane experienced turbulence. one woman panicked. she was destressed and anxious. uneasiness because of fear. she also questions the qualification of the pilot and the stability and reliableness of the plane. the other woman was just still and in peace. she never worries and she believes that the pilot is qualified enough to control the plane and pass the current problem of turbulence. she also prays that they will land safe and secure.

in life there will always have a turbulence. whether we like it or not, there will come a time that we will face problems. problems that will somehow test us on our faith in God. what will be our response to the turbulence. are we the one who will panicked, be anxious, uneasy and does not trust in the ability of the pilot?or are we the one who always believes that everything will be fine because God is always with us. one problem but two different responses.

sometimes when we encounter problems in our lives, we tend to panicked, we become doubtful of God's mighty power. but sometimes we have to believe that there is a qualified pilot that will help us in the journey through life. we just have to believe.