A personal reflection on my summer apostolate in the Bukidnon Mission
Greetings from Manila, Philippines.
God is good and full of surprises! This has been the phase that I have held onto since I joined the Society of Jesus. I believe that God, who is good, continues to surprise me all the time so that He can shape me into a person who is deeply rooted in Him. Once again, I experienced this grace during my formation in the Philippines. It was a moment when God shaped my understanding of ‘missio Dei,’ or God’s mission, as reflected in the Jesuit mission. This took place during my summer apostolate in the Bukidnon mission. From June to July, along with my brother Jesuit, Johnmar, we had the opportunity to go to the Jesuit Retreat House in Malaybalay, the parish church in Cabanglasan, and the Jesuit high school in Pangantucan. These are some mission areas where Jesuits pour all their heart into serving the local people and the indigenous communities. Immersing myself in these communities, I witnessed firsthand the unfolding of God’s mission in a concrete and life-giving way. Truly, these experiences deeply enriched my Jesuit vocation and what it means to participate in God’s mission today.
First, I witnessed the ‘Missio Dei’ as the mission of love. In the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, it states that love should manifest more through deeds than words. This act of love was clearly shown at every mission station where I stayed. In Cabanglasan, I saw the unwavering love of my brother Jesuits for the indigenous people by celebrating the mass in various chapels, providing scholarships, listening to them and, walking with them in forming their faith. In the retreat house in Malaybalay, I also witnessed their steadfast love for the people through their zeal and joy in guiding people closer to God and helping them discover God’s desires for their lives through retreats and recollections. In Pangantucan, they demonstrated their love by providing quality education to the local community. Although the school there may not be as prominent as the more well-known Ateneo schools in the country, the Jesuits endeavored to offer good education despite limited resources such as personnel, finances, internet access and, clean water. Truly, witnessing my Jesuit brothers’ passion and love for the ‘Missio Dei’ amid many difficulties filled me with joy and strengthened my desire to become a more mature Jesuit, someone capable of sowing seeds of God’s love everywhere I go.
Secondly, I witnessed the ‘Missio Dei’ as a mission carried out with companions. I firmly believe that God’s mission cannot be accomplished alone. During this summer apostolate, I saw the importance of working together as companions in God’s mission. This realization grew when I observed how Jesuits in the Bukidnon mission supported and cared for each other in carrying out God’s work. Even if some missions require individuals to work alone, they would gather once a week as a community to share their experiences and presence with each other. This act of caring and supporting each other may seem simple, but it reflects a deeper meaning of companionship in God’s mission, which means helping and caring for one another in even the smallest ways, and most importantly, ensuring no one feels alone.
In short, I found that my one month of summer apostolate in Bukidnon was not just a pastoral assignment but a sacred journey to the heart of the ‘Missio Dei,’ God’s mission, which is reflected in the Jesuits’ work there. Through these experiences, I learned that love in action and in companionship are essential to a true mission. It broadened my perspective as a young Jesuit to see the ‘missio Dei’ in a new way. The ‘Missio Dei’ must be primarily a mission of love that is shown more through actions than words. Moreover, it is a mission that is carried out with companions, which encourages me to walk and work alongside my fellow Jesuits in the spirit of fraternity and mutual support. Finally, seeing God’s mission this way has inspired a strong desire in my heart to serve God more fully in all that I do as a scholastic. Even if I cannot do great things, I trust that with God’s grace, I can share His seed of love through everything I undertake and cultivate a spirit of companionship within the community where I stay. AMDG!
Written by: Sch. Felix Coutinho, SJ