50 Years and counting
Fr. Julius Sanchez marked his 50 years journey as a Salesian with a Eucharistic Celebration. Attended by his extended family and the Lourdes Parish Community, the church was packed with more Salesian priests concelebating to join him in this act of thanksgiving. It was actually on April 1, 1976 when he made his first religious profession with 17 others. The one event that has defined his life significantly.
I have learned three things from this milestone:
- Faith: what he did 50 years ago was pure faith. He was young, he had doubts and questions. But led by the Holy Spirit, he gave his free consent to be bound by the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Yet, it was not a a one-time promise. It went through a process of growth and maturation. It became a life based on faith: we walk with faith not by sight.
- Following Christ: from his young self, Fr. Julius chose a different path. It was a road less traveled because he felt the calling of Jesus. This call invited him to leave everything else behind: his family, his friends, his career, his likes and all else that mattered. Following Christ through the Salesian charism meant living together in a community of brothers, praying together and working side by side together. It became a concrete expression of passion for Jesus and passion for the young.
- Finding reasons to go on every day: this is the hardest lesson that struck me in his life. His ability to find God in the daily despite the routine, the monotony and the daily demands of the ministry. It is a daily struggle of waking up and finding a reason to go on every single day. Somehow, God gave him the gift to find meaning in the ups and downs, in the joy and sadness of his life. It is the gift of faithfulness.
My take home:
After 50 years, Fr. Julius continues to smile and inspire smiles to others. He had been in big positions of power and governance. Yet he remains simple and approachable. In the end, it’s not about being successful but being faithful.
