Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Every year as Salesian Religious, we are required to make a six-day retreat to rejuvenate our personal commitment to the Lord. This year, I spent my Retreat in the mountains of Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas at the Don Bosco House of Spirituality. We were blest to have Bishop Patrick Buzon as our preacher. The last time I visited this place was in the 90s. It was a nostalgic homecoming.

Three things I realized from this Retreat.

1. Reassured: I was with a batch of 30 Salesians all coming from different parts of Luzon. Some young, most are aging including myself. I felt we were like soldiers battle-scared yet moving forward, thriving or struggling in the ministry. Yet the silent and compelling voice of Jesus was reassuring us: I am here. I’m with you. I love you.
2. Recharge: Bishop Patrick gave us insightful conferences filled with wisdom and culled from real-life experience. His words echoed through the walls, reverberated into my heart like words of the prophet that come alive and igniting a new flame within. God always has ways of recharging and reshaping me with renewed passion for his work. However, he had to return prematurely to his Diocese in Bacolod to welcome his replacement, Most. Rev. Louie Gaines, DD.
3. Readiness: this mountain experience is an electrifying moment. It gave me a refreshing vibe and readiness to come back home where the ministry awaits. Soon, I will be once again in the forefront of the spiritual battle where negativity, pressure and pessimism abound. I will need to refill my heart with tons of God’s love to go on hoping, not getting tired to be salt and light wherever I am.