Baguio City – Do not be afraid.
Rev. Fr. Alan Jacinto, OAR, told the seminarians to embrace the problems and not run from it during the annual opening recollection he gave to the Seminarians of Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary last September 6, 2020.
Fr. Jacinto, who is the National Vocation Director of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, focused on the three Sacred Spaces of Vocation present in the formands’ and religious’ life: Decision, Desolation, and Direction.
“Even before you said yes to God, you are already being formed,” said Fr. Jacinto in the first part of the recollection.
After responding to the call the formand finds himself in the sacred space of Decision, Fr. Jacinto said.
Talking about the second sacred space of Desolation, he encouraged the seminarians to have a “compelling conviction” that he is chosen by God in order to stand for what is right amidst trials and difficulties.
After the first part of the recollection, the seminarians shared their insights, reflections, and realizations among themselves concerning the talk given,
“Jesus said to take up your cross and follow me,” he said to correspond to his admonition to the seminarians about the rigorous formation process. “Like gold tested in fire, you must be also tested.”
On the second part of the recollection, Fr. Alan gave emphasis on the sacred space of Direction and the importance of grace in handling problems.
“If you have a problem, don’t run from it. You must embrace your problems and it will go away,” said the recollection master adding that God’s grace is sufficient.
The recollection ended with the Solemn Vespers and Benediction celebrated by the Fr. Jacinto himself.
The recollection is part of the preparation for the opening of the formation year 2020-2021 that officially started last August 24, 2020.
