(UCAN): The Archdiocese of Cebu, the Philippines, concluded a weeklong integration activity to motivate younger people to join seminaries, which are facing a “crisis” due to a lack of fresh vocations. Members of various religious congregations converged at the Freedom Park-Carbon Public Market in Cebu City to speak with ordinary people from February 5 to 10 as part of this year’s vocation month.
Redemptorist Father Ferderiz Cantiller, president of the Directors of Vocations in the Philippines [DVP] Cebu City chapter, said it was an effort by the Church to invite young people to consider a religious calling. “We cannot achieve our goal in isolation, we can only do so together as a Church with the support of the people of God,” he remarked on February 12.
Father Cantiller said that gathering people together to pray for more vocations in the Church is “a noble achievement of the Taboan sa bokasyon [Market of vocations]” that was meant to invite all “to be Jesus’ friends.”
He said the effort did help to spread awareness across a wider stratum of society though it may not immediately lead to recruits in seminaries and convents.
“It was a war to win people’s hearts, to get them to sympathise with the concerns about the current vocation crisis,” he added.
We cannot achieve our goal in isolation, we can only do so together as a Church with the support of the people of God
Father Cantiller
Father Cantiller said that during his time in 1995, there were 40 to 60 college seminarians in the Redemptorist order. However, in 2023, the number fell to a mere two. “It was supposed to be six, but four backed out,” he explained, citing family pressures, socio-economic and political issues as the reasons why young people are not entering the seminary.
Father Christian James Mayol, the vocations director at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos of the archdiocese, described the dwindling number in Cebu’s seminaries as “a crisis.”
However, Father Cantiller said he is confident there will be vocations if the missionary presence is active. “Like the first disciples who got interested in Jesus’ works and deeds and so followed him,” he added.
Maricar Cabanig, vocations director of the Teresian Association [Lay Consecrated], who accompanied members of the physical arrangement and liturgy committee during the integration activity along the busy Plaridel Street in Cebu, said that joining the initiative “was a blessing.”
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Cabanig said, “What an experience… It was so touching to bring the sacrament of confession, the word of God to the people, the street vendors there.”
Sister Rosalie Ruiz of the Sisters of Mercy hoped their presence on the busy streets in the Carbon area may prove to “be a bridge of hope that we can bring Christ closer to the ordinary people.”
What an experience… It was so touching to bring the sacrament of confession, the word of God to the people, the street vendors there
Maricar Cabanig
Father Cantiller said, “The religious communities of Cebu preached, not only in words but also through works of charity such as feeding the hungry and listening to the stories of ordinary folks.”
He ovserved that a total of 157 needy patients availed of the medical and surgical mission on February 6 with the help of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, the HIV Network, Caritas Cebu, and the Recollect Fathers.
