The Joy of Walking in the Truth

from PUNLÂ Vol. II, No. 2 (February - June 2023)

Being

Stewards of God’s Gifts

of a master who, before going on a journey and entrusted his possessions to his three servants. Two of those three servants invested the talents given to them which resulted in the doubling of their value; while the last servant only dug a hole where he kept the talent unutilized and unfruitful. When the master returned, he was very joyful when he learned from the two servants that his possessions doubled under their care while he became angry with the lazy servant who did nothing for the improvement of the talents left under his possession.

BR. ROBERTUS SILVERIANO RADITYA DEARBANTOLO, OP

“I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4). This verse from the Third Letter of John wholly captures my experience in the pastoral enrichment program on guidance and counseling at UST Angelicum College. Such experience brought me joy – a joy coming from encounters with various learners in a personal way. It was a joy that started from the simple question, “How are you?” at the beginning of each interview session.

Before the actual interviews with the learners of UST Angelicum College, I first tried to remember what are the things that I must do as a counselor, which I learned from our pastoral exposure program held last June 2022. The Guidance Counseling and Testing Department also gave me a list of guide questions for my encounter with the learners.

I was blessed to talk to 17 learners. I always began the interview with, “How are you?” I thought this question is just for “formality”, but I was wrong. Rather, this question opened a door into the souls of these children entrusted to us by their parents. Some learners were shy, but some were comfortable in answering questions. Gladly, I was able to build a connection with them.

In every session, I have always received a precious gift, that is, a story of and from the learner. Each story tells about the journey of every learner, not only in academics but a glimpse of their whole life. Through that same story, I was able to appreciate them and hopefully assisted them in their needs. I also saw different pictures of the realities of family life. I even came to know how each learner tries his best to be a good child in their home and a good student and friend in school. Therefore, the stories of the learners also opened my eyes to the importance of the Christian family and Catholic education.

More importantly, I have also grasped from their stories how they try their best to walk in the Truth; to struggle with the Truth; and to encounter the Truth in different ways. These are shown in their attempts to balance their study life and family life; in helping each other; in being open to their respective families and learning facilitators; and many more.

I have realized that Catholic education does not only give the best education for the young generation; it also prepares the students entrusted to them to encounter the Truth. My exposure in the Guidance Counseling and Testing Department of UST Angelicum College indeed allowed me to appreciate the importance of accompanying the young generation in walking in Truth, in finding the Truth, and in encountering the Truth.

Gratiarum Omnium Largitori, the second bull of Pope Honorius III to St. Dominic, gives praise to God who is the giver of all gifts. It is an acknowledgment that the source of all things is the Creator and we are only stewards of all of those gifts (cf. Gn. 1:28). This reminds me of the story of the Parable of Talents (cf. Mt. 25:14-30) which speaks

The realization that I had during our pastoral enrichment program on leadership and administration in the Finance and Human Resource Departments of UST Angelicum College is that all of the institutions and ministries of the province are gifts from God to the Order. As stewards of those gratuitous gifts enriched by the sweat and blood of our forebears, we must embrace our roles as stewards of those gifts and do what is right to the best of our abilities. Different institutions and ministries would mean different responses from us stewards but one thing is certain, we must be trustworthy. A trustworthy person is proactive, responsible, a visionary, and has initiative. Becoming trustworthy encompasses all the positive traits that one needs to develop in order to become a good leader and administrator; but most importantly, it is also a reciprocation to the trust that the community has given. Ultimately, to be trustworthy is an authentic response to the call of God to be stewards of his gratuitous gifts to us. It is our hope during the end time that we hear from the Divine Master what he said to his faithful servants, “Well done, my good and faithful servant... Come, share your master’s joy” (Mt. 25:21).

Punlâ is the Pastoral Newsletter of the Dominican Studentate which features events and activities related to the ministry of the brothers and their apostolic groups. It aims to promote awareness about the missionary endeavors of the brothers and their lay collaborators who tirelessly contribute to the propagation of the Gospel in their ministries. It also serves as a means to express the brothers’ gratitude to their benefactors and partners for their invaluable help in responding to the needs of the Church and society.

The Filipino term “punlâ” not only signifies the seed, but more importantly connotes the act of sowing. This expresses the dynamism of the brothers’ apostolic ministry, rooted as it is in their life of contemplation as students committed to the sowing of the seed that is the ever-fruitful Word: “So shall my word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me empty but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it,” (Isaiah 55:11).

Fr. Lauro G. De Dios, OP

Publications Adviser

Br. Gian Linardo Mari T. Estrella, OP Editor in Chief