Searching, Seeking, Seeing

The “RULE FOR A NEW BROTHER,” published in Great Britain in 1973 by Darton, Longman & Todd Limited which was distributed by SSS from Australian Province, clearly states, and I quote, “To seek God means first of all, to let yourself be found by Him. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God of Jesus Christ. He is your God, not because He is yours but because you are His.” (#1, p.2).

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross yesterday is a good reminder to us that indeed we belong to God, for God created us in his image and likeness. Where else, but in God can we find our truest identity. As our beloved Church Father Augustine used to say, “My heart is restless, until it rests in Thee.”

Here at EFC, we have three seekers of God. They are now in their almost final approach to the Altar, as fourth year scholastics. All of them are studying at San Carlos Seminary – Graduate School of Theology.

“TO SEEK GOD MEANS FIRST OF ALL, TO LET YOURSELF BE FOUND BY HIM.” (#1, p.2)

The eldest among them, which is also his sibling-position in his family, is Br. EDDIENEL GRANIL VILLA, SSS, a Tarlaqueño. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry on March 28, 2004, whose Thesis Writing 2 with Oral Defense earned him the mark of 1.0. He is the son of Arnel Villa and Aurelia Granil, farmers from Barangay Cardona, Gerona, Tarlac. He was born on October 12, 1983. He was baptized on November 25, 1983 at the same Church, the Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria, where his parents were married, and by the same Priest, Rev. Msgr. Orlando J. Panlican, STL, HP. His academic record shows that he possesses great potential for intellectual exercises, as proven by passing the Chemistry Licensure Board Exam in 2004, then, worked as Quality Control Analyst at San Miguel Food, Inc. Aside from this, he has a latent talent in prose and poetry; like his parents he has no qualms in soiling his hands. Yet, all these were left behind because deep down his soul is a seeking heart.

Then, we have Br. TEDLEY TANHUECO VILLANUEVA, SSS of Angeles City, Pampanga. He is doing a degree program on M.A. Theology major in HistoricoLiturgico Pastoral Studies. In college, he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Interior Design on April 8, 2010. This Kapampangan is the son of Ricardo Dizon Villanueva and Wilfrida Magbag Tanhueco and was born on October 1, 1986. He was baptized at Holy Rosary Parish, Angeles City on March 15, 1987 by Rev. Fr. Van Roa, SVD, and subsequently Confirmed on April 9, 2000 in the same Parish Church.

Side by side with his edges, Br. Ted is a well-rounded person, sincere and never run out of way how to share in the SSS community his talents in arts. He entered the Religious Life with a good understanding of what life is inside, because of his exposure to the life of the Carmelite Sisters in Angeles. So, Br. Ted ventured also in his own search, like his blood-brother Fr. Dudley who is a member of Diocesan Clergy of the Archdiocese of San Fernando.

Finally, we have the energetic Br. VICTOR CLEMENCE BARTOLOME POSADAS, SSS of Roxas City, Capiz. He is doing a degree program on M.A. Theology major in HistoricoLiturgico Pastoral Studies. He started his seminary life in Sancta Maria Mater et Regina Seminarium of the Archdiocese of Capiz. The difficult stage of adjustment in the seminary found him hearing cries of fellow freshmen screaming, “I want to go home.” He finished his college at Filamer Christian University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science on May 31, 2011.

Br. Clemence was born on November 23, 1990 to Atty. Victor Conclu Posadas and Maria Luisa Bartolome. He experienced sorrow and sadness at the age of one, when his mother died; however, he saw the new horizon of life and its sweet moment when his father married Jocelyn Bolido, a second mother to Victor Clemence.

He was baptized by Rev. Fr. Jocel Beltran on January 12, 1991 in St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church. Well, the initial seminary life cannot be forgotten, the seeker continues in his search for God. About their hometowns, TODAY, Tarlac is the most multi-cultural of the provinces in Region III, for having a mixture of four distinct ethnic groups: the Pangasinans, the Ilocanos, the Tagalogs and the Kapampangans. It is also known for its fine food and vast sugar and rice plantations in Central Luzon. On the other hand,

Angeles is a 1st class highly urbanized city (HUC) in the province of Pampanga where it is geographically situated but remains politically independent. It is located in the region of Central Luzon. Roxas is a 3rd class component city and capital of the Province of Capiz in Central Philippines. After Iloilo City, it is the second center of education, trade, economic activities and logistics on the Island of Panay. Padayon brothers, persevere until God finds you, ready to say “I am yours, O Lord, my God.”

-synaliz0menos
Adveniat regnum tuum, regnum amoris

PRAYER FOR VOCATION
Loving God, our Father, your servant Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who was captivated by your Son’s love as revealed to us in the Eucharist, greatly desired to manifest this love to his contemporaries, he established a new form of religious life, which is nourished by the Eucharist: celebrated, contemplated and enriched with ministries of all kinds. Through his intercession, call forth many young people who will labor in your church as priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. Give us the grace to become like the bread of the Eucharist, which is broken for the life of the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.