Campus Ministry is one of the most
enjoyable things that I experienced in my vocation journey. That is the birth
of my “charism encounter” that I embraced the Canossian life as I would consider
it. If you will just instill in your mind that being with children is boring
and too tiring, perhaps, you would never enjoy and realize the value of fortitude
within yourself. But as a seminarian who is willing to experience and endure
the demands of this undertaking, inch by inch, you will understand and
appreciate the beauty of helping others and submitting everything to God. As I
come into contact with the campus ministry, I could share to you these 5 things
I learned with:
1.Children
really have pure hearts when they pray.
As when we teach children how
to pray during our class sessions, you could see on their faces that they are
really praying whole heartedly. They have this innocent core within them that
you could witness their tender communication with the Lord. Children do not
pray with their minds, if truth be told, they undeniably implore their
intentions with their hearts and souls. And what is great about this is that we
are the instruments of God on how we remind them that God is there for them.
2.You
will be at one with children when you talk to them personally.
Children are very fragile in
terms of their emotions. You cannot superficially get what they are
experiencing in their lives especially with their families unless you talk to
them with the heart. Sometimes, what they really show externally within them is
not the true representation of their being but just a mere “defense mechanism”
to hide their own selves. Thus, in order for me to understand them, I talk to
them in person.
3.We
are counselors-in-the-making.
Our roles as members and
facilitators of the Campus Ministry are not just to teach or to proclaim the
word of God. We are also good listeners or consolers of those children and
youth experiencing problems and difficulties in terms of dealing with life. Though
we are still just starting out with this ministry, I could say that we are
indeed counselors-in-the-making. Through our little advises and suggestions to
them or simply listening to their concerns, we are substantially contributing in
terms of comfort in their hearts.
4.We
are not just teachers, we are also games facilitators.
As we have noticed when we
teach children in the campus, they are so jolly when we offer them some games. However, it is not enough that you give them
games which would not contribute to their development. That is why, when we
have some games before the session ends, we see to it that it will still bring
in the essence of learning. Most of our games are mind twisters that would help
them think like Pinoy Henyo, Sharade,
World Twist and others.
5.Teaching
is not a boring undertaking but a very rewarding and satisfying mission.
Previously, I was not used to teach with
the children since I graduated in the degree of Financial Management and that
is not my forte. But as when I journey with this kind of life and start to
embrace my vocation, I realized the importance of teaching and sharing not only
the knowledge and thoughts that I have but also the values that the children
must need to posses, is a very gratifying facet of my calling. It is very
rewarding on my part when I see on the face of every child that they enjoy what
we impart to them, the gratitude that we receive when we give advice to them,
and the fulfillment we feel when we see them actualize the values that we pass
on to them.
Campus ministry is a good
training ground for the growth of a seminarian. It is a place where you cannot
just have the personal encounter with the children. It is also a place where
you will have the personal encounter with God.
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