Introduction to Biblical Studies Rev. Fr.

Carmelo Diola

Chayle C. Sawey September 28, 2015

Report # 1

I am assigned at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. At first I expected to see superfluous

luxury, organized communities, and explicitly finest assets and resources around the corners of

the area. Yes, concrete buildings surround the area but under these buildings are surprising slums

and unwanted settlers. That irony of having a magnificently exceptional building that has an

incalculably needy people has me taken aback. Houses are extended not horizontally but

vertically. Barefooted children roam on the streets happily. The areas where fumed by an extra

disgusting smell from a black colored river. People mouthed a common babble – the rampant

drug users and pushers in the area. Never did I give a thought that such parish is surrounded with

forlorn individuals. Despite of the ill-fated struck of nature; the people continue to run the race of

life. The formators of both basic ecclesiastical community and catechist acknowledge that one of

the problems of the parish is the lack of spirituality of the youth. Some youth are exposed to

different negative influences and happenings in their area. That is why I and my companion

decided extend our reach to the parish youth, youth volunteers for the weekly feeding program,

and the B.E.C youth. We decided first to orient them with about “lectio divina”. They are

composed of various individuals with different backgrounds, lifestyle, strata, class, and

experiences. But despite the differences they share one common belief – God provides.
 I did not expect that our first “lectio divina” will be that successful. I was delighted as a

facilitator. I particularly stated their differences above for I am reasonably convinced of the

things I did hear from them. Despite the bitter undertakings they had they still got an even better

vision that is filled with hope because of the desperation of getting away from poverty. Some

shared about how the church changed their views in life. Some were exposed to violence but

manage to get out from that unpleasantly cruel reality because of the church. As a facilitator, I

did not think that the sharing period is as fruitful as we had during or “lecto divina”

demonstration at Dilaab Foundation. They cooperate unreservedly, proved by the holistic

ambiance we build up during our session and the dramatic and emotional words they utter. But

there are circumstances that broke our holistic silence, especially when some of them joke

around, which first gave me a negative view. But I am wrong, the humor that was induced to the

session made us going – maybe I wasn’t sensitively flexible enough to notice it immediately.

I guess I could only site three remarkable contributions to the circle. First, though I have

only known them for a while, I believed that I was able to inject in them the importance of

brotherhood and fraternal care. They talk about existing conflict between different youth groups

at the Cathedral. Since, they came from the different youth groups; we were able to breech that

conflict. Second, the problem that was raised to us during our meeting with the basic

ecclesiastical community moderators and their spiritual adviser – Fr. Joseph Larida was about the

lack of spiritual enhancement activities for the youth. That is why my companion and I decided

to organized a youth group for our “lectio divina”. Upon the mandate of the spiritual director of

the youth, we were able to gather them and started our first session. If not fully, at least the

positive responses of the youth with regards to the activity that we had were helpful. With the

help of our pastoral team leader and my other pastoral team companion we were able to teach
them something from the gospel. From this I could say that we were able to waken their interests

to know more the bible. The questions that were raised during the exposition of the word were

proofs that they want to quench their thirst of learning the bible.

I do love to organize groups. In every group that I organized I always see and realize new

realizations and learning. For this particular circle, I learned that status in life is never a

hindrance to serving God and His people. I also realize that individual differences can be

overcome if we open ourselves and do away with our egocentricity . Leading people to a good

path is never an easy task, but if do it out of passion and willingness it will never be a burden but

rather it becomes leisure. I recommend to continue the activity for I t can really help the youth to

not just knowing the bible but also to enhancing their spirituality and enrich their sense of

brotherhood and fraternal care.