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“A Son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with love, who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set everyone on fire with God’s love. Nothing daunts him: he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, rejoices in all the torments and sorrows he suffers, and glories in the cross of Jesus Christ. His only concern is how he may follow Christ and imitate him in praying, working, enduring and striving constantly and solely for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind.”

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I've been raised by my parents to live a simple life and focus only on what is essential. I live by the mantra,  "The  greatest  wealth  is  to  live  content  with  little."

My parents also taught  me  the  value  of contentment.  Contentment can help me distinguish between my needs and want. When you are contented, you  may  not  want  anything  more  than  what  you  need.  The  abundance  of  the  present  is  enough  to  lead  a happy and healthy life. Contentment often leads to the realization that joy doesn't come from material things.

The pandemic made me realize that the true value of life does not depend on material acquisition but rather on the quality of my relationships and how I wanted to develop deeper, lasting relationships with my family and the people I cared for. When buying a commodity, I first ask myself, "Do I really need this? Can I live without  it?" As my mother always tells me, "If  you don't need to sit, don't buy a  chair." I  always prioritize my needs rather than my wants.

Instead of spending my money on unnecessary things, I would donate part of my savings to the poor and needy.

We should be mindful that not all of us are living the same
status of living, so by just donating what we can is already a big thing. By extending our helping hands to the poor and giving them the necessary needs, we are able to practice the preferential option for the poor, which is to work with them and with our eyes towards the poor.

On the contrary, let us also learn to love and prioritize the Lord above all things. According to the speech of Pope Francis last August 5, 2018, it is not  wrong  to  be  concerned  or  worried  about  the  daily  necessities  of  life,  but  rather strengthening  one's relationship with Jesus is of far greater importance.

He also said that the Lord invites us not to forget that if we need to worry about material bread, it is even more important to cultivate our relationship with Him, to strengthen our faith in Him, who is the "bread of life," come to satisfy our hunger for truth, our hunger for justice, our hunger for love (CBCP News, 2018).

Let us create a healthy connection with the Lord rather than build a relationship with material things. Material things go away with time, but our love for the Lord is irreplaceable, unconditional, and eternal.

“Let us throw off  everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And  let us run with perseverance  the race  marked  out for  us, fixing our eyes on  Jesus" (Hebrew  12:1-2).

From  a  biblical perspective, simple living takes us back to the basics. It strips us of the things that we don't really need and only focuses on what provides us with the most value, in pleasure or necessity.

To conclude, living a simple life is a significant  way  that  anyone  can  contribute  to  bringing  fairness to  our economy and society as a whole. It aids us in moving a
way from a life of materialism and consumerism, which is a waste of time and energy.

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If there were a singular undeniable truth about the world we live in, it would be that its resources are not limitless. Every single thing found on our planet, no matter how seemingly abundant, has its limit. The water in the ocean, the wood of the trees, and the metal of the earth all will run out if misused. It is for this reason that in Luke 3:11, Christ said to His followers, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Essentially, He says to us here that whatever resources we have must not be kept to ourselves but must be shared amongst all members of our community so that we all may live in equal comfort and peace. ✔️ Truly, this simplistic lifestyle of sharing that Christ suggests we follow is the only way we may achieve true justice, for it is only here that we experience a world where all are equal and there is not a single person who has more or less than his neighbor.

And yet, in our society, we continue to observe clear violations of this Godly lifestyle, primarily through poverty and the wide separation between the upper and lower social classes. These occurrences, and others like them, are considered blatant displays of economic injustice. Whereas economic justice is an equal and fair distribution of goods amongst all members of society, economic injustice is an unequal and unfair distribution of goods that benefits only the rich and harms those below.

Such economic injustice is caused by the subscription of the wealthy to consumerist and materialist idealisms; they believe that in owning more—more wealth, more material things—they would become fulfilled.
Such a belief, however, is disputed by our Church’s teaching. Pope John Paul II stated in his 1987 encyclical Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, “[O]ne quickly learns […] that the more one possesses the more one wants while deeper aspirations remain unsatisfied and perhaps even stifled.” ✔️

Jesus Himself also showed us how fulfillment cannot be achieved through wealth during His encounter with a rich young man in Matthew 19:16-22. Here, the young man was told by Christ that to have treasure in heaven, he must forgo what he has on earth. However, due to his desire for wealth, he abandoned his desire for eternal life.

In essence, all this relays that materialism and consumerism cannot ever grant a person true happiness and will only ever distance one from truly achieving fulfillment. Furthermore, given that all materials on earth are limited, it also takes away essential goods from those who truly need it.
With this, we see that consumerism and materialism only ever serve to inhibit society from achieving true equality while further enabling the rich and disabling the poor, and as such should be resolved.

In our aspiration to create a just economy, we must remember the following:

First, that God created all material things. It is stated in Genesis 1:31 that “God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good.” Hence, since we know that since God created all material things and He decided that they were all good, we must take it upon ourselves to use these inanimate objects for good purposes.

Second, that human lives must be put above material things. In Genesis 1:26, God gave to mankind “[…] dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” Here, since humankind was given responsibility over all things on earth, it can be logically assumed that human life must be given more value than mere objects.

Last, of the universal destination of goods. In the 1965 Gaudium et Spes, it is stated that “God intended the earth with everything contained in it for the use of all human beings and peoples. ✔️ Thus, under the leadership of justice and in the company of charity, created goods should be in abundance for all in like manner.” This is self-explanatory—we must ensure the equal distribution of all things on earth for all people without prejudice or discrimination.
Now, it is in line with our Catholic duty for social awareness and responsibility to act upon all this so that we may contribute towards an economy that can respond to the needs of all its members with correct values.
I myself strive to execute relevant actions in my daily life.
For example, in line with God’s will and that of the Church, I do my very best to live a simple lifestyle without the desire for things I do not truly need, and with a willingness to share what I have with others. I find that contentment with what I have is much more peaceful and gratifying than constantly wanting luxuries and riches.

Also, when buying a certain product, I first consider whether I truly need it, and whether there are alternative options that would be more beneficial to me and the community. With this, I can make sure that other people have equal access to products while also ensuring that I can make use of the item in a way that is morally good and will contribute to the betterment of both myself and society.

I also continuously remain aware of the effects of my usage of my material gifts on other people. I do not simply use my material gifts. Rather, I put deep thought into what the possible ramifications of my actions with them could be. For instance, in using my money to buy a product, I first check to see whether said product is made by a producer who respects the rights of its employees, and whether it is made of sustainable materials so that I may avoid enabling the disrespect of the rights of workers while working towards renewing areas that have been ravaged by damage to the environment.

As we move forward, society must continue to acknowledge the needs of those who are impoverished and disadvantaged, in this case, those who suffer from economic injustice. We must also challenge unjust social structures that allow the rich to do and live as they please while the poor suffer as a result of their overconsumption and greed. Moreover, we all must begin to gain satisfaction from living life in a simple manner and learn that true fulfillment comes not from wealth but from doing good for others and working a just world. By virtue of the wisdom of the Church and of God, and with intensive personal action, we all may begin to move towards a better world where there is true equality, and where economic injustice does not exist.

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1. What is work? What is your work as a student?
2. What are the dimensions of work?
3. How do you regard household workers?
4. What are the rights of workers? How can you support the welfare of the workers in the Philippines?
5. What is the spirituality of work? How do you apply this in your present situation as a student? How do you use your talents and resources? Who benefits from them?

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1. Work is an activity in which we exert our strengths and capacities to do or execute something be it a specific task, duty function or an assignment, and can also be an activity wherein we earn. As defined by Laborem Exercens, work is a sustained human activity that is done for a purpose. Work can be paid or not paid, light or heavy, manual or intellectual. Work can be from homemaking in the family, to the production of necessities, and to the running of the government. As students, our work is to actively participate in all class discussions, interact with our co-learners and teachers. Sometimes we also interact with school representatives other than teachers like – the principal, vice principal, registrar, finance, admin, and staff.

2. There are two dimensions of work, objective dimension and subjective dimension. Objective dimension is an aspect of work that refers to the output or the product produced by human effort. Under objective dimension are agriculture, industry, technology, and social structures. While subjective dimension is defined as, workers are the subjects or agents of work. Through this definition, the church wants us to know that the primary basis for determining the value of human work is not the work itself, but the gifts endowed to human persons.

3. We regard our household workers as part of our family, we treat them as a family, and we treat them as humans and not as properties. Household workers around the globe are vulnerable, their employers abuse them just because they didn’t do their work right, or they abuse them because of their physical appearance, social status, race, etc. In some cases, when they upset their employers, they don’t pay them right, they do this without thinking about their purpose of working for them, all they think of is that they are just properties, not humans with life. But as people of God, our time here on Earth is to eradicate the wrong doings our siblings do to these people, we can simply just inform them, or act as role models to prevent this from happening.

4. The rights of workers are Right to Work, Right to a Just Share in the Fruits of the Work, and Right to Organize. As students who are well-versed on worker policies and status in our country can help to support the welfare of employees. Employers and future businessmen should be aware of our employees' rights and assist them in disseminating accurate information by utilizing their skills and social media services. They could also assist and participate in the creation of employee welfare programs and services that can be carried out with the assistance of the government. They can begin with modest initiatives such as health and wellness programs to assist employees in being more calm and healthier.

5. The spirituality of work are Participation in God’s creative work, Collaboration with Christ’s redemptive mission, and Cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit. “Human activity aimed at enhancing and transforming the universe can and must unleash the perfections which find their origin and model in the uncreated Word… In this way — that is, bringing to light in ever-greater measure ‘the unsearchable riches of Christ’, in creation, human work becomes a service raised to the grandeur of God.”  (Compendium #262). “Work represents a fundamental dimension of human existence as participation not only in the act of creation but also in that of redemption. Those who put up with the difficult rigors of work in union with Jesus cooperate, in a certain sense, with the Son of God in his work of redemption and show that they are disciples of Christ bearing his cross, every day, in the activity they are called to do.” (Compendium #263). We can apply this in our lives by sharing our gifts and talents with the community. We can use our talents and resources more efficiently if we use them for the betterment of our community. Every human person was born unique and has a purpose in this world, through their uniqueness, it is expected that it must be shared with everyone since we all live on the same planet. If we keep our talents and resources to ourselves, then the betterment of our community would not be a goal but only a dream. That is why we need to use these gifts in order to benefit us and God’s community, He gave us these gifts to share it to His people.

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1. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, work is: to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary. Work is what people do to sustain their life. They work for their family, for themselves, or greater good. But work can also become a way to express ourselves as the creations of God. We are the only living thing that can work and each of us are gifted with unique talent. Also, the work can also become a service to our community. For example, contributing our duty is simple way of serving the society. Our work as a student is to study and learn. This duty is to achieve our dream goal in the future. Also, we can make better community through our duty. But also, we must live a healthy life.

2. There are two dimensions for human work – the objective and the subjective. The objective dimension is the result of human action. Those are like the producing materials are providing services. So, this dimension of work is daily action that every people do. It is done by the jobs we know, fisherman, farmer, teacher, machinery, and more. On the other hand, the subjective side of work is more like the value of the human. The church says we are all gifted from God, and we must use that in the correct place and moment. This dimension states work gives purpose for humans, not humans for work. This dimension is more like what we are when we work.

3. I regard them as the same as I am. We should all do this. We should show equal respect to them because they are also humans, which means they have human dignity. And we all know that human dignity is sacred. This is one of the problems in our world right now. Wherein if you didn’t graduate from a college or university, and you don’t have a degree, you are perceived to be someone that is less educated than others. And because of this kind of mindset of many people; maids, drivers, etc. are being discriminated almost all the time. You can also see this in blue-collar workers. Even if they're job requires hard manual labor, they are still being discriminated, just because they don’t have a “professional degree”. We can see this kind of teaching in the Church. An example is in the bible. Galatians 3:28 states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. This shows that even if you are male or female, doctor or maid, rich or poor, we are all one in Jesus Christ. Another example is this statement by Pope Francis. Wherein it states, “Human dignity is the same for all human beings: when I trample on the dignity of another, I am trampling on my own”. ✔️ This teaches us that when we violate another person's right and dignity, we are also violating our own dignity. Which proves my statement a while ago that we all have the same human dignity. In conclusion, we humans have rights and dignities. We should respect them and not downgrade them for life is sacred. And we should all remember that we were made in the image and likeness of God. So, the next time you trample on another person, know that you are trampling God the father himself.

4. There are many rights that we sometimes violate against our workers. This may happen because of selfish gains or greediness or lack of knowledge. But now I am here to tell y’all about their rights that we should follow since they are working hard for us, and they are humans with sacred human dignity. First is the Right to Work. This right tells us that if the person wants to work, even if he or she is handicapped, we should let them work. Of course, this will depend on the specific skill set needed for the job, but if they have these skills, then let them work. Unfortunately, the world today revolves around money. So, not letting them work, even if they have the specific set of skills, you are just putting them at a disadvantage against other people in the world, who are also struggling to earn money. So, regardless of their nationality, economic status, gender, color, let us give them a chance to work and treat them all equally. This right also teaches about the specific work environment needed by a worker. If you give them a workplace that is harmful to their health and overall moral integrity, then you are violating his or her dignity. This is because, as much as possible, we should keep our workers safe and away from any danger. Imagine that worker is your family member, of course you would want him or her to work in a safe environment. Having a hazardous workplace will also affect the overall work ethic of the worker. This is because, when you put a worker in a place that makes them feel comfortable, they are able to give out their full creative and productive effort. So, if you want the workers to give out their best every day, then make sure their workplace reaches the standard of making them safe from hazardous things. Lastly, this right teaches us about the work hours that should be given to a worker. Every worker deserves to rest. That is why we Christians have a day called the “Sabbath day”, wherein we rest and spend time with our family. This is also the time we give our thanks to God for all the blessings that he has given us throughout our life. If you don’t give your workers time to rest, this will affect their overall work ethic because too much work can cause them to burnout and may cause them to get sick. The second right of workers is the Right to a Just Share in the Fruits of the Work. This right teaches us how crucial a just wage is, in the primary principle of the whole ethical and social order. Giving the right amount of wages can greatly benefit a person's life. This is because, in a world that revolves around money, people need these wages to reach the standard of a simple life. We will know that we are giving out a good number of wages to our workers when they can support their family, attend to their other needs and errands, have a certain degree of security, and are able to spare mothers and children from working. The last right of workers based from Laborem Exercens, is the Right to Organize. This right teaches us that workers have the right to form and join organizations, which are usually called labor or trade unions. This right makes sure that the workers are following the virtues of solidarity and the principles of subsidiarity. We can see this during the time of the Industrial Revolution. Wherein unions were made to promote and protect worker’s rights and duties, serve as a venue for workers to express their work-related concerns, and contribute to the well-being of the community. Lastly, this right teaches us that workers have the right to strike and work stoppage. This becomes relevant when the workers are being abused to the limit by their employers. They have every right to strike because they are also humans, and no humans deserve to be dehumanized. But this right should also not be abused. The only time this right can be used or become relevant is when the workers' dignity is being violated. There are no other reasons to use this right other than this. To summarize everything stated, we should all know and respect the rights of our workers because without them, our world would not see any progress of advancement in terms of knowledge, technology, and wisdom.

5. Spirituality of work refers to an understanding that all human endeavor offers us the chance to improve our relationship with God. "It follows that the whole person, body and spirit, participates in [work," wrote St. John Paul II in his encyclical "Laborem Exercens" ("On Human Work"): "An understanding of the spiritual aspects of work will help all people to come closer to God through work" and "deepen their friendship with Christ in their lives." To apply this in our present situation, we are still students so we can relate this to school. Even if schoolwork can be challenging and draining, we still thank God for giving us this opportunity to be educated. Especially the fact that not every child was given an opportunity to be schooled. We must value school, especially to a private institution. We use our education that we worked hard to make our country a better place. Everyone will benefit from the blessings that God gifted us.

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In the Philippines, there are a lot of different religious organizations, communities, or institutions. Each of them has different ideas and concepts on how they implement the teachings of Christ. They have different ways and activities on how they show their devotion to Christ. The first religious community appealing is the Claretian Missionaries ✔️ which is the religious congregation of our school. I have been a student in Claret for many years and I have seen and learned many different ideas from Claret. One teaching that is consistent throughout the years is the Claretian Core Values which is CHEERS. To be a good Claretian student is to have compassion, humility, empowerment, excellence, respect, and service. As I grew up, I realized the importance of these values and eventually they led me to live a much simpler yet helpful life. This is what we follow as Claretian students. As a Claretian, their mission is “To Light the Whole World on Fire with the Love of God.” In their mission, they announce the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, to share in the sufferings and hopes of men, to be fed by the Word of God and the Eucharist, to illuminate the world under the sign of mercy and tenderness which we learn in the Heart of Mary and is led to those who are excluded from the love of others. Claretians are missionaries with spirit, listeners, and servants of the word of God, missionaries in community, sent to evangelize listening to the poor, evangelizing with others, and open to prophetic dialogue. This is a religious community that appeals to me because they are centered and focused more on making a change in the community. We see that as Claretians, we are sent to deliver and spread the word of God in hopes of changing the world.

Another religious community that interests me is the Philippine Jesuits ✔️ which is based on Ignatian spirituality. Ignatian spirituality is derived from a certain experience and insight into the person of Jesus and his relationship to the human world, based on St. Ignatius of Loyola who is a companion of Jesus in his mission of salvation that gave direction and purpose to life. This is the center or the core of Ignatian spirituality. The different elements of Ignatian spirituality are God’s creative and redeeming love, God is at work in the world, to live and work as a companion of Jesus, and to hear God’s word to the individual and to the community of disciples. Like Ignatius and his companions, they become reflective people who are deeply engaged in God’s work in the world. They unite and connect themselves with God through prayer and service. They seek to do God’s will individually and together with others. Ignatian spirituality leads those who follow it to become people for others and for God. The characteristics of what makes a Jesuit a Jesuit are deep personal love for Jesus Christ, contemplatives in action, an apostolic body in Church, in solidarity with those most in need, partnership with others, called to learn ministry, men sent, always available for new missions, ever searching for the magis or the greater good. This is another religious community that appeals to me because its ideas and concepts are like those of Claretians. They also focus on helping others and doing the service of God. They also believe that God works through us. ✔️

The third religious community that interests me is the Salesians of Don Bosco. ✔️ They are a religious organization focused on the youth, especially on those who are poor and disadvantaged. They believe that their best gift to humanity is their dedication to the poor. The Salesians live in communities that are engaged to the youth. Prayer and obedience are the foundation of their service. They strive to live out Don Bosco’s dream and live out their consecration through three vows which are poverty, chastity, and obedience. Education and evangelization are at the center of the Salesian mission. Their mission is to become signs and bearers of God’s love. They wish to carry out a pastoral-educative service that is directed to the integral development of the person. The activities and works by means of which the Salesians carry out their mission depend on the needs and situations of the people whom they serve. They carry out activities and works in which it is possible to promote the human and Christian education of the young. Works of the Salesians include the oratory and youth center, school, and professional formation, boarding and hostel arrangements, a presence to the tertiary sector, the parish, social services and works for youth at risk, social communication, and different movements. Like the past two religious' communities, the Salesians of Don Bosco also focus on the development of the community, only this time they give much more importance to the youth, especially to those who are needy and disadvantaged. This is also a reason this religious community appeals to me because of them giving importance to youth. The youth is the future of the world, and it is our job to educate them properly and help them grow as children of God.

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What is a religious congregation? According to the Catholic Diocese, Religious Congregations are groups of men or women who have chosen to express their Christian commitment by living in a community and taking lifelong vows, usually vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. These congregations are governed according to their constitutions, which are usually approved by the Pope, or in some cases the local bishop. There are many Religious Congregations in our world right now. But the question is, which congregation am I interested to join in? I have picked three congregations. The Jesuits, The Society of the Divine Word, and The Dominicans.

Firstly, why am interested in joining the Jesuits? But first, who are the Jesuits? The Jesuits are the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers founded half a millennium ago by the soldier-turned-mystic Ignatius Loyola. They seek to “find God in all things.” The Jesuits draw on the rich tradition of Ignatian spirituality and reflection. At the same time, they also aim to be “contemplatives in action,” people who bring this spirituality into the wide world. That includes the Jesuit's work on behalf of global justice, peace, and dialogue. The reason why I am interested in joining this congregation is because I also believe in their vows as Jesuits. Their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This is because poverty is one of the biggest social issues in our world right now that has been going on for centuries. Many people are suffering because of their economic status. But the reality is, we shouldn’t judge each other by our economic status because the world belongs to God and all of us are His caretakers. All the resources of Earth belong to all. We should share our blessings with others because one of the main teachings of the Church is to love and care for one another. As a member of the Jesuits, we must be ready to accept whatever mission the Pope requires, a vow that is reflective of our broader dedication to the universal Church, and to the greater good of all people from all faiths and cultures. I want this suffering to end, I don’t want to see people struggling just because of their economic status, everyone should be treated fairly. That is why I, and my brothers and sisters, shall join hands to work for reconciliation every day with God, with human beings, and with the environment.

Secondly, why am I interested in joining the SVD or the Society of the Divine Word and who are they? My interests started by me listening and watching father Jerry Orbos SVD. I can say that he is one of my favorite priests because he is able to teach and relate so many lessons that we need in our lives. You can say that Father Jerry Orbos SVD is one of my inspirations. Because of that, I am interested in joining the religious congregation he is in, which is the Society of the Divine Word. Founded in 1875 by St. Arnold Janssen, the Society of the Divine Word is the largest Roman Catholic order that focuses on missionary work. The SVD is inspired by the Holy Triune God, proclaiming the reign of God by sharing intercultural life and mission among ourselves and dialogue partners, following the example and teachings of Saints Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz. The reason I am interested in joining this congregation is because of the inspiration Father Jerry Orbos gave me and also my belief that we should share the teachings of God if we want the social issues happening in our word right now to lessen or even disappear. We should share the teachings of the Lord because as we teach them, they will soon realize how important every human is in our world. They would realize that all human dignity is the same because we were created in the image and likeness of God. The reason why there are social issues happening is because the people indeed have knowledge but lack wisdom. With wisdom, you are able to know the right choice. And that choice should always be done for the common good and not only for yourself. That is why I want to join the SVD. I want to travel the world so I can teach many people from different continents about the teaching and love of God towards us. I want to be a missionary who proclaims the Gospel. And lastly, I just want to guide many people to the right path, I want to use myself as an example so that people will understand who really God is.

Last but not the least, why am I interested in joining the Dominicans and who are they? The Dominicans follow Jesus in the footsteps of St. Dominic de Guzman, who founded the Order of Preachers early in the 13th century in response to a critical need he had encountered in the Church. They realized that the Church was becoming distorted and corrupt, and that is why he founded this order to preach the Gospel with integrity, through word, and action, to seek the truth wherever it may be found, to encounter God daily in prayer, contemplation, and study, and to live in communities with others committed to embodying Dominican life. This has some relation to the SVD because it focuses also in preaching the word of God. That is also the reason why I wanted to join this congregation. Dominican preaching is grounded in the search for Truth through study and to be able to obtain wisdom. As I mentioned a while ago, we may have improved in terms of knowledge, but we haven’t improved in terms of Wisdom. This is because, if we were all wise, then why are there children deprived from education? Why are there people struggling right now? Why are there people being discriminated? I am interested in joining this congregation because I want to spread the word and teachings of God. I want everyone to realize that they are not alone because God is always there to love us. They need to realize how important the teachings of the Church are to our society. This is because the teachings of the Church are the solutions to our problems happening in our community. An example is doing the Common Good, following the teaching of Solidarity and Subsidiarity, and knowing the teaching of the preferential option for the poor.

To conclude everything stated, I am interested in joining these congregations because I am tired of seeing people struggle and them being ignored. I want the people to realize that human dignity is sacred and that is why we should respect each other. I also want them to realize that God is always there for us because his love for us is unconditional. We should all follow the teachings of God because they are the solutions to our problems now. By doing this, we can finally end the suffering and struggle of our dear brothers and sisters.

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In the Catholic community, there are congregations, formed by fathers, priests and many more, these people make up that specific congregation. They can either serve or be an open person who accepts people though they have different actions, different lifestyles, basically are united in the face of diversity.

There are many congregations that we can see in the world we live in today. One of which is our school, The Claretian Missionaries. As a Claretian student, we were taught to follow a set of values. Not follow, but rather live by them. These values are what we call C.H.E.E.R.S. These values are Compassion, Humility, Empowerment, Excellence, Respect for Life, and Service to others. These core values are what I keep in mind especially when going outside or evaluating situations in the outside world. Along with it, the congregation also lives among these values. In their congregation, they have a mission in which they magnify the poor, the condemned in their lives. Not only that, but they illuminate, they focus on the Word of God and the Eucharist. Along with that mission, they have a goal set in mind. Along with that goal, they have traits that can follow C.H.E.E.R.S. They are missionaries with a spirit, in the community, they are formed to evangelize the poor and the needy, and they are listeners and servants of the Word of God. In their mission and traits, I can see one thing in common, they focus on the saying, “No man’s an island.” They look out for the poor, they provide service. For me, I chose this as one of the congregations or religious order that has a possibility that it will be good for me. They have a set of values that can be beneficial for life and those who are the people surrounding me. As a rational being, I make decisions that can benefit the people around me and myself. Though problems occur, God would not let me be.

Another congregation that we can see is the Priory of Saint Thomas Aquinas. This congregation is seen through out in our history since it belongs to UST or the University of Santo Tomas. They have a thing in common with the Claretian Martyrs, they are formed to root in the Catholic Church. Their faith is focused on the inspiration that the UST leans on, which is the Virgin Mary, the saints, martyrs, the Pope, and many others. Along with it, UST is known for a long history throughout the Philippines. Nearly to four Centuries of existence, Manila Archbishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P., established a college where in they re to teach would-be priests. Up to today, we can see fathers and priests that are known in the congregation of UST. Not only that but they are willed to serve in different missions and many others. They also have a goal, where in to spread or increase the population of the native clergy, increase foundations of seminaries, know the importance of the Catholic missions and many more. I am also appealed to this congregation because though they are famous and known, they have a same mission as Claret, to serve and prioritize the people.

Last but not the least is the Society of Jesus or Jesuits. This last one is what hooked my interest since they find God in all things. To our actions everyday to the things we do to others. Not only that but they dedicate their selves to the Glory of God. With it, they have a huge population that provides service and at the same time, they nurture the saying “men and women for others.” Another why I was interested in this was their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As a student, it is hard for me to follow the vows in everyday life. Service is important for me, but my actions are constricted since this pandemic took a huge toll on every aspect of our life. This group interest me since despite the situation, they still have the motivation and the willpower to serve others.

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Oblates of St. Joseph ~ OSJ is firstly the one’s that appeal the most of myself considering that the mission of this order is education and catechesis of youth, parish ministry, serving the poor and underprivileged, and orphanages. In this order it appeals to me the most because in this world a lot of people are not given a necessary privilege and stand up for themselves, therefore this is occurring because of the hindrances that they fought along the way, being able to know such things that this orders mission was to assist them to encounter the harsh society. I consider myself that this religious order might be good for me, because helping those who needed the salient things in order to live up an ecstatic life, it would help me achieve the greatest purpose of my life ✔️

Society of Divine Word is secondly that appeal me the most, because the mission itself is to provide or enlighten to the world that the word of God strengthens our spiritual guidance to our everyday life, and I consider myself that this religious order is good for me, since it assists us to be more empowered to ourselves to continue our purpose in life. The times where I experienced that the divine word of God changes our perspective or viewpoint in life, creating a peaceful harmony in our minds and actions. ✔️

Order of St. Augustine ~ OSA, thirdly this order that appeal me the mostly was the mission of St. Agustine, ideally uniting people in the communion of mind and heart for the glory of God and the service of God’s people. It is what really appeals me the most is the fact that uniting people in the communion of mind and heart for the glory of God helps us realizes our purpose in life to continue to provide and serve for the people who needs it the most. Therefore, I think that this religious order might be good for me it's because we were purposely announced that we should be assisting the people who really needed and the services that they need as well. ✔️

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Society of the Divine Word

Christianity was further explored when I was a child, especially growing up in a Catholic school. I always heard the term, spread the word of God. The word of God is not only his teachings, but the act of forgiveness and kindness as well. With 6000 members working in 76 countries all around the world, an international missionary religious congregation of the Catholic Church. They have a simple mission since the time of their founder, to proclaim the kingdom of God’s love. This mission originates from the triune God's interior loving communication, a dialogue of love and forgiveness with all people. They do not invent their own mission – it is Missio Dei – they are called by the Father, sent by the Word and led by the Spirit. I feel their sense of unity with each other. It’s inspiring how much they commit to their mission. To be able to rebuild kindness and forgiveness. Especially with what is happening with Russia and Ukraine recently.

The Salesians of Don Bosco

The Salesians of Don Bosco, commonly known as the Society of St. Francis de Sales, is a worldwide organization of men who dedicate their lives to serving young people, especially those who are impoverished and disadvantaged. They believe that their total dedication to the young is their best gift to humanity, so they focus all of their efforts on youth resource development through education and evangelization. The SDBs were founded in 131 countries by St. John Bosco, an Italian saint-educator of the nineteenth century. As a young Filipino Christian, I connect with this organization a lot. I may be a blessed young man, lived with a family with blessings, to be able to go to school, eat a lot of food, and be able to type this paragraph on a nice computer. But I have a soft spot for those who are disadvantaged, and I would love to serve those people and be able to look into their perspectives even more.

Missionaries of The Sacred Heart (MSC)

The first MSC minor seminary was established in 1951, more than forty years after the arrival of the first MSCs, at the rectory of the then Virgen de Regla Parish (now a national shrine) in Lapu-Lapu City, to formally begin a comprehensive MSC formation program in the Philippines. In Lawaan, Talisa, Cebu, a freshly constructed Sacred Heart Seminary was blessed in 1954. Despite the lack of a systematic formation program, the MSCs accepted local vocations as early as 1923, with Victor Viola and Vicente Celeste joining the Congregation as the first young Filipinos. Other MSC formation homes were erected in the years after that to accommodate the growing number of young Filipinos entering the MSC. I am inspired by the rich history of the community here in our country. They bring service to our indigenous people, to the disadvantaged especially who’s family is suffering from poverty and hunger. I am encouraged by the holy spirit to work for the justice and peace. To aid the schools and hospitals and bring our mission everywhere I go.

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The first religious community/order that appeals to me is the Franciscans. These are members of the Roman Catholic Religion for which I belong. This order appeals to me because of St. Francis of Assisi. I love the story of St. Francis and how he lived his life on Earth. Franciscans are known to have respect for life, compassion to others and service to other people. Their traditions are focused on the same values, traditions and beliefs of Catholic faith. This is good for me because I also want to be like them\ and spread the Good News and serve other people in the community. ✔️

The second religious community/order that appeals to me is the Jesuits because they are religious community that is apostolic. They have this great love for Christ which I truly admire. They are also called Society of Jesus that receives charter from Pope Paul III. Their works include the strong emphasis regarding social justice and human rights. I also love their motto which is “for the greater glory of God” because this reminds me that whatever things I do in life, I have to offer everything to God and so I will be blessed more and be able to help other people. ✔️

The third religious community/order that appeals to me is the Benedictines. This is also because I love St. Benedict. Benedictines are built around a discipline that is fundamental of prayer, work and relationships. They seek to free people to be in God's presence within the self, the community and the world. I also love their values which focuses on love of learning, stewardship, conversion of life and many more. I believe that this might be good for me because it will help me to live a life that is according to the will of God. ✔️

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Franciscan Order

Following the steps of St. Francis of Assisi, the Franciscan Order aims to strive to cultivate the ideals of poverty and charity. I included this order in this list because of the values that they aim to cultivate. These values specifically are service and humility. As a Claretian, these values are especially important as the core values from the acronym "CHEERS" contain both. To fulfil my mission as a Claretian (Knowledge is best with virtue), and as one who really enjoys helping and caring for others, I included this religious order for those specific reasons.

Dominican Order

The Dominican order motto aims to preach, to bless, and to pray. Because as human beings need to be encouraged and supported, community life is a priority for Dominicans. As I am not a person that prays often and feels as if my faith and relationship with God is lacking, I included this religious order in this list because I want to expand my religious faith and create a better relationship with God. Not only that, but in the process of doing this, I want to preach what I have learned and the Gospel of the Lord to other people which can also help encourage them to expand their faith with God.

Carmelite Order

One of the main characteristics of the Carmelite Order is that they dedicate themselves to a life of silent prayer. Although this is quite different from the other religious orders that I listed as they both include community participation, I am quite a reserved and quiet person in real life. Personally, when it comes to praying, most of the time I would pray silently unless I was asked to pray out loud like when eating or in school. While looking for a religious order that would fit my personality and help exponentially expand my faith with God, the Carmelite Order perfectly fits that criterion which is why I feel that this religious order would be good for me.

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First religious communities that have impressed me was the Rule of St. Benedict as how I have seen it in person by the people in the organization their vows of communal solidarity in their spirituality. The Order appeals to me because of its lengthy history Furthermore, numerous members of the Order have been associated with it throughout history. have contributed to the advancement of the Catholic religion and the world in general, particularly in the The Middle Ages. In addition, I believe the order is remarkable in its acceptance. I feel this creates inclusivity and a culturally diverse environment because of the diversity of individuals, regardless of racial or affiliation status. As a result, I know that as a member of this Order, I would be in a society that would encourage me to achieve my goals and have the capacity to help others.

The Dominican Order is the second. The Order appeals to me because of its long record of service. Many religious leaders and philosophers are present, which is very significant to me. Furthermore, numerous members of the Order have been associated with it throughout history. have contributed to the advancement of the Catholic religion and the world. I also believe the order is unique in its acceptance of women. Members of all genders and affiliations are welcome. which, in my opinion, promotes cultural diversity and inclusion. As a member of this Order, I am confident that it will provide me with an environment that will encourage me to pursue my goals. achieving intellectual accomplishment and big societal improvements, as well as one that is tolerant and understanding, which would be a huge relief. ✔️

De La Salle Brothers- I really liked the action and projects done and what they wanted to be done. Specially the project to feed those who hungers up to their capacity and help the needy to have a shelter. And to the children who needed guidance because of unfortunate circumstances they didn’t have parents to guide them but fortunately De La Salle Brothers are very open to help them. And also how they teach Jesus gospel and to spread it during the modern era now specially because of the advancement we have like online and etc. they are very welcoming communities and will treat you with respect and kindness. ✔

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"His Kingdom of Perfect Love"

Many people come to find

That life on earth is fascinating

For here we have been granted

A stockpile of gifts so plentiful.

And yet, as one would also find

Our life on earth is not enough

For here we do not yet experience

In all its elegance—God's love.

And so, inspired by Christ

We hope for a new world to come

A world where sin and pain no longer exist,

A world perfected by God’s will.

A world where all God’s people gather with Him

To sing with the angels in His praise

To exist in equality without any difference

To share in eternal life, His perfect gift.

In truth, this paradise has been promised to us

In the vision sent by God to John

We shall go there after this world is diminished

And after we face judgement at the Parousia.

And so, brothers and sisters,

Let us continue to worship His name

And serve and love our neighbors

So that we may be worthy of His kingdom of perfect love.

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Created by God this earth is a gift,

but one day the earth and its people will rift.

This day may seem to others as blue,

but to God's believers they know there'll be a new.

A second Heaven and earth that is more beautiful

A descended domain that is unmovable

From the sky we shall hear the heavenly bells

And soon a place where God and man can dwell

Given to us the gift of eternal life

And a land where there shall be no more strife

A place where there is no pain nor crying

And the gift of peace and love everlasting

Praise be to His might and holy name

For he has saved us from hell's flame

May we thank Him for all that is great

In Him shall we always place our fate

He alone shall wipe all our tears

And protect us to the end from our greatest fears

For all that is great to Him shall we cling

For He is the man we recognize as our King

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