Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20
I was in my second year of High School when I encountered this gospel verse since the bulletin board was posted beside the main door of my class section: II – Wisdom. Every day, I encountered this verse and read it playfully as I was going to the nearby canteen, too, until I memorized it in time.
This is just my simple throwback. God awakened my consciousness for a mission somewhere when I was this young.
In my third year in High School, my class section was III – Prudence. During this time, a priest and seminarians introduced a leaflet called Kaya Idalangin. Together with some of my classmates, I subscribed to it. After a few months, I was constantly receiving, every month, a mailed copy of it. I usually got it from the canteen since it was delivered there.
My memory brings me back to this leaflet because it led me later to a congregation that would become my lifetime family.
Somewhere in October 1994, seminarians came to our school for a vocation campaign. Just joining my ‘barkadas,’ I expressed my desire to become a seminarian, then joined the Vocation Search In, first on one of the beaches of Bantayan and later on in the Seminary. I took the entrance examination and passed it all.
Not knowing the congregation well, I mistook St. Hannibal for St. John Bosco. Only when I was in my third year of Philosophy did I realize that the picture I saw on the leaflet from back then was not St. John Bosco, but St. Hannibal Mary di Francia. I just got confused because the address of my new home then was St. John St., Don Bosco Village, Punta Princesa, Cebu City, Telephone Number: 272-0947. (I still memorize this address and telephone number by heart.)
The new journey begins.
For fourteen years, I had my long and winding formative journey. Days after days, months after months, years after years, I simply enjoyed all those until the day of my ordination: August 22, 2009, in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Bantayan, through the laying on of hands of Bishop Socrates Villegas, DD.
After ordination, thousands of stories continue to unfold. Struggles were there in the first five years. The next five years after that, I slowly settled down in the ministry. I became a Vocation Director for six years in the Rogationist Seminary – Cebu and two years living in Extra Domum, where I had pastoral exposure in the Archdiocese of Cebu. With much discernment, after the death of my beloved father, I reentered the congregation. I accepted the assignment in St. John Paul II Sub-Parish (SJPIISP), Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, as its Administrator. Those six years were also filled with joyfulMemories, fruitfulMaturation, and a growing love for the mission.
All who have been my companions in the community were all coming from the mission actually: Fr. Carlo Balaguer (Papua New Guinea), Fr. Giulio Bellarmino (Papua New Guinea), Fr. Rey Villamonte (Papua New Guinea, Africa), Fr. Nicholas Villora (Africa), Fr. Edgar Dacaldacal (Indonesia, Vietnam) and Fr. Elmer Dula (Papua New Guinea, Indonesia). Methought: Why not try becoming a missionary also?
Desire for my First Mission.
I expressed my intention to the Provincial at the end of the Provincial Chapter on October 21, 2022. Verbatim: ‘Fr. Jigs, I am already ending my assignment in SJPIISP after six years. I am open now for a new assignment. My desires are: Assign me to a new community outside the Philippines. Let me experience missionary work. Let me study.’
On February 1, 2023, Fr. Orville or Fr. Jigs conversed with me, reminding me of my desire a few months back during his visit to our communities in Davao. He said: ‘Tol, we are thinking of assigning you to our community in Australia. Let go of your desire to study first. It will come sometime in the future. Ok lang ba sa ýo, tol?’ That blessed day, I happily answered: ‘Yes, tol, I accept it.’
The only sign I was asking from the Lord at that time was: ‘Just let me pass IELTS if you want me to experience missionary work! I promise to do more good things in that place!’ So, I took the examination on April 2, 2023. With God’s grace and my simple diligence in studying and reviewing over a cup of coffee, I received an email after two days. I PASSED. And, without looking back, I prepared all the other necessary documents. That began a new and exciting chapter of my life. I bid farewell to my parish community, thanked them in person, and asked them to pray for me on my new mission in Australia.
One year in mission.
I arrived in Australia on October 29, 2024. Fr. Gerald Binegas fetched me from the airport in an early cold morning. That cold weather that first touched my body here was unforgettable. From those months, I have been living well with my confreres here, especially with Fr. Rene Ramirez as my Parish Priest in St. Mel’s Parish – Shepparton.
My first step on the Land Down Under opened a thousand steps later. Those steps led me to beautiful places, but more importantly, to these loving people, caring families, a society steeped in diverse cultures and joyful communities.
My coming here is really LIFE-CHANGING.
Simple lessons I learned are:
I learned the art of cooking. I never cooked in my 45 years of existence, only when I came here.
I learned to be independent. I depended on the ‘manangs’ or ‘manongs’ way back then. I now wash dishes, do my laundry, and do housekeeping.
I learned to take care of my health. ‘Moderation’ is indeed a virtue.
Loving and staying with my community all the time.
Above all else, going back to the essentials of the community, regular observance, especially those prayer schedules.
After one year, I certainly believe that: God, who is Love, moves in mysterious ways. As in the years that passed, being joyful is the main ingredient in my new ministry. This first experience of being a missionary might appear to be late for me, but this is the right time for God, His ‘KAIROS’ and ‘PLEROMA’ for me. I pray that this will be FOREVER.
My missionary story continues.
Fr. Ruel N. Desamparado, RCJ, is a missionary in Australia serving St. Mel’s and St. Malachy Parish of the Diocese of Sandhurst as an assisting pastor.
