After the revitalizing hike to Mt. Apo and as the Second Semester of the school year began, I focused back on my work as assistant prefect, community liturgist, and music custodian. I devised a timetable to put things in their proper perspective and was hopeful that there would be a smooth flow of the things to be done, but leaving room for flexibility due to inevitable circumstances. This was how I observed time management in terms of the upcoming activities. Planning was carefully done, and now, the battle had begun with some of the highlights as follows:
Stir Them Up. I had always believed in empowering the youth – with a special mention on those who were under the seminary formation. I know that one way to empower them was to let them feel that they were capable of doing so many things, making things happen, and could be entrusted with a particular task or responsibility.
After the liturgist and music servants of the community assumed their respective offices, I called for a meeting and expressed my intention to work with them closely. They shared their plans while I encouraged them with my suggestions putting much emphasis on the proper coordination and cooperation among all. I had much confidence in these guys — musicians and liturgists — whom I know could deliver. In this regard, I deemed it best to conduct practices for the lectors and prayer leader and likewise, the musicians assigned for the week.
Just Be There. Every 7:30 in the evening, the assigned musician and the liturgists of the week, particularly the lectors, had to practice inside the chapel. I required the musicians to submit beforehand a copy of their songs for the whole week to avoid an “on the spot selection of songs” where they choose the songs just before the start of the Mass or during the Mass itself. Likewise, the liturgists of the week should submit a list of their members with their corresponding assignments and schedules.
As the musicians practiced in the choir area, the prayer leader would prepare the hymns and psalms while the lectors familiarized themselves with the readings for the day at least twice in the sacristy. After the choir practice, the lector would then have a dry run at the lectern. Many were receptive to this kind of set-up. I felt their enthusiasm to learn more and improve their skills. On the contrary, a few were quite adamant, but were somehow compelled to do so because of my presence. I was apprehensive because they might be following my instructions for the sake of compliance and not because of the desire to improve their service to the Lord. This was the reason why it gave me so much joy seeing these young seminarians practice on their own with wholehearted dedication and renewed interest.
Two Ratios A Day. To conducting ratios after lunch and after the mid-afternoon prayer proved to be laborious. It was really physically and psychologically tiring. I made this schedule with the end in view that probably by the end of November or before the Christmas vacation, I would be able to talk to all the first year seminarians. However, it did not materialize. My effort was not enough considering the big number of the first year seminarians. I realized that although I wanted to do more, time constraints were a hindering factor.
The whole process was actually draining because I had to deal more with the negative comments taken in the context of fraternal corrections rather than the positive ones. My only consolation was the thought of helping him in his growth as a person. The most challenging part was how to facilitate the ratio in such a way that the recipient would not be offended or defensive with regard to the comments of the other seminarians.
The conduct of ratio was interrupted when the schedules became hectic. Aside from the practices for the Christmas caroling, the seminarians had to prepare for their presentation in XACOSE and make a tent for the contest. Even when the different activities started to overlap, I could not totally disregard the November line-up of things to do, but had to review and include it again for my December planning.
Get the Prize. Everybody wanted to become a winner. Nobody hoped to lose. Winning was not just a matter of receiving the honor as one had to pass through a process. As the commercial in solar spots stated, “preparation is the secret of success.” Amid the hectic schedules, could one still prepare well? It was relatively difficult. The concentration would be affected. But for one with determination, something can be done. A case in point was what the seminarians and I went through before we got the much desirable win.
The announcement that there would be a “presentation-competition” of the songs we had been practicing for the caroling was shocking. The instruction was that at least five songs would be presented. Five songs? At the time it was announced, we barely polished our second song. I was initially worried about it. Of course, I expressed my desire to win the contest so as keep afloat my group mates during the remaining days of the practice. On one occasion, I categorically asked the group if they wanted to win and the answer was a resounding YES! Everybody was determined to win. Well, nobody wanted to lose in a competition anyway. The spirit of cooperation and unity was evident because we bonded as a team.
Pressed for time, we all agreed to sing familiar songs. The following day, a coincidence, or perhaps, a blessing in disguise took place as I was searching in the internet about harmonica, a musical instrument. I happen to come across a list of Christmas songs. With this pleasant surprise, I downloaded the lyrics of the songs with the corresponding notes.
Everything was prepared – the copy of the songs and the musical instruments. Everybody was eyeing for the prize. After intense practices and arrangement of choreography for two afternoons, we won. Our efforts paid off. We won not because we were really good singers, but because we made good use of our talents in singing coupled with the melodious combination of the different musical instruments — flute, banduria, guitar, and beat box. Our win was a summation of dedication, cooperation, sacrifice, happiness, and fulfillment shared by the group.
This was how I ventured the month of November. It was quite difficult to keep the fire ablaze and to hold on to the enthusiasm especially when I was almost pushed to the limits. I described these experiences with a line from one of the songs of the band, Guns N‘ Roses, “…and it’s hard to hold a candle in the cold November rain.”
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