VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
On the day that I told my parents (Teodorico and Lourdes Sabugo) that I wanted to be a religious brother, they were thrilled and delighted. Quite frankly, I doubt they were surprised. Apparently, they were aware of how important the church was to me and how I found meaning not only through my home parish of St. Michael’s in Waialua, but beyond.
To be honest, I was quite hesitant to ask my parents whether they thought I was fit or not for the religious life and ordained ministry. I believe their expectations of what a priest should be like came from their childhood experiences in the villages of the Ilocos region of the Philippines. There, the village priest played a significant role in the community by being available to his people, whenever and whatever the need. The priest was more than someone who took care of the grounds of the church and administered the sacraments.
Even though I firmly believe my parents are active supporters of my vocation, I do think there might be a hesitation to such work that I aspire. This is a human and honest thing to suppose. This is not in any way to say that my parents are not confident in me. I am convinced they are just making sure I understand fully the responsibility that I am vowing my life to.
Now as I look at my vocation journey in review, I believe it was the World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney that changed my perspective on the priesthood. After the pilgrimage, I came back a new person.
As I look forward to my final religious profession, I want to be a dynamic religious and set the world on fire with the unconditional love of Jesus and Mary. I also constantly remind myself that I am dealing with real people and actual situations. Thus, Jesus is my answer to everything.
Brother Jeremy Sabugo, pictured above with his mother Lourdes Sabugo, is a Brother of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in his last year of temporal vows. He and Brother Michael (Maiki) Kamauoha are presently on a 30-day retreat in preparation for their final religious profession this year as Sacred Hearts Brothers. Both he and Brother Michael are from St. Michael’s parish in Waialua and attend Pacific Regional Seminary in Fiji. Please keep them in your prayers. The shortened version of the above interview can be found in the soon-to-be released book, “A Pilgrimage Through Time.”
