VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
I was born in Honolulu on June 21, 1996. I am primarily Filipino, with a few other Asian, Spanish and European ethnicities mixed in. I grew up in Waipahu my entire life with my father, mother and older sister. I attended Waipahu Elementary and Waipahu Intermediate. I am a proud graduate of Waipahu High School’s class of 2014. My home parish is St. Joseph Church, Waipahu, where I was actively involved in a number of ministries before entering the seminary.
As a second-year seminarian, the goal is to continue to grow in the four pillars of priestly formation (spiritual, human, pastoral and academic). Formation in the seminary can become very difficult and tiring at times, both mentally and physically, as one learns through experience to find the balance between the four pillars. However, despite the challenges, I very much enjoy my time in the seminary. Let me give you a glimpse into seminary life.
Early in the morning, we wake up to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as a community and attend Mass before classes begin. Attending classes and focusing on schoolwork takes up the majority of the day. In the evening, we come together again as a community for evening prayer before dinner. In between all of this, meetings with our formation directors and spiritual directors are squeezed in.
Although our evenings are unscheduled, it can be a balancing act figuring out how to get everything done in so little time without neglecting any aspect of our formation. There is exercise, study and homework to be done; along with private prayers and devotions, such as praying the rosary or spending time before the Blessed Sacrament. Truly, there are times when we do struggle to wake up in time for morning prayer, or feel unmotivated to get out of bed due to staying up late studying for a big exam or writing a paper.
However, even though these challenges may make the seminary sound like a scary place, there are so many moments enjoyed as well. Some examples of this are when I get to fellowship with my brother seminarians, join in spontaneous praise and worships, sports tournaments, barbeques and cook-offs, and more.
You can always find joy in every moment of your life. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Even the simple receiving of a phone call or text message from friends and family back home in Hawaii are enough to make my day and keep me strong and motivated.
I hold on to these found moments of joy. They are reminders of how blessed I am, and how loved I am by God and the others around me. This love is all that is needed to overcome any challenge or obstacle faced. You may not realize it now, but even the smallest moments of joy can leave the greatest impact on your life.
Edgar Allen Pobre is a seminarian for the Diocese of Honolulu. He is currently in his second year of college at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon, majoring in philosophy.
