Christian Raquepo was baptized and confirmed in eighth grade at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Honolulu; five years later he remains a proud parishioner of St. Theresa. (Courtesy Dann Ebina)
REFLECTION
By Christian Raquepo
Special to the Herald
What do you ask of God’s church?
Faith.
What does faith offer you?
Eternal life.
Our Blessed Lord Jesus has always been to me a faithful friend and brother since the moment I can remember. My grandmother, who turns 94 blessed years on Holy Saturday, taught me the anchoring art of prayer from a very young age.
Yet, it was only during my elementary school days at St. Theresa School in Liliha that I was exposed to, as St. Pope Paul VI said, the most perfect form of prayer: the holy sacrifice of the Mass. I gladly remember going to school Masses on Fridays, wearing our uniform white collared, button-down dress shirt and black pants, genuinely worshiping Almighty God at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
Although my relationship with God had already been established, I did not identify myself with any particular tradition. Through school, I was catechized in the Roman Catholic Church; through some of my family, I was exposed to the Seventh-Day Adventist tradition. I once embraced this sect in Protestantism — its doctrine felt so authentic.
It was months after being introduced to a compelling film about the extraordinary life of Padre Pio, days after watching Father Mike Schmitz’s inspiring video on “The Significance of Ash Wednesday,” and after hours of watching Easter Vigil baptisms in the seventh grade that I had a burning desire to respond to an invitation from God that had been waiting for me for a while: “Be baptized” (Acts 2:38).
After several months of catechesis and formation in the Order of the Catechumenate through the Rite of Christian Initiation, one month before my eighth-grade graduation and three days after my 14th birthday, I was finally washed in baptism and confirmed in my belief in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church and given eucharistic nourishment. I took the name of Pio (after St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina) as my Confirmation saint.
Christian Raquepo was baptized and confirmed in eighth grade at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Honolulu; five years later he remains a proud parishioner of St. Theresa. (Courtesy Dann Ebina)
Moved by the Holy Spirit’s renewal, I quickly got myself involved in the ministry of my parish community, the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus. I decided to further my impactful quality, Catholic school education at Damien Memorial School and now at Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii’s one and only Catholic university.
As I jubilantly enter my fifth year of rebirth, I am grateful to my parents who gave me the freedom to choose the faith I would identify with and immerse myself in; to my grandmother who planted the seed of faith in my heart and shared the gift of prayer with me; to St. Theresa School and its mission to the education of the whole person; to my home parish, the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus parish community, especially those who assisted prayerfully on my journey as a catechumen; to my spiritual directors who continue to guide me as a neophyte; and to Damien Memorial School for providing a platform to express my faith as a young leader within the church.
Being a Catholic has been the most fulfilling aspect of my life — having the Eucharist and confession sustaining my life as a Christian. Actively attending Mass every Sunday (and sometimes on weekdays) has become an important event of my life. My journey of faith has been enriched with prayers, like the
Liturgy of the Hours, the meditation of the holy rosary and other devotional prayers that have fit my way of life.
These five years have taught me the gift of fearless and wholehearted surrender to the will of God: doing my part by giving my “yes” to God despite the many uncertainties that may lie ahead. It is because of this continual conversion of heart that I can see the Lord walking beside me on this journey we call life.
One of my favorite Filipino Catholic songs best expresses this:
“From now on you are my friend
Brought out from darkness and lowliness;
A friend will sacrifice his own life:
There is nothing better than making this offering.” (Hangad, “Pagkakaibigan”)
Home at last in Rome sweet home!
Christian Raquepo is a college freshman pursuing undergraduate studies in computer science and data science analytics and visualization at Chaminade University.
