Live what you preach; preach how you live
As a religious and as an educator, a leader, what keeps me going in my ministry is my personal relationship with God. When I wake up in the morning, I first thank God that I am still alive. Then, I take a few minutes of quiet time. There are a lot of challenges encountered in leading a school and sometimes I am tempted to say, “I quit.” But then I remember my commitment to God and I say, “As long as you give me all the blessings I need to keep me going, I will continue to serve You no matter what.” This sets the tone for living what I preach, and preaching how I live.
There is no such thing as an easy life, but what makes it easier is when you see those whom you are serving happier. When I look into the joyful eyes of the school children, I sometimes reflect on what would happen to them if they didn’t have the opportunity of a Catholic education such as what we provide at St. John the Baptist School? Who would take care of them? Who would help them, encourage them, and provide them with a good environment for learning and growing? To serve God in this capacity is important to me. I know of God’s love for me and all the children.
When parents come to the school office and say that they don’t have the money to send their children to a Catholic school, that they cannot afford it, or maybe they just lost their jobs, I assure them that we will try to work together to find a way. Money should not be the issue on whether to send or not send a child to a Catholic school. If the school does not provide assistance, help or support, we will lose more students who cannot afford the wealth beyond measure in a Catholic education.
In my search for sponsors for the school children among individuals and parishioners, I tell them, “I am a missionary. Missionaries don’t stay in one place. Where I am called to go, I go. This is your community. You need to build up your people here. You see me now, but maybe next year you won’t see me. As long as we create a good foundation, a good relationship then there should be no difference when I am gone. You should be confident that you can continue on. By then you will have been able to see that your faith doesn’t depend on me, your dependence is on God and your community made strong as you work together.”
Imagine, what would the church be like if the parishioners could not see the little children attending daily Mass? What would happen in the future of the church if these little ones did not grow up to become active adult members because they lacked the Catholic exposure in grade school? Here and now, the little children are happily singing, reading and participating in the Mass. As they mature, their faith will develop because we have lived what we have preached and planted the good seeds of faith and God’s abundant blessings in them.
Sister Cecilia Fabular is a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She is 25 years professed. Sister is ministering in her second year as principal of St. John the Baptist School in Kalihi. She resides at St. John the Baptist convent.
