MY LIFE AS INSTRUCTOR IN THE MINOR SEMINARY

"No man ever really finds out what he believes in until he begins to instruct his children."
--Francis Xavier

I cherish my strong bond with the minor seminary. I spent almost eight years as instructor in Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary. Now I am here in Sydney Australia, the time and weather allows me more time to write my wonderful experiences in the Diocese of Malolos as a seminary formator of whom I experienced also three bishops, three Rectors and a few wannabees.

My life as instructor and at the same time a diocesan priest is very funny. In addition to my teaching duties, I was assigned to look after the seminarians in their Spiritual Direction. I was a seminary driver too at that time (just read my Driving experiences in the seminary)
When I say very funny, it relates to having accepted everything smiling it means looking at myself as a priest when a seminarian is in front of me in his Spiritual Direction.
I remember one time I was interviewing a Grade Six boy, an applicant and asking his views about priesthood and his motivation for entering the Minor Seminary. I smile while listening and then my sympathy extends to him as I try to see things in his thoughts like leaving one's family at a very young, missing a lot of family celebrations in addition to fiestas and birthdays and wedding anniversaries of parents and so forth and so on. This is what I believe in shaping a person, I was able to look back in my past life when I was on the same seat and the Rector was interviewing me, those events and happenings are in my mind. They are indeed important events. Relationships are important in the life of a priest.
And so there the story goes, my day begins with praying the breviary with the seminarians at the chapel, Eucharist then driving the seminary small jeep (I forgot the name of the jeep) teaching the boys Latin, and Spanish and Sacraments,checking the quizzes, computing grading sheets, handing out school awards.

Verily, my teaching experiences help me now in my ministry as a priest. Perhaps the challenging ones is when a seminarian will ask permission to go home and attend family celebrations and if the prefect is not there, I readily give permission, because thats what I believe in. Training a boy to be able to relate to his own family. I still cherish the book of Latin Grammar by Fr Henle, still thinking of those young boys in our Latin Class giving correct and wrong answers, but thats part of life and memory lane now.

Im now parish priest in Maroubra Beach Parish of St Mary and St Joseph, a small upscale parish with a beautiful climate and people.
I am proud two of my former students in the seminary and Pre-college are now here in Australia, plus some Bulakenyo priests

We all cherish God's many gifts in life, I will be always thankful for my life as instructor.I found a long time ago what I believe in.

Manuel Santiago