By: Janna Alyssa Jacob; Mishael Codia (Neocatechumenal Way of Ligao)
Just when I thought our Eucharistic celebration would end the same way as the other nights that passed, an announcement that kindled a little spark within me was delivered.
“A regional pilgrimage will be pursued this November in preparation for the Jubilee year. Appealing to all the youth and young couples of the community to join. Courage! The destination has long been prepared.”
To my surprise, I felt nothing but excitement and joy that a local youth pilgrimage would happen. Even though I worried if I had the means to go, if I had an exam during the same schedule, if my boss would allow me to take another leave, and the rest I could possibly overthink, I still felt my heart glow as I signified.
Despite all the hindrances…
Despite all the uncertainties…
Despite what could happen…
The Lord has called and blessed me with the willingness to say yes.
Filled with grace and joy, I was very excited to prepare for everything I had to bring – from my clothes and other essentials to my bible and instruments. I thought it would go all smoothly but the devil has its own distracting ways to shake the firm yes I gave to my head responsible.
Things started to get out of hand and unfortunately, I too began to feel lost and disconnected, as if I was a thread that has come undone. Little did I know that amidst this, He remained faithful.
“He is already there, waiting for you to come”, my angel said as she consoled me. “Everything is already prepared, no need to worry. All you need to do is to walk regardless”
With 69 brothers and sisters including young couples in the community, I journey with a hopeful heart that as I allow myself to traverse this path, I could add another thread and be woven into the tapestry of holiness.
The pilgrimage started when we had our Penitential Celebration on the night of November 29 at St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish – an opportunity to confess all the sins we have committed, repent, and celebrate the mercy of our Lord in forgiving and granting us another chance to be more like Him. After receiving the sacrament of Penance, I knew that I was able to reconcile and untangle my soul from the twisted, sturdy strings of my sins.
Indeed, it gave us the courage and a renewed strength to move.
Although the morning sun did not shine the brightest the day after, the pilgrims lit the path, conquering the downpours from Ligao to Sorsogon City on November 30. We did the Morning Lauds inside the bus and filled the atmosphere with praises to the Lord through psalms and songs. Apart from that, we swam in the vastness of the Holy Bible, fishing the verses and texts destined for each of us.
When we arrived at Sorsogon City, we were warmly welcomed despite the cold breeze brought by the heavy rains. Like the embrace of a mother for her children, the scenery whispers that He was there already waiting for our arrival. The Sorsogon community then led us to Bariis Cabid-an to listen to the sharing of two nuns as they enter the contemplative life at the Poor Clare of Assisi Monastery.
I realized at that moment that there was no room for impossibility when the Lord had called someone for a mission. Such reflection was further augmented when a priest in Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary and a seminarian who also walks in the Neocatechumenal Way shared their experiences as they willfully gave their lives to serve in the vineyard of the Lord. Just like the life of St. Andrew the Apostle, he traveled to all nations to preach the gospel and share the good news. Never did he lose his strong faith but held on to it dearly instead, fulfilling the mission the Lord had given him.
It was never easy to repulse everything that gives pleasure but right there and then, I saw that through His providence, nothing is impossible. Our lives have been orchestrated carefully, intricately woven to form a wonderful tapestry that showcases how each turn and twist of our reality serves a great purpose in a larger context.
Some may think that pilgrimages are just visiting different religious sites and listening to several catecheses – a sit in the garden perhaps. But as we experienced the continuous downpour of rain, as if it refused to stop, I understood the true intention of this pilgrimage.
Ignoring that our shoes would be submerged in water, that our shoulders would be soaked from the rain, and that we might get cold, we still proceeded to do the Popular Mission. Only with our instruments and voices, we were determined to give life to the messages behind the rhythms and melodies of the psalms we were singing at that time.
Upon arriving at the Bitan-o Covered Court, I saw the confusion wrriten on the faces of the locals.
“Who are these people?”
“What are they doing here?”
“What are they singing?”
These questions, though not deliberately asked, appeared in their eyes as they saw us dancing and singing our hearts out. Some were not curious enough to stay, but thankfully, some did. The touch of the Holy Spirit worked on them, and it was a joyous moment for all of us because they were listening intently to the testimonies of several pilgrims from Ligao and Sorsogon about their encounters with God and who is God for them.
What touched me more was an old lady who drew back her curtain to properly watch the giving of testimonies. There were also kids who were very interested, to the point that they sat on the dirty ground, manifesting their eagerness to understand. Despite the dialect barrier and the fact that kids might not comprehend the sharing fully, it filled my heart to see hope in them. Although we were not able to do the Two-by-two Mission due to the heavy downpours, we were still happy to find ourselves dancing with them, singing praises for His wonders in our lives.
After our encounter with the locals of Brgy. Bitan-o, we had our Eucharistic Celebration with the other Sorsogon City communities – a different place but felt like home, maybe this is what a communal spirit entails.
Apart from the purpose of sharing the good news, this pilgrimage taught us to cling to precarity and humility and fill our hearts with gratitude and grace. For others, allowing strangers to sleep in their houses might not be a good idea as the world conditions us to doubt everyone, but how blessed are we that our brothers and sisters in Christ accommodated and welcomed us in their homes without hesitations, providing us with comfortable sleeping mattresses and pillows. It did not end there because morning came and breakfast was even served to us.
Truly, a love that goes beyond familiarity.
Embarking on another destination, we first gathered at the Sports Complex and began singing psalms until we arrived at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church. From the morning lauds followed by a series of catecheses to the sharings about vocations and experiences during the pilgrimage, these deepened our understanding and solidified our faith, creating memories that we will surely treasure – memories that connect us to Him.
There are instances where the world throws rocks at me that cause me to fall. It made me question if I was even worthy, accepted, and loved. However, this encounter with Him made me reflect on the perception I had of the world.
The true essence and purpose of life are never just about the physical journey or reaching the desired destination, but of recognizing that each moment that spurs reflection is a sacred thread. This has taught me that life in itself is a series of threads – a bright joy or a dark hardship where love and redemption are greatly woven together.
Every step towards the destination, every encounter, every trial, and every prayer reveals the truth about this pilgrimage. This had not been my own alone, but a reflection of the eternal thread that unites all believers, the thread of faith, hope, and divine love that binds us to Christ and one another.
The thread had woven us into a shared story, and I knew the tapestry would continue to unravel in ways I could not yet imagine.
