Theology House Update

Simone: “Maraming salamat po…”

“We have realized that our differences can be a resource to enrich each other…”

O ne morning of May 2003, our novice master gave the news about our assignment to the international Theologate. When I heard that I had been assigned to the Philippines my first thought was that Filipino people were given to me by God as a gift, and those with whom I was called to share my life and my vocation as a Xaverian missionary.

Before leaving Italy, I had mix feelings of fear and joy. The enthusiasm to know new people, and a new culture, was mixed up with the fear of leaving my country, my family and friends, and the many things to which I was attached. Arriving here in the Philippines those feelings continued but since the beginning Filipino people have showed to me care and affection. It seemed that most of them knew the difficulty of being in a foreign country and of communicating with people of different language. So many times, I have found persons welcoming me with their smiling, helping me to reach a place, offering all they have in order to make me feel comfortable. More…