_svg.png){kind=small}
Greetings, my brothers and sisters in Christ!
How are you there? I hope you are well all.
Today, I wish to share a glimpse of my first-year journey as a Scalabrinian seminarian, a path illuminated by faith, challenges, and unwavering support.
My name is Jeanel Rebuta Tormis, born on March 8, 2002. Since September 2023, I arrived at the Scalabrinian Formation Center, embarking on a transformative journey of spiritual growth. As a first-year seminarian, adapting to this new life posed its challenges, particularly the early morning wake-up calls. Rising before six o'clock challenged my former habits of waking up leisurely at 9 or 10 am. Yet, through perseverance, I've adjusted to this disciplined routine.
However, amidst the structure and discipline of seminary life, moments of homesickness often enveloped me. The absence of my family's presence weighed heavily on my heart, leading me to cry sometimes because I miss their smiles and faces. Yet, in these moments of vulnerability, my fellow brothers became my pillars of strength, bridging the gap between distance and familial love.
Living as a seminarian demands patience, understanding, and a willingness to embrace diversity within a communal setting. Despite our differences in personalities and nationalities, we cultivate a familial bond founded on love, unity, and respect. Through this shared journey, we navigate conflicts with grace, strengthened by our collective commitment to each other's well-being and rooted in God, the source of our vocation.
Answering God's call is not without its trials. Yet, I draw strength from the unwavering presence of God in my vocation. From a young age, volunteering in church illuminated God's calling within me. Then, in God’s providence, I encountered the missionaries of St. Charles-Scalabrinians, whose charism is to help the migrants, OFWs, refugees and seafarers and I decided to answer His call in this path of loving and serving. Now, I am in the first year in the Seminary. There is still a long way to go. But with the Lord in my side, I will go on because “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)
Today, I extend an invitation to all who feel the stirring of God's call within their hearts. Do not fear the unknown, for God walks beside you, guiding your steps towards fulfillment and purpose. Let us unite in pursuing our dreams of holiness and service, embracing the call to become holy missionaries.
Join us in answering the divine call: "COME AND BECOME A SCALABRINIAN."
Seminarian: JEANEL REBUTA TORMIS