| No Wind or Earthquake: The Vocation Story of Fr. Richie Santos, SDB |
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| Written by Joy Sosoban |
| Wednesday, 25 February 2009 10:53 |
 It was not a wind or an earthquake that led Fr. Jesus Richie Santos, SDB to his vocation as a priest. “My father and mother wanted me in the seminary, and I agreed,” he said. He was 13 years old then.He stayed at the Don Bosco Juniorate in Pampanga during his high school years and wanted to leave in his senior year “because I was finding I wanted to do it because of my parents.” He was also being pulled away by his ninong’s promise to give him his medical practice if he would choose to become an ophthalmologist. Providentially, Fr. Carlo Braga, one of the founders of the Salesian congregation in the Philippines, was his confessor. When he would make his monthly confession to Fr. Braga, telling him that he wanted to leave the seminary, the priest would tell him every time, “Stay, stay, stay at least one year.” So Fr. Richie stayed for one year, and then another year, and another year. What started out as complying to his parents’ wishes, as well as agreeing with Fr. Braga’s requests, became a personal matter, “I really felt God was making Himself felt that He was calling me.” So though there was a push and pull initially about his vocation, Fr. Richie continued in his seminary studies. What helped Fr. Richie was that when he felt discouraged, God would give him a boost as he learned the power of the Pauline cheer: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13) It also helped that he lived a spartan life as a seminarian. “Aral, laro at kain (Study, play and eat). It helped you to focus more,” he said. Finally, on December 8, 1977, Fr. Richie was ordained a priest. Fifteen minutes before his ordination, a strong wind rushed through the wooden doors of Mary Help of Christians Shrine in Better Living Parañaque and Fr. Richie said to himself, “The Holy Spirit is here.” His preparation for the ordination made him feel that the Lord was really calling him through that sign. That incident became a precursor of Fr. Richie’s life as a priest where he grew in the devotion to the Holy Spirit. Another thing that Fr. Richie grew into was his love for his apostolate during his college years. “I began to love my apostolate. When you see your students achieving what they should be in life, it makes you feel fulfilled.” Responding to Don Bosco’s call for youth to serve their fellow youth, Fr. Richie would try to spot for leaders and to form groups whenever he would be assigned to a new place. In his 31 years as a priest, Fr. Richie has been assigned to various places under the Salesian ministry. One of these places was in Don Bosco Youth Center in Mandaluyong where he started the Savio Club or Savio Akolito Club. The boys would serve at Mass and play football. The members are now married and wives would tell Fr. Richie, “Kaya pala ang bait ng asawa ko” (No wonder my husband is so kind). Another organization Fr. Richie founded is the Beatitudes Youth Ministry in Pasay when Fr. Richie was assigned as a catechetical recollection master in the three Pasay City (East, West and South) High Schools. Members of the club would serve as “bouncers” to quiet down the noisy students. Two of the members of the group are now nearing their own ordination—one as a Capuchin and another as a Salesian.  For Fr. Richie, ministering to the young “is my call” and loves the work because, “I work with them and not for them.” He admits that to bring young people to the Lord is not easy but acknowledges that he has been given the gifts of adaptability, patience and gentleness to do so.Fr. Richie likewise acknowledges both the nobility of the work of bringing souls to Jesus as well as its fragility, “What helped me is when I joined the renewal in 1997 through the Bukas Loob sa Diyos in Valle Verde and when I joined the retreat conducted by Fr. Robert de Grandis.” It made him “want more” out of his spiritual life, helping him to gain a second wind. He shared, “Twice I wanted to leave but God was always there to save me in my own agony in the garden.” Reading the book True Life in God (TLIG) also helped him “like a phoenix that rose from the ruins.” A lot of other priests around the world whom he met in different international TLIG pilgrimages have shared with him how the same messages assisted them in their vocational journey of faith. He learned much from them. Fr. Richie shared that there are many temptations in ministry and that’s why one must always be on the alert and be prayerful. “A vocation is like a makahiya. You need to have intimacy with God because when you are a deep personal friend of Jesus, you understand what is in His heart,” Fr. Richie added. At present, Fr. Richie serves as vice-president for marketing at the Word and Life Publications, a catechetical ministry of their congregation. He is also the spiritual adviser of the True Life In God Philippine Association and is busy setting up a training program for young people that will result in the writing of a manga illustrated saints’ book. Fr. Richie asked why he should be interviewed for a vocation story when there are others more fit to talk about their call than him—a sign if ever there is one that even if God did not use a wind or an earthquake to speak to Fr. Richie, the Lord speaks to him and he is responding quite well to the strong and quiet Voice deep within. |
| Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 12:44 |