Author: Lara Suarez

Prayer Partners

Today, my Prayer Partner, a seminarian, is being ordained into the transitional diaconate. This means that in only a short time, he will be ordained a priest! Wow!

I was assigned this person as a prayer partner last year by our Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the archdiocese. Our director started this idea of having every single Priest, Seminarian, Religious Brother and Sister who is serving our archdiocese, be assigned to someone of the lay community in order for that someone to pray for their assigned Priest, Seminarian, etc. Now this isn’t like Pen Pals and there is no direct communication involved. All they know is that I am praying for them in their journey.

How important it is for us to not only continue praying for our own vocations, but also for those who answered the call to religious life -our future Priests, Deacons and Religious Brothers and Sisters. Those who have courageously consecrated their entire lives to God, in service and in love for one another. They need our prayers, too.

I thank God for the gift of being able to pray for this brother, and ask you to join me in lifting up all those who have or are preparing to consecrate their lives through their vocation.

Kamay ni Hesus

I went to Quezon for the day with my family and I had no idea we were going on a pilgrimage. Kamay ni Hesus (or Hand of Jesus) is a shrine located on top of a hill in Lucban, Quezon. After some research, I found out that it’s 300 steps to the top of the shrine.

Now 300 steps doesn’t seem like a lot, but my family and I were not prepared at all. We weren’t wearing the right attire, nor carried what we needed like an umbrella or a hat or even a towel. Although we were physically unprepared, I saw the faces of determination in my family, and knew that together, we would make it.

So, at 11am in the morning, near the hottest time of day, we began our pilgrimage. What I experienced for the next 45min of walking up those steps is something I could never replace. My family, supporting each other, cheering each other on, sharing water, wiping our sweat with one handkerchief… sounds completely gross, but we didn’t care.

Upon arriving at the foot of the shrine, my Mom said the most beautiful words “Here I am, Lord. We made it.”

Going up is definitely harder than going down. We all know it’s easy to fall, to sin, and sometimes, it’s a long way down. But when you travel together in a group, you have the support and help of those around you in helping you in your journey, and making sure you don’t stray.

I thank God for my family, for allowing us to journey together, and for the community of Couples For Christ.

Comfort

My first five days in the Philippines were extremely uncomfortable. Since arriving in the last week of March, I had to adjust to a lot of things other than the time difference. I had to adjust to continuously sweating, being hot and sticky all the time. I had to adjust to the conditions of the places that I stayed at, whether it be a home with no shower, a room with no air conditioning or no wifi connection. I had to force myself not to complain and whine about these things because even a single “Ugh, it’s soooo hot”, can distract the heart of why we are here: To celebrate and experience Jesus Christ as a Youth For Christ.

Our discomfort or unwillingness to be uncomfortable can impede the call to mission work. God doesn’t call us to be comfortable in this world. He calls us beyond our comfort, because there is still work to be done. God calls us because there is a need, and that need might not be what you like, or what you’re comfortable with. He calls when we are vulnerable, and scared, because the only way to do His work is to do it with full reliance on His power and strength.

I thank God for this time here in the Philippines, and the revelations He has shown me so far.