This was the reflection speech delivered by Mr. TJ Agulto during the Student Council oath-taking prayer service last Wednesday, July 18, 2006.

      St. Ignatius was simply following Jesus’s call of setting the world on fire, when he ignited the hearts of people. What was there to ignite?

      First is to be on fire for unity. When there is one flame here and another flame there and you put the flames together, they will not put out each other. They harmonize; they become one flame, a bigger flame. So should it be with us. While we are on fire and we meet another who is on fire, there should be a meeting of hearts. There should be harmony and there should be oneness. Our student leaders should be the point of unity for the student body because before they are able to lead us somewhere, they first have to bring us all together.

      Fire also cleanses. It purifies. That is why we cook food by subjecting it to fire. We must be on fire with purity -- not only purity that is chastity, but purity that is also honesty and sincerity. Purity also means generosity. The Gospel says that the Kingdom of God cannot be found by those who are lazy. Only those who go all the way, those who are pure of heart can discover the Kingdom of God. That is why we call on our student leaders to be generous with themselves even to the point of sacrifice, for the good and growth of the student body.

      The third thing about fire that we should ask of the Lord thru St. Ignatius of Loyola, is that our hearts be on fire for service. We can be tempted to become lukewarm and indifferent to others and on the day our hearts no longer burn with fire, many others will die shivering from the cold! A lot of people are depending on your service to them. Your service takes on the form of igniting the student body so that every student is given a chance to bring forth their talents and to let their light shine for others.

      We ask St. Ignatius to set our student leaders on fire – to be on fire for unity, to be on fire for purity, and to be on fire for service.

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