COMMUNITIES

Reflections on Shang Chuan Pilgrimage

Johnip G. Cua

Posted Friday, 23-Mar-2007 2:25 PM

     March 10, 2007 will forever be etched in my mind.  On this day, I was able to join the Xavier community in doing a pilgrimage to Shangchuan island where St. Francis Xavier died 455 years ago.  It was a very touching experience for me.

     I was touched by ceremonies we did, starting with the prayer of the rosary as we hiked up the hill to enter the chapel; and ending with the offering of incense as each one of us knelt down to do “pai pai” to our patron saint in front of his tombstone.  For some reasons, I shed a few tears.  It was hard to explain.  But somehow, I felt a connection.  I felt that all of my beliefs, values and principles have been shaped by this man who is the origin of Xavier School, our second home.  And for this, I am truly grateful.

     I was even more touched by the “after-ceremony”, the dinner that night when every member of the pilgrimage shared their reflections from the experience.  Someone who was not a practicing Catholic, vowed to become one.  Another, a good friend of mine, committed to fund the Golden Choice scholarship drive.  Others re-committed themselves to work harder to spread the spirit of Xavier within the school and throughout the community.  They reflected a common theme that we are “men with others”, and that we must become “men for others” through each of our own unique ways.  I used the opportunity to strengthen my conviction for the vision of Xavier South, a school that will dedicate 25% of the school population to the under-privileged, so that we can create a model for others to follow.  Hopefully, this will lead to a dramatic change in the landscape of education for the poor, and help eradicate poverty.  I vowed to dedicate my time and resources to turning this vision into a reality.  It required a lot of courage.  St. Francis Xavier must have been with us.

     Lastly, as I spent those three days with the Jesuits among us, Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, Fr. Johnny Go, Fr. Ari Dy, Schol. Terence Ang, and Fr. Howard Lui (Jesuit superior of Macau), I was touched by how they have unselfishly dedicated their lives to God and to us.  It is because of them and people like them that my life and those of my friends and family have prospered.  I’d like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to all of them.

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