Erl Dylan J. Tabaco is a Columban seminarian from the Philippines. As part of his seminary training to become a Columban missionary priest, Erl spent a year of pastoral experience in a Columban parish in Lima, Peru. Recently returned to the seminary in the Philippines, he shares with us some of the lessons he learnt during his time in Peru.
My life has been greatly enriched by the wonderful people of the Columban parish of “Nuestra Señora de las Misiones”, (Our Lady of the Missions) in Lima, Peru, where I recently completed one year’s pastoral experience. The people I met there taught me many important lessons and helped me grow and mature in my vocation.
To begin with, I learnt so much about parish pastoral ministry from the three Columban priests who minister there, parish priest Fr Edward O’Connell from England, Fr John Hegerty from Australia and Fr Lucano Hwa Ku from Korea. They taught me how to be a good missionary not only in words but especially in the way you lived out your vocation. These priests accompanied and supported me every step of the way during my time in Peru.
Our Lady of the Missions parish is one of four Columban parishes in the Diocese of Carabayllo which is located in the poor, northern suburbs of Lima. It comprises 12 vibrant chapel communities, each with their own lay pastoral leaders and each one named after a patron saint.
During my time there, I was assigned to support two chapel communities, “Our Lady of the Rosary” and “the Miraculous Medal”. I helped prepare for the Sunday Eucharist, visited the sick and did sacramental preparation particularly among the youth preparing for confirmation.
I also learnt many important lessons from the people. I learnt how to support them in both their good times and in their bad times. As I struggled and stumbled at time in my newly learnt Spanish language, I had to become a good listener.
I remember one time when one of the young people preparing for confirmation came to me with a problem. I did my best with my limited Spanish to listen to what he was saying. He noticed my desire to listen and be with him at this difficult time. At the end of the conversation, I was surprised when he told me that my listening presence had consoled him somewhat.
I apologized to him for being unable to properly express myself and counsel him more. But he replied that he had noticed my non-verbal communication. He was able to understand my message because I spoke the language of the heart through my facial expressions. I was really moved by that. I then realized that when you are present to people in their situation, your listening presence is what matters most, even if you don’t say a word.
That encounter inspired me to be more confident in relating with the people. I learnt not to pretend to be different from my real self because people would easily notice it. I realized that people are grateful if you stay true to yourself and accept your limitations and weaknesses while also using your gifts.
After this, I began to widen my horizons by forming good relationships with the elderly men and women at the chapels. They were very warm and welcoming especially when I visited them in their houses. Regardless of how poor they were, they always offered me something to eat and would always say, “Esta casa es tu casa” (this house is your house). From these people I learnt what sharing is all about.
There was one old woman, a widow with a down-syndrome child who really touched me. Every Saturday when I cleaned one of the churches, she always dropped by after collecting discarded used bottles and newspapers from the streets. She made a precarious living for herself and her child selling these for a small amount to a recycle business.
This woman would always greet me by hugging me for some time. After that she would hold out her hand which contained a sweet and some bread. Her simple gesture overwhelmed me and still influences me to be more generous with others. Every time I think of her I am reminded of the widow in the Gospels, who out of her poverty gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4).
Looking back now from the Philippines, I feel that my time in Peru really helped me to become more committed to my vocation as a future missionary priest. I pray that all I learnt from the people of Peru will continue to inspire me to follow the values of the Gospel.
Just like the Peruvian dance, called “Huayno”, that I was taught while there, where one holds hands together, I will always be reminded of my strong connection with that beautiful land and beautiful people where I was called by God for one year to serve in love, joy and humility and to learn many important lessons.
Erl Dylan J. Tabaco is a Columban seminarian from the Philippines.