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Homily – CEAP Convention Closing Mass

‘Yes Youth Can’
September 27, 2019
Iloilo Convention Center

‘WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?’ (Cf. Luke 9:18-21)

Bp. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon (Diocese of Daet)

Opening

Fr. Joel Tabora, the President of CEAP, the Officers and Members of the CEAP
Board of Trustees, Our new President, Fr. Elmer Dizon, Fathers, Awardees &
Heroes, Distinguished Guests, School Heads, Teachers, Students, Partners, Our
Host Region – CEAP Region VI, headed by Fr. Jobert Villasis, Friends, Brothers
and Sisters, maayong aga!

Today is the feast of St. Vincent de Paul. It is providential that we remember him
as we close the convention. The first educational institutions here in Jaro were
under the intercession of St. Vincent de Paul: the St. Vincent Seminary (150 years)
and the Colegio de San Jose (147 years). The Padres Paules and the Hijas de
Caridad were the first who took upon themselves the education of this diocese.

Jaro was the only diocese created in 1865, after the first four dioceses, during the
Spanish period. The rest of the Philippine dioceses were erected from 1910,
American period.

One of the reasons, I believe, for inviting me is that: I also represent the Young.
When I was invited, I was the youngest bishop. Youth flies fast. I also accepted
because, I wanted to have the Icon of Christ the Teacher. I remember they give
the Icon to mass celebrants. But also because I miss CEAP! As soon as I entered
the convention center, I felt invigorated –especially seeing colleagues learning
one again. For to learn is to serve. Teaching and preaching is service. And we
preach with our lives. [Thank you! This is the end of my homily, as they asked me to
shorten my homily.]

Situation

The past days of this convention had been enriching, challenging and inspiring, I
can see. Being here in Iloilo is a different experience.
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As we close, once again, we ask: ‘What now? What can we do? After seeing the
many concerns of our young people: from cyber-bullying to decreasing
scholarship funds; from depression to gender and zipper concerns, from the
challenges of the digital economy and 4IR to the current legal concerns, we ask
ourselves: ‘What can I begin with when I return home to my school community?’

Certainly, I do not have the all the answers to these questions. And I believe the
resource persons, many of them young people, whether in the plenary, panel and
concurrent sessions, have given indications, directions, tips and takeaways for
meaningful ministry to our young.

Gospel Response

May I, however, propose an answer that comes from the gospel. Jesus had two
questions. ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ (Luke 9:18) To this, the disciples
were quick to answer. But the second questions silenced them: ‘Who do you say I
am?’ (Luke 9:20)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, fellow administrators, teachers, fathers, sisters and
brothers – this is also a question addressed to us by our young people -our pupils,
students, faculty or staff even. They have this question in their hearts: ‘Who do
you say I am?’

If we consider the first question: “Who do people say the youth are?” We heard
answers as: They are digital natives. According to others they are good at multi-
tasking; they have many virtual friends but less real friends. According to
studies: they have difficulty committing themselves; they easily get discouraged
and are prone to depression, etc.

But our young are interested to know ‘who they are to us.’ In view of this, we can
ask ourselves: Do we really know our young people -our pupils and students, in
the flesh? Do we provide space and time to truly listen to them? When we stop to
greet them along the corridor, are we truly interested in them? Are we concerned
about their deepest questions? Obviously we cannot do this to all, but may be to
one, or two or some. Mother Theresa said: ‘If you cannot feed all, feed at least
one.’ But she herself fed beyond one.

Do we not hear them saying: ‘Nobody wants to listen to me. My parents and my
teachers have no time for me.’
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Dear educators, when you go back to your school, kindly look around your office
or classroom, take a little more time to notice them. Look them in the eye, and
you may see the question: ‘Father, Sister, Teacher, Madam: Who do you say, I am?’

Last August, in a brief conversation with a youth group, I was interested to know
what motivated them to join and stay with the group. One of them said: ‘It is here
that I feel I belong to a family.’ Upon saying this, immediately, tears flowed from
her eyes. Another said: ‘Here, I am not judged. I am accepted for who I am.’ And
one said: ‘I discovered that here I can share my talents.’ If you have a son or
daughter, they ask you: ‘Pa, Ma –who am I for you?’

When I was appointed Bishop, I felt sad as I realize I will not get to spend the
same time with young people. As Director, it was always refreshing to see the
little ones. Although on many occasions, I felt guilty for not having more time
with them.

Dear friends, they have this question in their hearts: ‘Who do people –the
president, director, principal, teacher, say I am?’ Obviously, it is not easy to
answer the question if we barely have time for them.

Brothers and sisters, may we have enough time for and with the young. ‘They are
not dependent on us. Without them, we have no work. They are not an
interruption. They are the purpose of the school. They are not extraneous to the
school’s vision and mission, they are at the heart of the school’s vision and mission.
We are not doing them a favor by listening them. They are doing us a favor by
giving us the opportunity to do so.’ (Adapted from Gandhi) Our young people are
the very reason for the school.

‘Who Are We’ to the Young

There is also an other side of the question is: ‘Who do the young/the students, say
you are?’ ‘Who are you to them?’ Or ‘What are you to them?’ It helps to know,
how they call you; their impressions about you. If you care to know, you may be
surprised at their answers. What they say will reveal the kind of relationship you
have with them.

‘Who do you say I am?’ Is an invitation to a relationship. Discipleship is in fact a

relationship. The young are persons, like us, needing recognition, appreciation
for what they can do, seeking answers, seeking inspirations, longing for a family.
There is always the young person in us. Who do you say that I am? is an
invitation to open the book of life; the book of faith.
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Addressed to Us

‘Who do you say I am?’ This question to the disciples, is also addressed to us by
Jesus.

While the first questions seems to point to what others say, the second is direct.
‘Who do you say I am,’ is a personal question.

Brothers and sisters, following Jesus is not simply a professional endeavor. ‘Hindi
trabaho lang.’ Hindi trabaho lang ang pagtuturo at ang paghahanap; as well as the
shepherding the school. Our investigation, research, teaching and governance –all
that we do is not ‘trabaho lang’, I hope. It is something personal, as they involve
the totality of our person. We are called to be examples of this to our young.

Following and knowing Jesus is a personal task. For who is this Teacher called
Jesus? He was a carpenter’s son, who was also a fisherman, a healer and a
shepherd. He sought people to be fishers of men. He made them his friends. He
is a healer who himself suffered wounds. He is the Good Shepherd who is ready
to offer his life, for he is not a hireling. He is the Son of God, who offered his life
on the Cross. For Jesus, the mission was not ‘trabaho lang’.

Our young/our pupils and students, need to see that our teaching and our
preaching, our running of the school is not ‘trabaho lang’. It is our life and our
calling. That like Jesus we teach by example. And the best example for the young
is our lives. Our lives are the best books, the living instructional material.

Addressed to the Young

‘Who do you say I am?’ It is also addressed to the young. Sadly, many young
people do not know how deal with this question, perhaps because they have not
heard or barely heard about Jesus. Others say: there is no need to know him.

The young of our time have many questions, difficult and new questions. Pope
Francis reminds us, we must humbly accept that we do not have the answers to
all questions. Yet, we need to show them that answers do not only come from
logic. They come from faith. Many of the deep concerns that disturb us are not
matters of the mind, but of the heart.

In the face of many difficult questions, may we see the gift of Faith. The disciples
could not answer the question. Peter answered: You are the Christ of God. Jesus
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replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by
flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)

This is the gift of Faith. We need to witness to the Young our Faith in the Lord
Jesus, in the Trinity.

Last Friday before the fluvial procession, in Caceres, there was a conversation
between the Apostolic Nuncio and the Youth of Caceres. One of the questions
was: what do we do with the young who say they are no longer believers; that
they have no God.

The nuncio’s answer was: the questions they ask are also our questions. As they
are concern about suffering, the mystery of evil – we are also concerned about
these. But we have Faith. We believe in God. There is Someone who accepts us
despite our unworthiness. But if we believe God is dead, then everything comes
to an end.

In the face of depression, unbelief, violence, bullying, consumerism –we profess

Jesus, the Christ of God. As we grapple with many educational concerns and are
seriously troubled, may be also be troubled when our young miss knowing Jesus.
For Jesus is our light. (Cf. John 8:12; John 1:6-9)

As Catholic Educators, we too grapple with many questions. The young are
encouraged when they see that we too grapple with questions; that we too are
imperfect; that we too rely on God’s mercy. Our intelligence and talents have
limits, yet we have our Faith in Jesus.

May we show the young that our Faith is not like a uniform that can be hanged in
the closet on non-class days. They need to see that our Faith is in our skin, and
our blood. The people of our time want to see a living faith.

May we show that our faith in Jesus, in the Trinity brings us joy and hope. The
absence of God, leads to despair. We have the Gospel which brings us joy – the
joy of the Gospel. (Gaudium Evangelii)

In a recent experience in Rome, with the new bishops. We usually eat at the same
table. We were a happy group. Towards the end of the session, a young
seminarian approached me and said: Now many want to go to the Philippines.
You are a happy people. Joy attracts. Hope is contagious.

Our school community shines all the more when our achievers give witness in
faith to Jesus. In the PCSS, we affirm the centrality of Jesus. May we aspire to
form young people who will become a leaven for society. Our identity and
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mission cannot be but anchored on JESUS. (See PCSS, Defining Characteristics of

an Excellent Catholic School)

Who do you say I am: The Suffering Servant

‘Who do you say that I am?’ Peter’s answer was: ‘You are the Christ of God.’ (Luke
9:20) He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said,
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests,
and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9:21)

Who is this Jesus? He is the Christ who offers his life for us. In a world of
purported panaceas, of wealth, pleasure and enjoyment, we profess a Lord who
suffers for us. JESUS is a teacher who teaches us the lesson of the cross.

To the young who are sensitive, perfectionist, needing inner strength and
resilience –we need to introduce the Lord Jesus. It is still Jesus. On the cross,
while others see failure and defeat, we see life and victory –the power of God’s
mercy and love.

Tomorrow, we will face new concerns, present gadgets will become obsolete and
technology will improve, there will be new educational concerns, our woes may
worsen, our battles more difficult, our enrollment may drop, or our schools may
rise to the top –we need to face all these. But may we not forget JESUS, Yesterday,
Today and Forever. At the heart of Catholic Education is knowing and
befriending JESUS and knowing GOD more deeply.

Catholic Education is preparing our children to receive the gift of Faith, that
allows one to comprehend, the mystery of the Suffering Servant (Cf. Isaiah 53);
the Savior who dies on the Cross. He who is ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life.’
(John 14:6) Pope Francis reminds us all: ‘God loves us. Jesus Saves. Christ is alive.’
(Christus Vivit)

An Encouraging Encounter

Last week, I went to Naga for the Peñafrancia Festivities. As I visited the school,
two young boys grade 4 pupils were walking with me. Then one was murmuring:
‘Tell him na’ (referring to me). The other one was a bit shy. Then first boy urged
him. He obliged. He said shyly: ‘We miss you, Father.’ It was refreshing to hear the
children say: ‘We miss you Father’.
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I realized the impact, we have on the young. There were times, in my work as
School Director, given the many challenges one has to face, from the smallest
member of the school, the security guard, etc. You wonder whether you are
making an impact on the young. Am sure, our teachers ask the same.

Last Saturday, after the fluvial procession, one brother priest approached me, He
said: Bishop, thank you for your graduates. They are now our helpers in our social
media. They were the ones who produced the materials for the Peñafrancia.
They are very good and creative.

This is testimony of what our young people can do. They wish to showcase their
talents. They long for appreciation. Truly, they are the ‘NOW’ of God, of the
Church and the Society. (Cf. Christus Vivit, Chapter 3)

This was encouraging for me. I always tell myself: If can only influence at least
one pupil or one student to become a better person, that is much consolation.
After all, this is God’s work. A single person CAN make a difference in the lives of
others. A single young person CAN initiate change for the better. Yes YOUTH
CAN, yes WE CAN.

Closing: ARISE CEAP!

At the close of this CEAP Annual Convention, you already have in your minds
things to do. Today, Jesus confronts us: ‘Who do you say I am.’ Perhaps, by
seeking to answer the question, we may all the more discover what we CAN do
and what we NEED to do.

[By the way, there is a good book by Jim Collins, with the title: From Good to Great. One
of the principles there: Before thinking about WHAT to do, consider first WHO? If you
get good people, the work will follow.]

We believe we CAN. For we trust in the power of our young. We are Catholic
Educators who believe in the power of goodness and truth. We believe in the
power of the cross, for the cross is the symbol of love and life. We believe justice
is possible. We believe love is stronger than fear; that mercy and forgiveness
heal.

Brothers and sisters, it is Catholic Education that dares to profess and teach these
affirmations. Once again thank you for this opportunity. Thank you all of you,
thank you to Fr. Joel and the Board. Best wishes to the new President, Fr. Elmer.
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As the angel said to Elijah, CEAP ‘arise and eat for the journey is long’ (1 Kings
19:17). Yes we CAN! Yes Youth CAN.

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