Full of Spirit!

I went to visit my brother in the parish he was assigned but for the objective to be able to interview the  Diocesan Youth Director Fr. Levi Mantica. I visited them right before I went on a holiday vacation.

 

While I was talking to him, I can’t deny that I feel the fullness of the Spirit in him. At the time I was talking to him, I wished and hoped more priests would have his vigor and dedication in his vocation. He is not only full of inspiration and spirit but he sets his goals as a priest and director clearly and truthfully. You could not hear him talking things just generally but for him there’s a clear line for everything to be in proper order and for everyone to properly understand.

 

Q: In your observation of the World Youth Day in Australia this year, what is the common strength of the Roman Catholic youth?

 

The affirmation of the Catholic faith we profess— The gathering of the young people in prayer and in professing with our faith, in communion with the Pope is the strongest and highest declaration and position of acknowledging our faith universally. The unity of prayers of these young people who are the hope of our future with the Pope is the most powerful and strongest.

 

Q: What aspect needs to be strengthened in a Catholic youth?

 

Part of our faith is its integral formation. The basic doctrines of the Church where the young people do not only pray but have also understood the Church and its stand on the world issues. The Church has its own formation but is only less exposed to the young people who are very depicted with the temptations every second, every minute, every hour of their lives on the street, in school, at home, from media or entertainment.

 

People blame the Church for society’s problems because of the lack of application of the Church’s teachings. The teachings are an ongoing process. They have to be applied daily in our lives.

 

Applying the Church’s doctrines and teachings are both responsibilities of the leaders of the church and the people. The leaders’ actions should be louder than their sermons and the people should be open to embrace the truth and the good news for our salvation. It should have been more than the theories and knowing and understanding the Church but making them relevant in our daily lives.

 

 

Q: In the World Youth Day, what makes a Filipino youth standout among the other nationalities?

 

Foreign people ask why Filipino youth in general are happy despite the country’s situation with its poverty, corruption, etc. They question why Filipinos are cheerful and have a positive attitude towards life not only portraying the youth but the Filipino general. Our faith has given us the positive attitude to face life’s difficulties.

 

Q: As a Diocesan Youth Director, what are your goals?

 

As a director of the youth ministry in the diocese, my goal is to bring the young people to Jesus Christ and to bring Christ to the young people. It is very general. Basically, what is necessary in our faith? It is bringing the values and virtues of Christianity through apostolate and parishes. Reechoing the activities of the world youth day in the *DADITAMA then through vicariate and parishes then to the apostolate or ministries. It is actually the parish’ responsibility too on how they apply the activities.

 

*DADITAMA (Davao City, Digos, Tagum, Mati Diocese– the diocese(s) of all the provinces of Davao)

 

Q: What are your goals as a parish priest?

My goal as a parish priest is to have a basic mission and vision of the parish. This will be the constant guide of the parishioners and the parish itself to fulfill the purpose in general and to be successful in our plans, goals and projects. There should be sets of directions. It is difficult to hit the bull’s eye without a clear and straight direction. There is an existing mission vision of the parish decades ago but was not given such importance. We will use that mission vision statement as a tangible guide to all our projects and goals for this parish.

 

Q: As a priest, who are your role models?

 

 

When I was already in Theology in REMASE. They are my role models, I was like a plant. The first one was the one was like the one who planted in me the motivation for this vocation, the second one was the one who watered and continued to inspire me to this vocation and the third one continued to give me the light. Of course, the first and foremost inspiration is our highest priest the LORD Jesus Christ.

 

Fr. Magdaleno Ding Fabiosa: He has a strong impact in my priesthood and to my batchmates or classmates. He started to inspire us on our 4th year in college (Philosophy). He continued to inspire our batch when he became one of our professors in REMASE (Regional Major Seminary).

 

Fr. Felix Labor, he was the one who my SD (Spiritual Director) from 1^st yr to 3^rd yr. The most crucial part of my ministry was when I was about to go on a regency then he told me to reflect deeply and wait for the retreat.

 

Fr. Tagle who is a bishop now in Imus Cavite. I always attend his seminars or have in hand an audio record of one of his seminars.

 

If I were a plant they were the ones who planted me, watered me with inspirations and took care of me spiritually.

 

Fr. Levi is celebrating his birthday today, Happy birthday father and may you be blessed more!