From Xaverian Mission Newsletter by Patrick Santianez Salazar, SXMarch 8, 2010
Brother Patrick Santianez Salazar is a Xaverian Missionary from the Philippines, working in Sierra Leone prior to completing his last year of theology. He took his first vows May 1, 2004.
“We are made for service to care for all of humanity…” This is one of my
favorite lines in the song called Service. Jesus Christ many times asked his
disciples to serve, not to be served. He taught his disciples and all of us that
life is about serving others; it is about giving up ones life for the other, for
our friends.
When I left the Philippines on June 24, 2008 and was assigned here in Sierra
Leone one thing was clear to me, that I am here to serve. But how? I really did
not know at the beginning. It was only later that I began to discover my small
contribution to our work in Sierra Leone.
In my first months I was struck by how hopeful people were here, in spite of the
great poverty and aftermath of destruction from the war. They love to sing and
dance in every celebration, especially during the Eucharist or the Liturgy of
the Word. Sierra Leoneans are indeed a warm and generous people. Everybody is
their brother and sister. They like to greet people even if they don’t know that
person. They say “thank you” when they see you working or doing something. It is
their openness to me that encourages me, in spite of some problems and fears.
I try to share whatever gifts the Lord has given me with the people I serve
here. Four times a week, in the evening hours, I visit the Christian communities
I am assigned to for catechesis in order to prepare them for baptism and later
for confirmation. Most of the catechumens are youth and there are some adults.
In them I see their enthusiasm and interest to embrace Christianity. I admire
their perseverance and determination to wait for the sacraments of initiation, a
two year journey.
Every Sunday I share the Liturgy of the Word with the communities. Sierra
Leonean Catholics have a high regard for ritual in the celebrations. Just by the
way they dress, which is quite formal, I can see their respect for the
Eucharist. Some of them are really prepared and well versed in the scripture
readings for that particular Sunday. One thing that impresses me is the prayer
of the faithful when the people pray and raise their problems and concerns to
God. Through the intercessory prayers they show their reliance on God in their
struggles and their determination to be faithful.
Last academic year I taught mathematics in one of our junior secondary schools.
It was not an easy task to teach this subject since most of the students found
it difficult to follow the lessons due to a lack of books and mathematics texts.
In order to lessen the uneasiness of this subject, I gave the students extra
time. My presence in the school was not only to teach but also to share my faith
in Jesus even though most of them are Muslim.
In serving the Lord in this country my talents developed and my trust and
confidence in myself was strengthened. I have had my share of struggles, too,
such as finding the language difficult, coming down with malaria, and
traditional practices among the people I have yet to understand. But one thing
is clear: God never abandons us. He provides me with insight and reasonably good
health that enables me to share in the mission of the Church here in Sierra
Leone. My missionary life is a smol-smol service to
His Kingdom.