Serving Jesus “Smol-Smol” (meaning “a little”)

From Xaverian Mission Newsletter by Patrick Santianez Salazar, SXMarch 8, 2010

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Patrick Santianez Salazar - Serving Jesus Smol-Smol
Patrick Salazar - Serving Jesus “Smol-Smol” (meaning “a little”)

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.