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Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Meeting with pope leads Cebuano to serve church
By JOVY S. TAGHOY
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
TAKING the challenge given by Pope John Paul II during his visit in 1995, a Cebuano is now on his way to becoming a full-fledged brother of the Society of Jesus.
Bro. Raymund Belleza can still vividly recall the message of the pope during a special mass for the 250 participants of the International Youth Forum inside the chapel of the University of Sto. Tomas, where he had delivered the challenge to the Filipinos.
“You, young Filipinos are very blessed. You have a vibrant youth in the Church. I challenge you to be agents of change in Asia,” Belleza said, quoting the message of the pontiff who visited Manila to address the thousands of delegates for the World Youth Day.
Belleza was also lucky to have had a brief chat with the pope after the mass when all of the delegates were given the opportunity to have an audience with John Paul, who died last Sunday dawn (local time).
“I thanked him for coming here (in the Philippines). He hugged me and I did not know how to describe my emotions—whether to cry or what,” Belleza recalled.
The International Youth Forum, Belleza explained, is the gathering of youth leaders worldwide, and the special mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II served as the culminating program.
Turning point
Belleza, 36, born to parents Severino, 75, and Milagros, 70, of Cebu City, said meeting the pope was the “turning point” for him to follow a religious vocation.
“Meeting the pope up close, face to face was like I felt the presence of God through him. You could really feel his aura. His presence brings calm and confidence. Sobra ang paghi-gugma nga gipakita sa Ginoo. He has done a lot for the Church,” Belleza said, who is now on his second year of theology studies in UST.
Fortunate as he was, Belleza said that during the mass, he was also chosen as one of the servers, given the task to hold the microphone for the pope.
Treasure
Belleza said he was so nervous at first, overwhelmed by the fact that he will be holding the microphone for the pope.
Belleza also met the pontiff in 1988 at the Vatican when he was invited by the Taize Community, a religious congregation in Europe.
Looking back, Belleza said he felt so blessed and would always treasure his wonderful experiences meeting the pope.
“Every time I share my vocation to other people, I always include the pope because it was him who inspired me to follow this path,” Belleza said.
(April 5, 2005 issue)
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