By Regina Elaine Vendivil

The Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) celebrates the Feast of All Saints & Blessed of the Society of Jesus through a community mass presided by Rev. Fr. Manuel Francisco, S.J., held at the ASHS Grounds and was live streamed via Zoom, on Friday, November 5, 2021.

Fr. Manuel started his homily with his first point stating that God does not delight in His people’s suffering, nor does He condone their oppression and exploitation. 

Fr. Francisco then moved on to his second point: Being persecuted, calumniated, and insulted is not what makes us blessed. 

“We are blessed because of the manner we deal with our suffering. We become blessed when we deal with insults and persecution with virtue,” Fr. Manuel said. He added that one’s patience, fortitude, and capacity to understand and forgive are the virtues that make the people blessed. 

He then talked about the country’s continuous fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and mentioned how he has been praying to Saint Peter Claver, one of the saints of the Society of Jesus and the patron saint of slaves, to ask for protection and perseverance. 

“What makes him (Saint Peter Claver) blessed was his compassion for the slaves… his care for and attention to those in need,” Fr. Manuel said. 

Fr. Manuel also stated that we are invited to a life of virtue and to be blessed, as well as to be warriors of truth amidst the proliferation of fake news and historical revisionism and to walk in the way of peace amidst so much violence, chaos, and misery

“As the senior high school community of the Ateneo de Manila University, [our mission] is to feed the hungry in our midst. To gather and harness our resources and feed the hungry around us,” Fr. Manuel said. 

He then reminded us that the Lord enjoins us with our missions: Feed the poor, to be warriors of truth, and to walk in the way of peace.

“And by doing so, we too might be blessed like the saints and the blessed of the Society of Jesus,” Fr. Manuel ended his homily.

The celebration was followed by the Turnover Ceremony of Batch 2020’s Legacy Project, and the blessing of St. Luigi Gonzaga Sundial as well as the landscaping and beautification of the ASHS courtyards.

Photo Source: Alexandria Buenaventura