By Ace Dizon

The Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) commemorated the feast day of St. Joseph through a Eucharistic Celebration last March 19, Tuesday, at the third floor of the Formation Learning Center. 

The mass for Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, coincided with the social involvement mass.

As a mass dedicated for thanksgiving, the Christian Service and Involvement Program (CSIP) and Tulong Dunong (TD) partners were invited. The CSIP foster parents, TD kids, and coordinators had a program after the mass.

The classes of 12-Pro (publication materials), 12-Walpole (backdrop), and 12-Oldcorne (mass readers) sponsored the Eucharistic Celebration. The beneficiary of the mass is the Busog-Puso Feeding Program of the Jesuit Mission Station.

Fr. Wilfredo Samson SJ, the chaplain of Sacred Heart Mission Station of Caloocan, was the mass’ main presider.

Looking for Tahanan

In his homily, Fr. Samson said that the word “tahanan” is a combination of “tahan” and “na” which means that the home is a place where one feels safe.

He remarked that Jesus was never lost at the temple because He knew where His tahanan was and it was clear to Him that God wanted Him to be at the temple.

Fr. Samson explained that Jesus’ obedience was inherited from His home, composed of His parents—Mary and Joseph. Joseph’s obedience was emphasized during the time he followed God’s will for him to be the parent of Jesus even if he wanted a family of his own.

Fr. Samson explained that Joseph understood tahanan as the place where God wills him to be.

“Ang tahanan ay isang disposisyon ng pagsunod sa kalooban ng Diyos,” he said.

He said that it is important to look for the will of God because it leads to enlightenment.

“Kapag natagpuan mo ang kalooban ng Diyos, matatagpuan mo ang iyong kaligayahan. Kapag natagpuan mo ang mismong kalooban ng Diyos, matatagpuan mo na rin ang kahulugan ng iyong buhay,” Fr. Samson expressed.

Persons With and For Others

Fr. Samson challenged the students to ask themselves if they truly know where their “tahanan” is.

He said that God asks everyone to follow St. Joseph and serve others because it is through this that one is of service to God.

Fr. Samson emphasized that as children of St. Ignatius, ASHS students should embody the teachings of Fr. Arrupe—being persons with and for others—because “others” are our tahanan.

“Ang mismong pagpapakita ng pag-ibig ng Diyos at ng ating presensiya ang tunay na tahanan ng sinumang sumusunod sa kalooban ng Diyos at nagmamahal sa ating kapwa,” he said.