By Caeley Basa

The Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) community gathered on the third floor of the Formation and Learning Center on November 7 to commemorate the Feast Day of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Patron Saint of the ASHS.

The mass was presided over by Fr. Robbie B. Paraan of the Society of Jesus, who also shared a homily about three enlightening instances that highlighted the importance of following through with choices. 

Saint Aloysius “Luis” Gonzaga

First was with St. Aloysius, or “Luis” himself, where, from a very young age, he made the decision to pursue his faith and serve the Lord.

He embodied being a person with and for others, personally helping those affected by the plague, which ultimately led to his death at 23 years old.

“Still, he led a fulfilled life by living on his own terms and following his own dreams,” Fr. Paraan concluded.

Ressa Mayonan

Fr. Paraan then proceeded to narrate the life of Ressa Mayonan, who fought against all odds to reach her goal of being the first college graduate from her clan. 

According to him, Mayonan walked 8 hours straight from her dorm back to her hometown just to spend time with her family on the weekends and back again just to attend her class on time. 

Aside from that, she worked as a housekeeper to sustain her education, and she was able to graduate at 27 years old.

Senior High School Students

Afterwards, Fr. Robbie introduced the third and last person who shared a similarity with the first two—the students of the ASHS. 

He highlighted how all three were and are “very young,” thus saying that youth is a gift and that the students have a choice to make.

“Look at what you have before you and choose,” Fr. Paraan said, telling the students not to let having numerous options overwhelm them. “Don’t let life choose for you,” he added. 

The mass’s main beneficiary was the Bukidnon Mission District, which aims to alleviate poverty, prevent environmental degradation, and protect the Lumad people from the effects of government and rebel conflicts.

Following the mass, the cheer rally for the Paya/Prada basketball, chess, golf, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, track and field, and swimming varsity teams was held, with the rite of blessing the athletes presided over by Fr. Weng Bava.