After eight years I once again returned to the seminary. It was then I realized that there are fewer seminarians for the priesthood. When I left for a new assignment in 2015, the count was about 160 seminarians spread within a 10-year program. Now it is less than 100.

According to a study, the four reasons why there are fewer seminarians: 

1. Celibacy
2. Families are smaller 
3. Sexual Abuse Scandals
4. Socioeconomic Expectations

On the other hand, though, the harvest is great. Meaning not only are there 8 billion people. How many of us are lost? Just look at the world that we live in: In order to find happiness, the wrong is made right and the right is made wrong; in order to find happiness, we pursue money and material things never mind if those who have less in life are disadvantaged; In our pursuit of happiness, we try to pursue so many things even when they are against our faith, morals and natural law – the Harvest is Great.

While the priesthood count is decreasing, now more than ever, the lay has to stand up for the faith. It is said that there are about 1.3 billion Catholics. That is about 1 in every 8 people in the world. Why then, is our faith so maligned, so persecuted which for sure they won’t do to other faiths? On the other hand, it is not a perfect institution but it has built Western civilization. 

That is why 3 challenges for us:

1. Know our faith. It has been observed that we Filipinos are sacramentalized but not evangelized. May we truly live out our faith not only externally but internally as well.
2. Live out our faith. The faith existed in the early ages because people were willing to give their life for their faith. Now how many of us would rather just keep quiet and look the other way when injustices are being done. We remember the saying, “All it needs for evil to prevail is for good people to keep quiet.”
3. Who is our true Master? Jesus said, “We cannot have two Masters. We are going to love one and despise the other”. We cannot love both God and money. Our faith is compromised if Sunday is for the Lord and the rest of the week is for the pursuit of material things. 

In closing, a poem:

The life is short and no one knows when the Final call comes, without any notice sudden Leaving no chance to express one’s regrets And to repent or to compensate the wrong The time is ripe for all of us to build bridges, Mend fences, and make the world, a better place.

As we pray for more priests, in our own lives we pray that we may know our faith, live out our faith, and make God truly the center of our lives. Everything else, we will just leave behind.