When two diverse path converge , this is what happens...AMDG!
Message for Fr. Arsenio C. Jesena , S.J. on his 74TH Birthday
Sept.14,2014 at Ateneo de Manila College Chapel,Loyola Heights,Quezon City
Good afternoon everyone!
I am Nellie Sonido Feng, a friend of Fr. JJ for 14 years now.
I represent not only myself but also The YAYEE Angels of Cebu, my loved ones, my workshop participants and all the people Fr. JJ has inspired through his YAYEE books that I helped share, one person at a time.
We are truly blessed to be a part of this gathering where we join Fr. Arsenio C. Jesena, SJ on his 74th birthday
in thanking God, our Creator, for the gift of life and the gift of unconditional love.
In my little way, I would like to take this rare opportunity to honor our dear birthday celebrant by showing glimpses of his impact on my life and how constantly, he has inspired me to become a better person. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. All for God’s greater glory!
It is said that our mind sees in pictures… pictures which in turn could invoke profound thoughts and emotions.
When I think of Fr. JJ, SJ, a slideshow presentation would slowly unfold inside my head.
In my mind’s eye,
SLIDE # 1 is the red cover of YAYEE 2 showing the picture of a tiny lady with silver hair kissing the cheek of a bubbly, chubby, curly haired man with eyeglasses.
Always, a wave of gratefulness would fill my heart whenever I imagine this.
You see, my first encounter with Fr.JJ was through the pages of this little red book in a bookstore somewhere in uptown Cebu, in the middle of the year 2000.
It was wonderful to hear God gently talking to me in every line of Fr. JJ’s YAYEE.
In fact, I have yet to find a book besides the Holy Bible that speaks to me like YAYEE!
It is clearly the spirit of Jesus moving in our midst!!!
SLIDE # 2 is the cover of YAYEE 4
showing an oil painting by the late Joey Velasco of Jesus embracing an old man.
This picture consoled me greatly when my own father passed away .
Somehow I was assured that my father is finally home in God’s embrace.
Being enlightened by this beautiful depiction of God’s assurance was made possible by Fr.JJ's keeping in touch with me through the years.
SLIDE # 3 is Joey Velasco’s HAPAG where Jesus dines with the street children.
I see myself as the starving child under the table, crouched between two stray cats, intent in putting scraps of scavenged food in his mouth, to stave the pangs of hunger in his stomach ...
This moving picture also embodies my goal to reach out to those who have fallen into the pits of desolation and despair.
Fr. JJ has believed in me and supported me in every way he could to help me bring God closer to those who need the healing and forgiveness of God.
Aside from sending me YAYEE books, YAYEE audios, resource books for counseling and Ignatian spirituality, he also gave me a YAYEE grant, in the summer of 2003 so I could learn Hypnosis and Hypnothrerapy under Fr. Jaime Bulatao, SJ in Ateneo de Manila.
Upon learning that I had started to facilitate Healing of the Inner Child Seminar Workshops, Fr.JJ sent me many replicas of the 12-week-old fetus named Joshua for use in my talks.
Fr.JJ is the wind beneath my wings and he is one of my faithful prayer warriors who silently pray with me for the forgiveness and healing of my participants.
SLIDE # 4 is a picture of Jesus gently knocking outside a thick and heavy door that could only be opened from the inside.
This picture is a portrayal of Fr.JJ’s non-imposing, unconditional approach in bringing Jesus to those who have yet to know that God is gently and always waiting for them!
Often, people would tell me that they like my non confrontational approach because it gives them the freedom to open up and accept God and His grace at their own pace.
And it is the book YAYEE and its author which have taught me The JJ Way of gentle healing so that they might at last, come home again.
Fr.JJ has a heart so big it can contain all the broken pieces of others' shattered hearts. He has inspired me to wait on the Holy Spirit in my own life and in my ministry of gently bringing Jesus to those who needed Him. “Indi lang ta mamilit, Neng.” (“ Let us not force it, Neng") He says.
Fr. JJ has encouraged me to bring Jesus gently to my participants, never to change them, never to forcibly convert them but to "JUST LOVE THEM".
In simply loving a person and seeing her inner worth in her most unlovable moment , I have learned from Fr.JJ that I am actually inviting her to the ever-open, merciful heart of God.
And so, in a nutshell: "JUST LOVE THEM" is what I call “ The JJ Way”.
And The JJ Way is the legacy of Fr.JJ to me personally.
SLIDE # 5 is Joey Velasco’s portrait of Fr. Juni.
The picture is simply Fr.JJ looking like Fr.JJ and in his simple love, exuding the healing presence of our caring and loving God.
This portrait is the one and only portrait painted by the great Joey Velasco of someone who is not a close member of the Velasco family.
In the portrait, Fr. JJ is wearing a multi-colored striped T-shirt. These stripes remind me of sugarcanes, the sacadas of sugarland and the sacada priest.
I also think of the passage from Isaiah 53:5 “... by His stripes, we are healed”. From this picture,there emanates the healing presence of a loving God.
Let me tell you a secret: many sick people have been healed as if by a miracle because of this picture. And I always bring this picture with me whenever I give talks or facilitate healing workshops.
This picture is Fr.JJ looking back at me, rooting for me, encouraging me to bring Jesus gently to my participants , never to change , never to convert but to "JUST LOVE THEM".
SLIDE # 6 is a picture of Fr. JJ today. It is found on page 78 of Yayee 8.
Fr. JJ is visibly in pain. His eyes are closed in intense contemplation.
Fr. JJ meant a lot of things to many people. To me, he is the wounded healer. The wounded healer, human, fallible but forgiven and touched by God so he could touch those who hunger for God's presence and grace. He is also my Manong, my non judgmental older brother and my lifetime spiritual director.
Lastly, SLIDE # 7 is the picture of Fr. JJ found in the inner back cover of Yayee 6.
Fr. JJ is outdoors, under the shade of a tree. He sits on a chair. There is a little girl seated on his lap. Fr. JJ is holding a cane, his right hand pointing at something faraway. The beautiful little girl looks where fr. JJ points.
My brothers and sisters, I see myself as that little girl. I am secure and trusting and happy and warm in his embrace.
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