Life of a SCAn (School Requirement Blog)

PASKWA: Celebration of Jesus' Birth

December 25 marks the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This festive occasion spans 8 days, beginning from His birth and concluding on the day of Epiphany (January 2 this year).

As a devoted Catholic, our observance includes attending Aguinaldo Masses with family members each morning, preparing special foods on Christmas Eve for Noche Buena, exchanging gifts, and engaging in various other traditions.

However, the anticipated celebration did not go as planned.

In my school, the typical student vacation starts on December 17 after the preliminary examinations and Christmas Party. Their obligations were comparatively fewer than mine.

As a committed member of the Student Catholic Action, my responsibility involved allocating time to assist and serve in the Church, particularly at the St. Nicholas of Tolentino Oratory. I spent nights at our office with my fellow SCAN members, waking up early around 3:45 a.m. to prepare for the Aguinaldo Mass Sponsorship at 4:30 a.m. We praised the Lord through song, immersed ourselves in His Holy Word, and carried His presence with us. Given my talent in reading, not singing, I was assigned as the commentator or lector during the mass.

Being a student, financial stability was a challenge. So, we engaged in fundraising activities to sustain ourselves during the remaining days. Our routine included the "Daigon" every 6 p.m., where we sang carols door-to-door to raise funds for our needs, with support from the Campus Ministry. The donations contributed to our fund, aiding our year-long organizational activities in the coming year (2011).

Despite the exhaustion, I found joy in my Christmas vacation. It helped me realized that serving the Lord is the essence of my existence, and I am committed to continue serving Him forever.