Story and Photos By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga
“We have to make a distinction between pleasure and true joy. Pleasure is fleeting.”
Rev. Fr. Don Besana, OAR, led the community of Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos “to reflect on our hearts” during the First Friday Holy Mass at the St. Ezekiel Moreno Covered Court, February 4, 2022.
Fr. Besana was the main celebrant as he is a member of CST-R Batch 1991. With him were concelebrants: Rev. Fr. Joel Alve, OAR, school director and principal; Rev. Fr. Vicente Ramon, Jr., OAR, school treasurer and community prior; and Rev. Fr. Renier Alviola, OAR, campus minister.
The Thomasian priest also reflected on the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist and reminded the faithful that the said saint had always been “Christ-centered” and always had a humble heart.
“It’s good to be back home.” Fr. Besana commended CST-R for continuing the First Friday Mass tradition, which was, he recalled, used to be celebrated at the school quadrangle with all the students, faculty and staff in attendance. He added that the First Thursday Confession was part of this tradition and commented that although distance learning prevented students from going to confession now, the faithful must continue to examine and reflect upon what is in the heart.
“Sometimes our hearts are wounded but we continue to grow,” he encouraged the faithful.
In conclusion, Fr. Besana asked the Thomasian community to join him in prayer for the aspiring lawyers from University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, University of San Jose-Recoletos and San Sebastian College-Recoletos who are taking the BAR examination beginning today, February 4.
