Security guard finds direction in seminary life

CEBU, Philippines - While before he used to carry a gun, 30-year-old Jake Barcenas now brings with him the Holy Bible.

He took a different career path before he decided to step into the priestly vocation, never imagining in his youthful years in Carcar City, Cebu that the consecrated life would beckon. But it happened.

The security-guard-turned-seminarian completed his five-year philosophy studies at the San Carlos Seminary College in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City and is among those who will graduate this April 17, paving the way for a five-year theology study required before he may be ordained as priest.

Though baptized as a Roman Catholic, he admitted that he was influenced by another religious belief. But Barcenas, the fourth of eight siblings, remained a Catholic while the rest of his family, including his parents, converted to another Christian denomination.

He said, though, he not only struggled with his spiritual life before, his desired career was not also clear to him.

He said he was unsure what he wanted to pursue in college, so he ended up jumping from one degree program to another. He spent one year studying information technology before he shifted to customs administration, which he persevered on only until the second year.

Back then, he juggled his studies with his work as a security guard, using his salary to support his schooling. He realized, however, that his wage was not enough to support himself; so he decided to drop his collegiate studies and became a full-time security guard.

In four years, he got assigned to several locations, with his last assignment being what he considered as the turning point of his life.  He was detailed at the Cebu Archdiocesan Shrine of San Pedro Calungsod inside the Archbishop’s Palace compound along D. Jakosalem Street in Cebu City.

There, he befriended a few seminarians, and hearing the Holy Masses during his duty hours, his perspective and views in life and on religion changed.  That time, he still desired to continue his studies, and ended up having to weigh if he would continue college or enter the seminary. He chose the latter.

It was not easy, he recalled.  As enrollees, they had to be assessed thoroughly if indeed they had the purest of intentions to be part of the clergy someday.

He said one priest suggested for him to take a rest for one year to give his self a moment to reflect and discern what path he should choose. After a year, his decision remained the same.

Inside the seminary, Barcenas discovered that despite the strict implementation of restrictions and prohibitions, he found that he was happy inside the seminary.

He said the life in the seminary is not a mere classroom set up, as the person is also molded in all aspects to make him a faithful individual and member of the society.

He advised young people to always listen to the desires of their heart, as these are more likely what God wants them to do.

He also said that hard work and determination should be coupled with prayer because without it, everything is useless.

“Nothing happens with the absence of God,” he said. (FREEMAN)