Taking the leap of faith for service twice is a gift and a privilege. I am very happy that I am given this opportunity, and I thank God for my second life after surviving Covid. It feels good to be back with the Jesuits–after so many years–and their spirituality of a faith that does justice.
Forty-one years ago, the wooden Jesuit retreat house in Banawa, Cebu was the venue of the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines’ (JVP) year-end gathering and reflection. JVP is a programme that recruits, trains and sends volunteers for a year of service to marginalised communities, under-resourced schools, parishes, and non-government organisations. Back then, I was assigned at the Ateneo de Naga University to start the Social Integration Office and teach development economics.
Last month, in the very same place, at the Jesuit retreat house that has been newly renovated to be more comfortable and beautiful, I returned as a Jesuit volunteer with a new mission, as the Development Officer of the Timor-Leste Jesuit Region. I joined the other Development Officers of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) for a face-to-face meeting after two years of absence due to Covid-19.
Then and now it is remarkable how the Cebu Center for Ignatian Spirituality-Jesuit Retreat House, with the continuing support of its Filipino-Chinese benefactors, continues to be a venue for moulding young and not-so-young Jesuits and their lay partners to be unwavering animators for God’s greater glory. Finding myself once again as a Jesuit volunteer in the same place many years later made the send-off for my new work assignment as JVP-Asia more meaningful and affirming.
I met for the first time my co-workers in the development office in Dili, Silvino Alves, the Partnership-Building Associate, and Fr Joaquim Sarmento SJ, the Regional Superior of the Jesuits in Timor. It was a humbling experience to be with a core of committed people in a very difficult context of work trying to help create better peace futures with their people.
My companions in the province development offices, both Jesuits and lay, face difficult development and political challenges at the present and in the future. But the joy and audacity of serving those in need through our work was the dominating feeling and atmosphere. Through various workshops and writeshops, we learned together how to navigate with creativity the rigorous paths of resource generation.
JVP volunteers are usually sent in pairs. In six months, I will be joined by my wife, Josefina “Jo” Villareal Villanueva. She was part of JVP batches two and three assigned at San Andres High School in Maramag, Bukidon from 1981 to 1982 and in Ateneo de Naga High School from 1982 to 1983. This makes our time together in Timor a JVP couple volunteer experience. What awaits us is God’s will, and surely He will help us transcend in our renewed vocation of service above self, conscious of what we may offer as well as our limitations.
JCAP President Fr Tony Moreno SJ in his homily at the closing Mass encouraged all of us development workers to have zeal, joy, passion, and courage as we do God’s work entrusted to our care.
I am thankful to the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines for the opportunity to be a Jesuit volunteer again and to my family for allowing me to say “yes” to the invitation to be with the Jesuits and the people of Timor-Leste. May my work make me an instrument for regenerative development, one where resources are used to improve society’s well-being in a way that builds the capacity of the support systems needed for qualitative growth.
Cesar Geronimo H Villanueva is a peace futurist, transformative conflict worker and mediator, consultant on regenerative development, and a Jesuit volunteer. He may be reached at paxchv@gmail.com.