It seems we just started a few days ago, and it is already time to think of departure. After the Christmas Ministries spent in the Mountain Province and in the coastal towns of Isabela Province, the Tertians spent the whole month of January for the Study of the Institute—difficult and challenging but rewarding work that confronts us both with the ideals set forth for us by Ignatius and with the realities of today’s world.

February is the month dedicated to the last experiment of the Tertianship. It is called “elective” because each Tertian is invited to personally discern and choose where he would most profitably spend these three weeks, in continuity with his experience of the long retreat and in preparation for his future ministries. Some Tertians will return to the areas of their Christmas Ministries in the Mountain Province or Isabela, and two in the group will be helping out in our Jesuit parishes of Cebu and Manila. One tertian will spend some time with the street children in a residence of the Tulay ng Kabataan in Manila and another one will put himself at the service of the elderly poor with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa’s sisters). Two will go all the way to Mindanao—one of them for exposure to Environmental Science for Social Change in the Bukidnon area, and another one for immersion in cultural dialogue with the Mindanawon Initiatives in Cultural Dialogue in the Davao area.

And as all good things eventually come to an end, so will the Tertianship, on March 10, after a few days of evaluation, reflection and prayer. Then little by little, they will return home, eager to be missioned where the Society will need them, AMDG.