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Help! The XVD Ass is sick (critically)
No, it’s not necessarily a proctologist we need but something, somebody familiar with the bottom area. I suppose every organization, like most anything else, has its highs and lows. I’m afraid right now the XVD is at a low point. You can feel it. We have hit rock bottom. There is no need to elaborate, to explain or to belabor the point. Instead, the time is better spent asking what’s going on, what’s wrong, and why. More importantly, what can be done about it.
There is no need to question or re-examine the merit or value of organization. It’s a given. The XVD Association’s mission vision speaks for itself. It is both noble and novel, unique and tailored-made for every XVD. But first let’s make a clear distinction between the individual XVD, i.e., every ex-seminarian who passed through the portals of Christ the King Seminary or any SVD-run seminary into the secular world; vis-à-vis the XVD Association itself (or “The Ass,” for brevity), i.e., that organization composed of such XVDs who agreed to meet on a regular basis to help, support, inspire and encourage one another to live and promote the stipulated common ideals or mission vision of the organization.
Perhaps, we have a good starting point right there in the term “agreed to meet on a regular basis.” . Whether the agreement was made formally and explicitly, i.e., sealed in pomp and ceremony, or informally, tacitly or by force of habit. After all, as any lawyer will tell you, the Articles of Incorporation is essentially an agreement, a pact among the so-called incorporators or members. I calculate that there must be at least 40 or 50 such XVDs, who at one time or another, willingly and enthusiastically, found the group to be their Association of choice. You might say they are the XVD “diehards,” the pillars, the committed. These guys invested a lot of time, sweat and tears for and in The Ass. Nowadays, they are down to about a handful, or less than 10%. Despite all sorts of efforts to motivate the members to meet, the attendance nowadays can only be described as dismal, discouraging and disappointing.
Are these guys discouraged or disappointed? Obvious, ba?
Is it perhaps the price of gas or the global economic crisis that makes us rather stay home? Is it the weather, or weder-weder lang? Or is it the lack of any rhyme, reason and purpose for such meetings? The lack of fellowship, concern or camaraderie (or genuine friendship) among the attendees? Is it the quality of the food and drinks, or lack thereof? Is it the venue or quality of the company? Is it perhaps the lack of integrity, character, drive, passion or sincerity and commitment among the membership?
For starters, I think I’ll pick “quality of the company.” As painful and offensive as it may sound, I believe many XVDs don’t really much like or care for each other’s company. Many of us must think we’re a bunch of losers, frustrated priests, frustrated theologians, philosophers, and poor businessmen. We don’t have enough millionaires amongst us. Many are jobless or marginalized, with a strong tendency toward mendicancy, the ugly side-effect of having been brainwashed in “charity.” We were not trained to be shrewd, we are apolitical, and generally without any practical or useful skills or expertise. XVDs generally make poor husbands. And lovers. After all, we were trained for the missionary position. For those of us who are looking or hungry for connections, The Ass offers very little in the way of prospects for useful, prestigious connections. We have no celebrities in our midst that we could rub elbows with or brag about. Or, am I asking for too much too soon?
On the other hand, many of us love to analyze and to argue. Paralysis by analysis. We tend to be policy-makers, thinkers, not implementors. We love to preach, debate, and – good heavens – pontificate. We love to speak ex cathedra – and then fall flat on our face. We also tend to be poor money managers. Accounting was never a major subject in the seminary. Priests and parishes, much less bishops, don’t account for their collections. We have a tendency to rely on and be careless with OPM – other people’s money. We thought the law on tithing was still in effect. We never heard of “donor fatigue.” Nor, about putting in an honest day’s work. Work is for farmers and sheep herders.
We like to think we were all born to be leaders, not followers; and most definitely not servants. We seem to have concluded that when Christ said “the greatest among you…shall be the servant of all,” (Mt. 23:11; Mk. 9:35) he was merely referring to the original twelve apostles. Maybe, we were led to believe that the term“servus servorum Dei” was reserved for the Pope alone. Or maybe we remember Jesus saying on another occasion, “I will no longer call you servants…” (Jn. 15:15).
Like many priests, we seem to have acquired the attitude that we are just a little better than the angels, that we were born to be served and not to serve, that it is a great blessing and privilege for anyone to kiss our hand. In short, we are not “service-oriented.” We should all have been ordained bishops. On the other hand, in fairness, I have known a few bishops in my time who hardly ever talk. They walk.
XVDs are expert talkers. We hate to listen, or to put it another way, we would rather be listened to. Hence, it is almost impossible to arrive at a consensus at any Ass meeting. If a guest speaker or resource person makes the mistake to agree to an open forum after his talk, the lengthy cerebral reactions that follow are usually much more intense and completely to the contrary.
Indeed, come to think of it, there’s a good project right there. We could organize a “Speaker’s Bureau.” We make a good bunch of talkies. Maybe there’s part of your problem right there. We just love to talk and outtalk one another. We are a veritable Tower of Babel. We speak in different tongues and tunes. Worse, we may each one have an agenda. But I hasten to add that there’s nothing really wrong about talking. Or even thinking. Or analyzing. As long as it doesn’t stop there. There must be time for listening to each other. There should be time for doing, for action. Thought, it has been said, must be a guide for action, not a substitute for it. Nowadays it’s also called “walking the talk.”
So, we become disappointed and disillusioned with The Ass. We stop attending the meetings. We give up on our XVD friends. We forget about our noble XVD mission vision. We decide to go it alone. Like another Mother Teresa, St. Mother Teresa.
As for me, I have not given up on The Ass. I believe it’s asking for too much, too soon. We have managed to create a good thing. Maybe we’re being too impatient. Like it or not, as long as there are seminarians in the seminary, The Ass will always be there to care for its own. Like the Church or any other organization of worth, The Ass will weather the storm and will become what it always will be – greater than the sum of its parts. Maybe we just need to be patient. Let’s give it a few hundred years.
Hey, maybe, there’s your answer right there. Maybe we’re looking for success in The Ass in our own time. It has to happen in our time. History must take note. We always like to leave our mark, a driving desire for recognition, for immortality. Sometimes, it’s also called ego.-Bro. JamesLansang
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elmersarmiento wrote on Jun 4, '10
In fairness to Tyrone and other officers of XVD Ass who have served so well and sacrificed too long, let's choose our new set of leaders who are willing serve the Ass immediately. Any nomination?
(Understandably, kindly exclude me). |
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Kuya, good point to raise this issue now. Agree with Elmer to give due credit to Tyrone and other officers. Let me also recall a previous post I made:
A Pagan Way Nov 1, '09 4:08 AM for everyone We have read much discourse on how we XVDs go about in our activities to help and support SVD missionaries. On the side we hear positive as well as not so positive comments on the subject as regards to effectiveness and efficiency. Here is another suggestion which may be wild if not pagan.Such activities and projects could just be class based meaning each class concentrates on helping its own classmate priests and missionaries. This is more manageable, faster and generates more interest and participation. Actually this is being done already by and in many classes. The pagan way is to recognize and even encourage competition among classes as to which class is more effective and more efficient. Competition is a great motivator as long as it's healthy not destructive and even fun. In the end missionaries are helped. In other words class-based or interclass activities may be more viable feasible and sustainable rather than general-membership-based.Thanks. |
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We seem to be more successful in spiritual activities than on economic or business endeavors. The Perpetual Rosary Movement, spearheaded by Dante, Kuya Bobby, Eli, etc., is off the ground and running. The Marian activities it sponsored on March 25th, April 13th, May 13th and May 31st were all successful to a large extent. On June 13th, to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the 2nd Apparition of Our Lady at Lourdes, we will have another event in the Shrine of the Divine Word, followed by a Rosary Procession to the Grotto of the Annunciation.
I would like to request Kuya James, Elmer and the Pagan to attend and help out. Also Fr. Titus Mananzan, SVD, the Administrator of the Shrine, has designated the Perpetual Rosary Movement, of which the XVD Ass is the main mover, to be responsible for the celebration of Marian feasts in the Shrine. That is a good challenge, and places us in an official position with corresponding responsibility. Fr. Titus also requested for more XVD participation in Shrine activities.... I guess it is up to us to respond to these challenges. While it may be hard to make the XVD Ass do what each one of us thinks it should be doing, I think it will be easier for each of us just to contribute our little bit to the action and challenge presented to us right now in the Perpetual Rosary Movement and the Shrine activities by Fr. Titus. Ganon lang muna. Lets just focus on these doable things right now, and perhaps "bigger" things will follow. |
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elmersarmiento wrote on Jun 5, '10
Our mission is not only spiritual and we're not supposed to be in business. The spiritual activities are excellent but not all of us can't participate religiously. But the issue on this participation is another subject matter I won't discuss in this message.
Let's also focus on other activities in our mission statement as I'm sure these are the things other XVDs are clamoring too. Consider Paga's and my suggestions. Let's take a risk on another leadership. By the way, I and many others have helped and continue to support and participate in the Ass and its activities in more ways than one. |
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emirabldmnl wrote on Jun 5, '10
I think the participation has shifted... from physical to electronic. I feel that there are more readers on this site than those who would physically meet.Don't get discouraged. This site is working well and healthy.
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| Very correct. Credit to Epi Saso and Tom Ranada, most of all our web hero who has passed away Luke Abaya. We must keep on and continue the persevering and caring apostolate of Luke via blogs, comments. Remember he wanted to establish a "Society of World-Wide (Divine) Word". This is the site: http://worldwideword.multiply.com/reviews/item/2 |
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Yesterday, Saturday, I met with some friends at the Filipino Restaurant Manila Deli in Bergenfield, New Jersey. Present were Fr. Jess Briones, Msgr. Bayani Valenzuela, Cecil Floresca and the Parish Priest of Dumont, an adjacent town to Bergenfield, Fr. Raul Gaviola. We spent three hours together listening and talking with a variety of topics as men of our group are won't to talk about.
Fr. Raul invited us to his parish and introduced us to the very gracious Irish Pastor Fr. Neil. From there we parted ways. I took Cecil to his house in Jersey City and we decided to give Jun Densing a visit in Hoboken, which is five minutes away from Cecil's. Again we talked the talk of XVD's for another six hours. As usual, the Missus called being worried if we were still there, continually wondering what we were talking about for long hours as usual.She always comes with an excuse that she wants to make sure we are not in harm's way like being mugged by some bum. A common occurence in this neck of the woods. She is sweet but there are still things that she needs to understand about our group. Whenever we get the chance, we grab it and meet anywhere. We find it very fulfilling just talking and listening to one another. The worst meeting that we have is still much better than the best day at work or just staying home. We hope to include as many of our colleagues as possible within the circle. However, there are many valid reasons why some cannot make it. They are either so far, so busy, tired or sick.What's in it for me, would be an implied legit question. And we perfectly understand that. We have our own agendas, family and health concerns.We are all different and we respect that as well.You can force the horse to the river but you cannot force it to drink. In some cases, we try to bring the river to the horse. To no avail. It could be frustrating but we will not give up. The upside could offset the downside. We will keep meeting this way anytime opportunity arises. When he came over for a visit, the PAX President emphasized the importance of even a small seminal group. Just keep meeting. And so we do. As MLK said, we might not live to reach the Promised Land but we would like to think that we were instrumental in paving the way for the next generation to have a starting point and a launching pad for a bigger, more relevant and more cohesive group. We explore for avenues to improve ourselves and our circle.We are far from perfect, not even close. And we may not see tangible results but we feel them. We are not asking too much too soon. We just want to be happy in the here and now, that's all. |
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feliciahapi wrote on Jun 5, '10
paga65 said
 class-based or interclass activities may be more viable feasible and sustainable rather than general-membership-based. 
This seems to be working well with Class '65. I have witnessed their strong bonding eversince. Fabs suggestion might even be more feasible and sustainable.
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feliciahapi wrote on Jun 5, '10
Yes, Fabs... let Class '65 meet regularly and initiate it... we have sustained that for many years now..then, the class can share its experiences and blessings with other classes and probably, from there, something more tangible can happen. Similar to "cell groups"...once the different cells are organized and become more solid, mobilization as a general membership follows.
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aside from the inter-class/ groups strategy, maybe we should also keep in mind the words "best effort basis only".
i have noticed that in the past some XVDs may have been alienated or kept away by the psychological "pressure" caused by some activities/ projects, esp those with financial dimensions. as i have always said, the XVD should only help/ give/ donate what it can readily afford. any attempt to commit the group to anything that would expect some (if not equal) contributions from everyone can create undue pressure, esp from those that really have problems having both ends meet on a daily basis. even those blessed with abundance can feel "donor fatigue" when things of this nature are done very often and beyond the members' individual capacity. indeed, there was a time when i got the feeling that we were abusing the generosity of the xvd officers who always assume the bulk of the cost of the group's many activities/ commitments. and, this xvd internet site/ forum is indeed an indication that even if some XVDs are not able to attend the activities/ meetings, many of us are still ONE in spirit because we still bother to regularly log-on to this site and see/ feel what is happening with our colleagues. when i was in riyadh, ksa last year, i still felt so close to our group through this site because i always log-on (almost everyday) when i have the time. best regards. |
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