The fourth CPE season at the St. Camillus Pastoral Healthcare Center (SCPHC) kicked off last October 6 with 18 participants.  The program will run until December 13, 2008 with Sr. Tentai Saniel,RC, Mrs. Flora Calleja and Mr. Lemuel Arit as supervisors.  All 18 participants hold their verbatim sessions with the patients at nearby Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

The internal dynamic of the participants is an essential focus of Clinical Pastoral Education.  This season’s batch has graciously agreed to disclose bits of what has happened within them so far during the course. 

Scholastic Placido B. De Jose gathered their revelations and shares them as follows:

How Do You Feel? A Perennial Question

Tsak tsak tsak tsak tsak tsak… seems as if… sounds like… the computer keyboard.  Chaplain so and so… Supervisor this and that… Verbatim no. 1… Visit no. 2… 4: 30 pm… 37 mins…  How do you feel?

“Well being new in the CPE, I believe that I am learning a lot, especially with my coping mechanisms with regards to my past issues.  I still want to unravel more.” –- Mrs. Daphne LLanto, Neo-Catechumenate

“I feel good.  It’s indeed very liberating and helpful. I believe this could further open the horizon of my being, a room for growth.” –- Bro. Anthony Pabon, SOLT

“I am happy about it now, and I start loving it.  Difficult? Yes! Because I begin to see myself and the painful experiences in the past that I’ve buried in oblivion.  The process indeed is painful but knowing that I am not alone, I find it’s easier to come out and find healing together with my companion.” –- Sr. Gina Abaigar, SMI

“I felt very good.  I am so happy and glad because I was disposed to accept myself fully though I felt at first very hesitant to open up my issues.”  -- Bro. Mario Balana, SOLT

“I am happy about our CPE.  It is helping me to know more about myself, others and God, and do something about it.”  -- Postulant Ryan Oliver Bautista, SDB

“CPE for me is an effective way of facing my issues and learning to deal with them.  It is a journey to self that can bring growth and better awareness of one’s dynamic that can help us in our relationship with others.” -– Jhoanna Resari, Lay Columban Missionary

“I want to love other people, but I know I cannot love other people unless I love myself and also I cannot love myself unless I know myself, who I am.  So, I am very happy to know myself through this CPE.” –- Postulant Seo Jung Ju, MI

“Haha. Our CPE is mahirap talaga!” (Our CPE is really difficult.) -– Fr. Francis Ko Latt, Diocesan Columban Collaborator

October 7, 2008, feast of the Most Holy Rosary… a significant date to remember… 18 great men and women… sisters and brothers… 3 competent supervisors… gathered in one place… knowing, loving and serving one another… so that they will become more free… to speak… to listen… and feel… all these mark the fourth season of the St. Camillus Pastoral Center Clinical Pastoral Education Batch EPHPHATHA!

Herewith respectfully introducing to you… daphne, pedro, francis, gina, jao, benny, alfons, bernard, kris, cido, nonoy, pabs, mario, andrew, kokoy, loy, juya and oliver… with tentai, lem and flora, the energetic supervisors… swarming quirino memorial medical center… getting tired… getting stressed… yet learning… growing… and continuously facing the perennial question: How do you feel?