In my years of formation, I always dreamt of being a missionary working in the missions. I never thought I would one day serve as a formator in the seminary. In September 2019, I arrived in Iloilo, Philippines, to take up my new appointment as a Formator at the Mill Hill Formation House. Then, a few months later, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.
With our seminary located right next to the slum, it was the perfect time to address the challenges I foresaw arising from the COVID-19 restrictions. During that time, people were forced to stay home, which meant they wouldn’t be working. This raised concerns about how people experiencing poverty in the slums would have access to food. Additionally, there was a risk that many young people would turn to various addictions, especially since they would be at home with nothing to do. Even though my main focus was to work in the seminary, I couldn’t help but think about the harsh reality surrounding me. That’s when I decided to use my little personal money, which I considered my “five loaves and two fish,” to buy rice and distribute it to some struggling families in the slum. Believe it or not, a week later, an unknown person named Fiona sent generous donations twice with instructions to use the money to buy food for people struggling to survive the pandemic. Many families were helped and are still being reached out to this day.
Secondly, we started a Mill Hill Youth Ministry and another ministry for altar servers through football. We allowed them to serve at our Sunday Masses, and on weekdays, we would play football, which made them very excited. These ministries are helping them to grow in their faith, and the groups are growing more vital to date. Some of our seminarians are now assigned to these ministries as part of their pastoral outreach. This has also attracted more people to join us on Sunday for our Masses, and it has really become a “Mission in Formation” in action.
I am still working in the Formation House, now joined by Fr. Anish Thengumpillil, MHM and Sr. Eufemia Pama MSLT, but my eyes and ears are open to the call around us. It’s been God all the way, and I’ve come to realize that God reveals Himself more in those areas we didn’t expect and even in the places we wouldn’t want to be. This has made me more open to mission and ready to go where God wants me to be, not just where I want to be: “You did not choose Me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and bear fruit…” (John 15:16).
Fr. Tony Emeka, MHM
