Hello Rev. Fr. Michael,

Thank you for your e-mail. I have been wondering how you have been doing!

 Happy Easter!

Let me tell you that I am really happy with the gift of priesthood. It is kind of difficult to understand people and their demands towards priest, but I think that little by little I am getting accustom to it.

 When I came here to the Philippines I wanted to work in the parish, and be with the people, but the superiors put me to work in vocation ministry. I think that even if this is not what I wanted, I will try to give my best on it. We will see what will  happen. Hopefully is the Lord the one what works, no me! So I will ask you, and the Parishioners at St. Therese to pray for the success of the vocation ministry here in the Philippines!

Besides that, I am very happy here in the Philippines because I can help in different parishes and squatter areas of the city . It is nice to be with ordinary people. I really enjoy working with them. People are really nice and happy even if they are really poor. I like them also because they are sincere: they don’t flatter you and they are ready to correct my Tagalog when I make mistakes. The middle class will never correct you! So it is nicer also to practice humility… and I need a lot of it together with the virtue of patience!

Very soon I am going to be moved to a new community, the  third one since  my arrival to this country. I will be living in diocese of Antipolo, with two other confreres. They are going to run a new parish, while  I will remain in vocation ministry. 

Anyhow, wish you the best on your ministry! Have fun always even if hard because it is better to be happy and tired than tired and angry!

 May God bless you always!

 Fraternally,

 Fr. Alex