Felix the Bro

How would one know that God is calling him to the religious life?

The vocation stories that Felix listened to made him think he is not called at all. His lifestyle was clearly opposite to the sharers’. To be without money to support his interests or to be unmarried for the rest of his life are definitely not interesting.

Looking back, a religious consciousness appears foreign to Felix’s life. Although a sacristan along with his friends while in grade school he was not really into it for religious reasons but to earn “pogi points.”

He and his friends competed to sit next to the presiding priest to be noticed by their crush. It also provided good alibis for “laag-laag” opportunities (strolling with friends). Since the motivation to serve is self-serving it did not last long and in fact, did not even leave a mark.

His parents were not involved in the church but they would always attend the Holy Mass together with their 5 children every Sunday. In high school, Felix’s participation at Mass declined from regular to just “usahay (sometimes),” he says. The religious life never entered his mind even when different congregations visited his class to campaign for vocations. It held no attraction for him.

He pursued a BS in Agriculture in college. He was more into fraternity along with his friends than church activities. In fact, the latter had no important place in his life then.

Right after college, he worked as a laboratory assistant in Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro. Here he had the chance to be exposed to the Jesuits. He attended their Tuesday meetings not because they were interesting but for the free dinners!

Unwittingly, his frequent attendance got him to know a bit the religious life even when the vocation stories he heard made him all the more convinced that he is not called. His feelings of unworthiness closed his mind.

“Pwede diay ko,” Felix only thought when a priest countered him, “who is”? “What if thoughts” begun to enter his mind.

Yet after 2 years he left his university job and went backpacking with two friends to Cebu, Boracay, Iloilo, Manila and Baguio for 20 days. It was an exciting and enjoyable adventure.

Felix fell in love with Baguio. He stayed and found work in a call center. He struck new friendships which surprisingly included religious persons. He became friends with the Maryknoll sisters. He joined them in their Holy Mass and got to hear talks about vocations again.

Later he was transferred to Manila. He was earning money but some things seem missing. He felt a certain disconnect. He started to ask what he would like to be.

Needing some quiet he trekked back to Baguio for a retreat. The Maryknoll sisters assisted him.

“Basin gitawag ka,” he was told. Probably he was just dodging the call hence he could not hear it.

The only way to find it out is to test the waters, so to speak. The sisters helped him and introduced him to several congregations. One of these was the Missionaries of Jesus who appealed to his need.

His decision surprised his parents but his mother joyfully welcomed it. His father, however, tried to discourage him. His siblings and friends could hardly believe him. He, too, thought that he would probably be just good for a year.

It has been 8 years since that day he entered the convent. Now it’s just a few months of waiting for the perpetually professed Bro. Felix C. Bontog, Jr., MJ’s ordination to the diaconate.

God’s call though seemed inaudible in Bro. Felix’s life at first, a seed was sown in his heart which in time grew to become what it is now. His backpacking experience now comes in handy as he travels to and fro Visayas and Mindanao as Vocation Promoter as well as when visiting the indigenous peoples in remote areas.

(For those who feel called and even those who don’t seem to hear any you can contact Bro. Felix at 09087379440. The MJs accepts young men who are at least 2nd year college and 18-35 years old.)