01 September 2008

PRE 9 and Teacher's Day

PRE 9 took place from 28th-31st August 2008.

About 2 days before the start of PRE 9, I was thinking, “What did I get myself into?” It is a rare chance that I get weekends free nowadays and this was one weekend that I had free but I had to attend the PRE. So yes, I admit that I was sceptical about it. I didn’t want to go. However, the day before the 28th, I decided to go with an open mind. I was glad I made that decision.

It is in going with an open mind that I could benefit from the experience of PRE. I can honestly say that it has had an impact on me. It made me realise that I really can’t say that I’m Catholic if I choose to fly solo in my religion. It is not about me but about the people around me. It really is about community. Also, through the PRE, I realised that I’m not alone in my struggles in life and in my Faith. Everyone has struggles, pains and sufferings in life but the important thing is that, in a community, we have each other to rely on and to fall back on during the rough times in life. It was reassuring to know that I’m not alone.

The PRE has also made me realise what a vibrant parish community we have. The parishioners here are filled with the willingness to spread the love they have in their hearts and to give of their time. This really showed itself during the PRE as everyone had genuine smiles on their faces, warm greetings and the willingness to serve without expecting anything in return. It was a humbling experience and it was great to know that there were so many people willing to sacrifice their time and put in so much effort to pull everything together for the participants.

Before the PRE, I was, in all honesty, feeling tired and drained. I was living life day by day and lost the zest and lust for life, for awhile. I felt that I was doing things for the sake of doing them but I wasn’t really putting my whole heart into it. Doing things, therefore, lost its meaning and perhaps life lost meaning to me for awhile. Attending the PRE changed this. I, now, feel that I have been recharged and life doesn’t seem to drag on as much as it used to. Perhaps, it will take awhile for life to have its full meaning for me again but I’m getting there.

If you want to really know how I felt, I suggest attending the PRE. Go with an open mind and heart and you’ll never know what you might get out of it. (:

- Rene
---------------------------------------------------------------

On another note, today is 1st September 2008. In some way, catechists are teachers of the faith, so.. HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY! :)

kenneth clara terence roy carol germaine darius rene joyce cheryl xavier joann cassie tania cecilia marianne eugene alvin vanessa wilson chester jac justin kim simon atricia amanda nick nat cordelia louis andre amos mel rebecca ivy gene michael marissa joshua




No comments: