Danica Rose Fabela (Doctor of Pastoral Studies Class of 2024) was in the midst of preparing a retreat for seminarians in Bukidnon when she was informed that she would be speaking on behalf of the graduate students at the 2024 graduation ceremony.
“To be honest, it was really unexpected because I was so focused on preparing for the seminary retreat that I felt like I didn’t do well in the interview. So after the interview, I said, ‘Lord, What do you think about it?,'” she says.
Danicca, who currently serves as director of the Campus Ministries Office at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, has been selected as the speaker for the graduate students of the 2024 commencement ceremony of five colleges of higher education: Educational and Learning Design, Humanities, Business Administration, Science and Engineering, and Social Sciences.
“I’m happy to wait During the graduation ceremony Please wait a moment. Please wait a moment. speaker until deathBut I’m just so grateful and so happy,” she says.
She is one of several graduate students selected for this honor: only four other graduates so far have been selected for the position, which was introduced at the 2020 commencement ceremony.
Full circle moment
Speaking at the commencement ceremony of 2024 will be a turning point for Danica. In 2011, she spoke before the graduating class of Xavier University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education as representative of her class.
At that point, Danicka was seriously considering returning to his alma mater to become a teacher, but when the XU campus pastor’s office approached him about becoming a campus pastor, he said he accepted after XU’s CMO told him that being a teacher and campus pastor would be “the best of both worlds.”
“There was a lot of expectation that my career path would really be teaching,” she recalled, saying she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a teacher, “but I really had to discern my decision and ultimately I chose the Campus Ministries Office.”
She fell in love with campus ministry work but felt her skills and knowledge were insufficient for the job, so she went on to graduate school. After completing her master’s degree, she was encouraged by Father Rene Takastakas to apply for a scholarship from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). With that CHEd scholarship, she enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Loyola Theological Seminary, with a special focus on retreats and spirituality.
Curveball
Danicka said her doctoral studies were the first time she lived away from home, but she found a home and community in Ateneo. As an on-campus resident, she lived in the university’s dorms, where she found new friends among the other residents. She also joined the Tinig Barranca community and sang in the church choir on Sundays.Where the children of Manila were born,” she says.
However, the biggest challenge in her PhD journey came in early March 2020, when her thesis deadline was delayed and her ethical review approval was delayed by several months. While waiting for the approval, she decided to stay in her dorm, thinking she could finish her thesis in peace. However, she ended up not being able to write her thesis as all academic facilities, especially libraries, were closed.
One day, she got a text message from her resident advisor: Father Manoling Francisco was looking for volunteers. “Long story short, I have been appointed as the person in charge of PPE deployment as part of the Tanging Yaman Foundation’s pandemic response,” said the Tanging Yaman Foundation, based at the Loyola Heights campus.
“You should also read it. paper But I still love it “Experience?” she remembers thinking. “But looking back, I’ve always had that. A Kan man and a woman are togetherand we will try our best to truly respond to your requests. Ganoon recites mantras “Ever since college, I’ve been determined to go where I need more help. I can’t just sit in my room thinking about my thesis when the whole world is about to end,” she says.
“I had the opportunity to focus on writing, but at the time I was focused on something more important. I can let this go. Perhaps you will” she added.
Broken Heart
Then, during her graduate studies, she experienced what she called a “heartbreaking” event.
With two chapters left of her dissertation, she decided to return to Xavier University to work but later found it difficult to juggle her academics, administrative duties and campus ministry responsibilities.When CHEd knocked on her door reminding her to finish her studies, she asked Xavier University to allow her to study full-time for one more semester to finish her degree.
But when she returned to LST in November 2022, she suddenly found herself without an advisor. Already one semester away from her goal, this sudden turn of events threatened to undo years of hard work.
“I [my former adviser’s] When I received the email, I suddenly didn’t know what to do. I was very sad because I had really hoped that he would be my mentor. [doctoral] “It’s been a fun journey because he’s been with me from the beginning,” she says.
“At that time, I felt helpless. The pressure was from within and without. I really wanted to get my degree, but at the same time, I was being pressured from the outside to get my degree from CHEd,” Danicka said.Meaning of “Alam Kung Anong Gagawin ko” in Hindi at the time.”
For two weeks she was in limbo, but eventually she turned to Father JoJo Huang, who agreed to mentor her. She made it to the finish line and was selected to speak at the graduation ceremony, capping off a difficult journey.
Accompaniment Service
Upon graduation, Danica renewed her commitment to campus ministry at Xavier University.
“It’s really going to be a companion ministry for me over the next few years, so I’m going to continue to be a youth pastor,” she says, “I’m going to continue to be someone who focuses on the spiritual formation of Xavier University as a whole, but I’m also going to extend that to all corners of the university.”
She also plans to continue accompanying young students enrolled in seminaries in Bukidnon on their spiritual journey. “That is really part of my contribution to the church.” Na mei tuttok din sa Spiritual formation Chinese chives. “
Danicka also plans to continue her studies in youth ministry, spirituality, and religion. In fact, she is already working with Dr. Jair Cornelio of the Development Studies Program on a project on religion and youth development.
Be patient
Danicka says what she values more than the degree is the personal growth and change she experienced along the way.
“Ahn Deok [Candelaria, Assistant Vice President for Graduate Studies] After a consultation with the doctor, [Maria Luz] Vilches [Vice President for Higher Education]“She said every moment at Ateneo was for growth,” she says.
“My Jesuit education gave me a balanced view of the world,” she says, “because the world is full of God’s greatness and we really need to cherish it…But at the same time, my Jesuit education taught me that the world is broken.”
“I challenge all graduating students to use the degree they earn from Ateneo to repair a broken world.”
Danicka sums up her graduate school experience in one word: PadayonIt means continuing to work hard.
“The journey of graduate studies will always be filled with challenges and difficulties,” she says, “and they never go away, which is why it’s really important to learn to love the journey and embrace every aspect of it — the moments when you feel happy and motivated, but also the moments when you feel powerless.”
“One thing I’ve learned is to really keep going. PadayonIf you still hear that little voice inside of you saying “go lang” Padayon, Magpatuloyka“Just listen to it and let it guide your way,” she added.
All photos courtesy of Danikka Fabela.
