It ended, indeed.  After ten weeks of journeying with one another, the participants that compose the 2008 Clinical Pastoral Education batch Ephphatha made it to the finish line.

So, how do we feel?  On behalf of my batch, I would really say that the feeling is almost indescribable!  First, we are HAPPY because we survived.  We graduated.  Grace does  work!  At the same time, we're SAD because we will be parting ways.  We will be missing each other.  Another pain of separation.  Sigh…

December 10, 2008, Wednesday, 10 am.  The 17 participants that included seven Camillian brothers marched down the aisle of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Chapel at St. Camillus Provincialate Compound for the Eucharist that was to begin the closing rites.  Fr. Ivo Anselmi, MI, presided at the eucharistic celebration, with Fr. Evan, MI, and Fr. Pedro, MSSP, as concelebrants.  We were blessed with the presence of visitors from Quirino Memorial Medical Center, confreres, parents, relatives and friends.

Afterwards, the graduation rites followed.  The graduates happily received their hard-earned CPE certificates.  Speeches here, speeches there, Andrew, Kris, Pedro and Lem, all spoke about opening, feeling, and growing and of how CPE touched their whole lives.  Then from the Chapel, we headed to the refectory and reminisced the whole CPE journey with a bounty.  We ate, we danced, we sang, we enjoyed the moment even as we reminisced past shared experiences. What a memorable graduation!

December 11, 2008, Thursday, 5 pm.  We wrapped up our entire CPE program with hugs and kisses.  After an overnight stay at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Llanto, as well as spending our time together eating, swimming and playing games at the Celebrity Plaza , we said our final good-byes.  A bittersweet experience.  But such is life.  We can't avoid good-byes.  Still we hope to see each other again.  The longing and waiting for that moment is like an advent experience.

We are grateful for all your prayers and support.  As our batch song goes, “Thanks to you.”

And thanks be to God!