Worksheet 2 in Religious Education 111

Topic: The Life of St. Marcellin Champagnat: A Heart That Knew No Bounds

Name: Shiella Marie O. Villa

Reflection Questions

1. Marcellin Champagnat faced challenges on his road to the priesthood. What

challenges have you faced in the pursuit of your goals? How have they
strengthened and shaped you? What means did you take to overcome them?
Answer:
I have faced many challenges in pursuing my goals like the lack of self-
confidence, being away from my family because of studies, and the feeling of
disappointments whenever I failed to do something. But this weaknesses or challenges
shaped me of who I am today. I have learned to accept myself, both my strengths and
weaknesses, and as a whole and believe in myself that I can do it. Together with my
family’s support I have gained confidence. Being away from my family for a long time to
study here in Gensan, makes it really hard for me. The feeling of loneliness and fear
have been lurking inside of me but thinking about my goals and dreams in life, I turned
that fear and loneliness into motivation to reach my goals and make my parents proud.
In life, we can face certain ups and downs that may disappoint us on our way up to our
dreams, but I have managed to surpass those trying times because of prayer. Just
believe in God and trust Him because in Him there is always hope. He will never let us
down.

2. Looking back on this period in the life of Marcellin Champagnat, what qualities do
you find in the person that you most admire? What about them fills you with
admiration?
Answer:
Looking back on this period in the life of Marcellin Champagnat, the qualities that
I find in the person that I most admire is being selfless, kind, and hardworking. I admire
this kind of person because everyone can be good, but not everyone can show
kindness to others all the time. Being selfless is something that is very hard to do
because humans are selfish by nature but I salute those who are serving others without
asking anything in return. Not everyone is capable of helping and not everyone who
help and serve others are not expecting something in return. I also admire those who
works hard for their dreams and never gives up no matter how many times they fail
because not everyone can be like that. Some would lose hope and gave up without
even trying. These are the qualities that I really admired the most. They remind me to
be like them. They inspire me and the people around them. These kinds of people are
someone I want to treat as my role models. Just like them, I want to be selfless, kind,
and hardworking.

3. Who are the people who have helped you shape your life’s dream and
encouraged you to live it out? In what specific ways did they help?
Answer:
First and for most, the people who have helped me shape my life’s dream and
encouraged me to lie it out is my family. They were always very supportive of me in
anything I do and wants. They are the reason why I wanted to reach my goals and
succeed in life. They always encourage me to live my dreams and work hard for it is for
my future. Their support and love help me to choose the path that I wanted to take.

4. What events in your life gave you a sense of God’s dream for you? The Lord
mapped out a journey for you, what milestones along the road helped you find
your way?
Answer:
The events in my life that gave me a sense of god’s dream for me is surviving
and making it through to the operation I undergone before when I was a child. I
consider this life I am living today as my second life. I felt like God let me live because
he wants me to be something or someone someday. I know He have great plans ahead
for me.
For me, my greatest milestones are succeeding or surpassing all the trials that
life gave to me and I am still here standing with my own two feet. Therefore, these
milestones helped me find my way. It made me stronger than I was before that no
matter what life throws at me, I may fell but I will surely rise again and go on.

5. The needs of others and their suffering often shape and transform us. How did
both affect Marcellin’s character, outlook on life, and his spirituality? How did
they work together to make him the person that he became?
Answer:
The needs of others and their suffering affect Marcellin’s character, outlook on
life, and his spirituality because of his passion for life. His awareness of God’s
 presence, unwavering confidence in Mary and her protection, and the two
uncomplicated virtues of simplicity and humility made him the person that he
became. He’s love and concern for his brothers and his unfailing faith mold him to
be someone who has the spirit of generosity and humor that marked the new recruit
brothers. The deprivation they suffered, however, bound them one to another and
caused them to share what little they had.

6. How have the needs and sufferings of others shaped and transformed you made
you the person that you are today? How have they moved you to take action for
the gospel’s sake?
Answer:
The needs and sufferings of others shaped and transformed me and made me
the person I am today by making me realized how lucky I am because I am not
suffering like them and I am grateful for that. Seeing others suffer makes me feel
compassion and want to help. It opened my eyes to reality of life. It made me mature
and think of something to do for the gospel sake. I have come to know that not
everyone is having a good life just like the others. All of us has our own sufferings and
needs. So, we should try to understand others sufferings and needs instead of judging
them, try to do something to help. I, myself, have experience to suffer that’s why as
much as possible I want to help lessen their burden in my own little ways.

7. Marcellin was aware of God’s presence and relied completely on Mary. After
hearing about his life thus far, are there other aspects of his spirituality that are
apparent to you? If so, what are they and how did they develop in the man?
Answer:
After hearing about his life thus far, I think that all possible aspects that a good
person like Marcellin could have is already mentioned. LOVE. His love binds all other
virtues together and makes them perfect. Of this second, there was to be no limit.
Marcellin loved his brothers; he expected no less from them, each one for the other.
Because love is the foundation of every good and positive aspect of a human. If you
love then all other good aspects comes with it.

8. Sometimes setbacks in life can turn out to be a great source of personal and
spiritual growth. Identify a setback in your own life; in what ways did it challenge
you to grow more as a person and as a disciple of Jesus?
Answer:
 When I was in grade school, I used to be bullied by my classmates because I
was one of those students who is not a fast learner. I used to remain in the classroom
every day after class for tutorials for me to catch up. Every time I was called to stay my
classmates would laugh at me and tell me some foul words. Because of that I lost my
self-confidence. I feel shy expressing myself. I felt so little that time. I was so down back
then. But then, it all changed all thanks to the gospel reading in the church that I have
heard. The priest said that, if they can, why can’t you? That changed my life completely.
I started to study extra hard every day. I wanted to prove to them that I can be
something more. And slowly, I gained my confidence. I graduated top of my class.
Through this experience, I grew as a person not only mentally but also spiritually.
During those harsh times, I never forget to pray. I learned to lean on Him and trust His
plans for me together with my dedication and hard work. Thanks to this experience, I
can say that I am a whole new person now. I became stronger and tougher than before.
It motivates me to be always strive to be the best version of myself.

9. What are your realizations from the life story of Marcellin? What struck you
most in the story of Marcellin? Why?
Answer:
My realizations from the life story of Marcellin is that to never lose faith in God
and always believes in Him no matter what. What struck me the most in the story of
Marcellin is his perseverance and hard work in order to reach his dream to become a
priest. Even though he experiences hardships and was told that he can’t be a priest he
still managed to make it and believe in his prayers. He did not let those things to stop
him from doing what he wants and what he loves. He continued to pursue it no matter
what. That act inspires me to do the same. To pursue my dreams and make it till the
end.

10. How can you imitate him in your own way as a son or daughter, as a brother
or sister, as a student, as a member of the community and as a member of the church?
Cite concrete ways that you can manifest in your day-to-day life.
Answer:
I can imitate him in my own way as a daughter, a sister, as a student, as a
member of the community and as a member of the church by:
As a daughter. I will love my parents wholeheartedly. I will obey and help them
all the time as much as I can. I will study really hard for them and reach my
dreams. I will be a good daughter to them in whom they can be proud of. I will
treat them with all respect and honor for they are the reason why I am here today
living a great life.
As a sister. I will guide my younger brothers to live a rightful life. I will take good
care of them and assess them all the time. I will understand them and treat them
with love and kindness no matter how delinquent they are. I teach them to live
simply and stay humble no matter what. I will do my best to be their role model in
life.
As a student. I will help my classmates by letting them borrow my notes if ever
they were left behind the class because of internet connection matters. Inform
them the assignments and other task in which they can’t access in the net.
As a member of the community. I will extend my hands to those in need and
suffering like supporting community programs that helps those in need. I will be a
concern citizen. I want to help them as much as I can in my own little ways.
As a member of the church. I will attend the holy mass every week. I will pray
and thank Mary and Jesus for giving another life. I will help spread the good
news of the gospel and Mary and Jesus’ teachings. I will live my life in
accordance to the gospel and influence my family and the people around me to
do the same.