Father Zaldy B. Norba, SSS

Every vocation story begins with falling in love. Falling in love with the source of vocation, God. Every vocation is a story of an unforgettable encounter that sustains the one who is called, and this encounter is significant because it has been the source of strength and inspiration in moments of desolation and crisis. 

Every vocation has a story significant because it is a personal experience that leads a person to a realization and discernment to pursue a calling. Growing up in a family not so religious would not simply lead me to realize that I would be entering into the seminary. Yet, little by little as I grow, the vocation to enter the seminary has placed a room into my heart. 

I was born in Panay, one of the towns in Province of Capiz, on August 21, 1968 through a “manghihilot” (therapist/healer). My parents are Bermeo Norba (deceased) and Norma Norba, both native of the same province but of different towns. I am the eldest in the family of seven, six boys and a girl.

I remembered when I was still young that I used to attend mass every Sunday and joined in the summer Catechesis in our Parish. When I entered grade school (elementary), we also had Catechesis in school, being taught by the Rosarian Dominican Sisters. Because of these experiences at a very young age, I have learned to appreciate my faith and to admire those who were teaching me Catechism. But the admiration did not lead me to discern immediately to enter the seminary rather I became a pious person and with the inspiration also of my grandmother who fervently prayed the Holy Rosary everyday.

I was already then in my first-year high school, when one day, there were seminarians who were having a vocation campaign in our school and I felt so attracted to the cassock they were wearing. I said to myself then that, “One day I will be like them”. Despite that admiration, I continued with my high school in the same school and graduated. I can still remember that after graduation, I asked my father if I can enter the seminary for my college. But he refused maybe because I am the eldest in the family and because of life’s situations. Studying in the seminary is too expensive and we have no money to finance my education there.

There were a lot of discussions then on what course I am going to take for college. Of course, we need to consider our financial status if I can pursue such a course. I thought of taking up Commerce, Medicine and Engineering. Then Papa and I agreed that I will take up Civil Engineering in Iloilo City at Western Institute of Technology. 

While I was studying in college, the desire of entering the seminary kept on disturbing me but I ignored it and continued my studies. I had been part of the Catholic Youth Organization in our school. To nurture my faith, I attended the Novena Mass of Our Mother of Perpetual Help every Wednesday, prayed the Holy Rosary at Saint Clément’s Church under the fraternal care of the Redemptorists Fathers. I also went to Sunday Masses. Days, weeks, months and years had passed, I finished college. 

Together with one classmate, I decided to take my review classes in preparation for the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination in Cebu City. During those times, I became much prayerful, and the goal is to pass the Licensure examination.  This time, it was an intense life of prayer; Wednesdays, attending the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help; Fridays, attending the Novena to Sto. Niño and Sunday Masses. To make the story short, I took the Licensure examination in November 1988 and it was released July 1989, I passed. 

Then Papa and I went to Manila to attend my Oath Taking ceremony.

The search for a job started and it is tough especially for someone who graduated in the province and from a not so well-known University. It is always prayer that keeps me going. Every Sunday, I attended Mass in the nearby Church. November 1989, I was hired by a multi-national company as Field Engineer, my first job. 

In 1991, I felt in love and was about to get married. But it did not materialize. It was not meant for me, for us. We separated ways. 

In 1994, when I was working at Filinvest Land, Inc., I decided to resign and enter the Diocesan seminary in Capiz. My seminary life in the Diocesan seminary was very challenging. I began with Pre College with subjects in Spanish, Latin, English, and Theology.  All of my classmates are high school graduates. There were ten of us. At the end of our formation year, I was given the award of Moral Excellence. Vacation starts but still in the Parish.

During my First year in Philosophy, we had our Solemn Investiture. We will be vested with our Cassock. That was for me one of the happiest moments of my life. This time academics are more challenging. But God is so good and I survived. I stayed in the Diocesan seminary until 1997. After the completion of my requirements for theology in 1997, I decided to leave the seminary to pursue my desire to help my family. 

It was not quite easy indeed when I left the seminary. I was used to living a structured life and all of a sudden, here I am in the world, having no structures and enjoying having my own schedule.

I went back to Manila and worked again with Filinvest Land, Inc. This time I was offered with a higher position and a higher salary. It was on August 02, 1997, when an officemate invited me to attend the feast day of the Founder Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Saint Peter Julian Eymard. I was introduced to some members of the Congregation and to the Vocation Director. That was just the beginning of the history of my vocation in this Congregation. 

As I joined the vocation club of the Congregation, I was given the task to be the coordinator together with another co-discerner. It was not easy having the task, but I enjoyed it very much.  It was during this time that the members of the Vocation Club were leaving one by one. I was left alone yet I stayed and continued. 

In 2001, there was a change of Vocation Director. It was a great joy then when the BSVC was resurrected because of the effort of the new Vocation Director. It was also during this time that I was asked by Rev. Fr. Mikey Timbol, SSS, the Vocation Director, if I am now ready to enter religious life. I smiled and I said, “YES!” It was an answer which had been discerned and reflected everyday and I grabbed this grace that has been given to me by God. 

In May 2002, I left for Davao for the Postulancy. It was an experience of come and see, yet at the same time, a time to discern if this is really the life I am going to embrace. It was a tough experience with my co-postulants. There were 12 of us who entered and only 9 left. I was so grateful to God when I passed the evaluation, and I continued my formation to the Novitiate. 

The Novitiate formation is too intense. It is “breaking the former patterns of life.” I spent two years in the mountainous place of Bulacan, so serene and conducive for prayer and contemplation. It was never easy to face oneself and one’s issues, but the graces of God were overflowing. Everytime, I experienced problems, I went to the grotto of Our Lady of Fatima and poured out my heart to her and at times to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. 

During my Novitiate days, at the end of our 2nd year Formation (year 2005), we were presented to the provincial Council and the members after our evaluation. Guess what happened? I was probationary; that was better than being sent out. I had a lot of naughtiness when I was still seminarian, but God always prevailed in His plans for me. Despite the weaknesses and limitations, issues and challenges, God’s will prevailed and I passed and had my first profession of vows on May 1, 2005.

June 2005 and I started my Theology. I will be turning 37 this time and studying Theology at this age is very challenging. At times I have 7 subjects in every semester and that includes languages such as Hebrew, and Greek. God is super-abundant in His grace that despite the difficulty in studies, I still pass. The Blessed Mother is always my refuge and I see to it that during exams before I started answering the questions, I prayed to the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother. 

In the year 2007, I had my Pastoral year, and I was assigned to Davao. Everything is a grace from God because of His great and abundant love for me…Everything is out of His providence and initiative. And I also believe that as long as I believe in Him and I cooperate in His graces, His will be done in me. 

A little flashback… When I decided to enter the seminary year 1994, it was supposed to be in the Dominican Order. I had already passed the entrance exam and interview. That time when I went home and told my parents about my decision, Papa said, “Why are you entering that order? It is very far from our place. If we want to visit you because we have missed you, how are we going to do that?” Well Papa revised my plan. What did he do? He went to our parish Priest and talked to him and asked for a letter of recommendation for me to the Diocesan seminary in our place. I went there, took the exam, passed the exam, passed the interview. So instead of going back to Manila to pursue my vocation to be a Dominican, I stayed in our Province and entered the Diocesan seminary…

Continuation of Pastoral year 2007…

Year 2007 before I went to my Pastoral year in Davao. After being presented to the Provincial council and members after our evaluation, again, I was probationary. My dear parishioners, at the end of our formation year, we have our evaluation by peers and formators. Can you imagine that…if there are 30 seminarians and three formators??? All of them are going to evaluate you. It was only by God’s grace that I was able to survive. If I just relied on myself, I am no longer in this life. 

When I was already in my Pastoral year in Davao, God sent me a special gift, I am a dean’s lister. I can’t believe it.  I was already 39 years old that time. I always recall my difficulty in studies. Most of the time, I ended up crying to God, asking the intercession of the Blessed Mother, because it was already difficult for me to memorize my lessons. If we have examinations, before answering the questions, I first pray to the Holy Spirit and to the Blessed Mother and they make a way for me.

Time was so fast, after one year of Pastoral exposure, I was given the chance to continue my formation. I will be in my Third year Theology. Thank God for His graces and I was able to maintain being a dean’s lister until my fourth year Theology. Despite all the difficulties, challenges and problems I have encountered in my journey as a seminarian and as a student, I was able to finish my Theology with flying colors. What surprised me during the graduation, I was given an award because of the good performance I have in my Academics and for being a dean’s lister. I called that a “Defining Moment” in my life. At 41, I was able to beat my classmates who are so much younger than I am, not because I am intelligent, but all because of God’s grace and His perseverance in me. God really worked hard on me. 

The time has come for our preparation for our final vows. This time, it will be an International Program-Preparation for Perpetual Profession (IP4). I will be with 1 Filipino, 2 Americans, 3 Sri Lankans and 1 Vietnamese.  We have to go to the place of our Holy Founder Saint Peter Julian Eymard. Guess where? France! 

Yes, I was in Paris for two weeks during the summer of 2009 and another two weeks in La Mure, France! We journey with our Holy Founder Father Eymard.  We almost visited all the significant places where he went and as part of his discernment in founding the Congregation. When we were in la, Mure, France, we stayed at his house. Can you imagine that? I have to learn the French language. It was good that we have an interpreter during our sessions because all the texts that we have discussed and learned were in French. Our Congregation originated and was founded in France because our Father and Founder Saint Peter Julian Eymard is from that place. What a grace from God! I can never imagine myself being there. There is too much to mention about the significant places we visited but to mention a few, Notre Dame de Paris, Sacer  Cor, Basilica of Saint Therese and her house, Our Lady of Fourviere, Our Lady of Laus, the Parish where Saint John Marie Vianney was Pastor, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and the Miraculous image of Saint Catherine Laboure.

After a month of preparation in Paris and La Mure, we went to Sri Lanka. We stayed there for two months. From the first world country, now to the third world country like the Philippines. It is even, in a sense, worse than the Philippines. Our country is much progressive compared to Sri Lanka (just saying). But our further preparation in Sri Lanka was so fruitful and memorable. I am Asian and they are also Asians, so it is not so hard to blend with them. My two brother Americans have difficulty in terms of environment. After the three months preparation, October 2010, we have our Perpetual Profession at Saint Philip Neri’s Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka presided by our father General. 

A week after, we left Sri Lanka and then my companion and I have to prepare for our Diaconal Ordination. Diaconal Ordination happened in the third week of October 2010. Then I have to move to my place of assignment as Deacon. 

As a deacon, I was assigned to the Cagayan De Oro City community. There were three priests and me. It was a nice community with diverse personalities. I have learned a lot in this assignment, from preaching to baptism, community prayers, adoration, proclaiming the Gospel in their local dialect. 

One time, our Provincial Superior visited us, and he asked me where I wanted to be assigned after my ordination to the Priesthood. I told him I want to stay here after the Ordination…

January 2011, I have to leave Cagayan de Oro to prepare for my Priestly Ordination. We had our retreat in preparation for the ordination that happened at the Novitiate Formation House of the Jesuits in Novaliches City. March 26, 2011 together with Reverend Melchor Castañeda, SSS and Reverend Ferdinand Tomo, SSS, we are ordained Priests by Most Reverend Sofronio Bancud, SSS, D.D., Bishop of Nueva Ecija. Before the culmination of the Mass, our assignments were announced, and I am assigned as Chaplain of De La salle University.

My Vocation does not stop here but it will continue. The next stage of the Vocation story will focus on my different assignments as Priest.

Father Zaldy B. Norba, sss

Deacon Roy