My name is Matang, and my biological parents are Moaniba Rotitaake and Tokanikaiatetaanga Tumeka. I was adopted by Maeke Batiata and Eritia Ibeata. I am 24 years of age and come from the island of Kiribati known as Gilbert Island under the Micronesian region of the Pacific (Oceania). The Kiribati islands are located across the equator and have 33 islands which are divided into three parts: northern, central, and southern. The life I lived where I grew up was all about simplicity and was uniquely related to my traditional way of life living with my family and friends.
My call to the Columbans happened when I studied at one of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) secondary schools called St. Maria College. I remember one of the Columban priests named Fr. Frank Hoare arrived at my school and promoted vocation to all young male students. He shared some of the magazines and played videos about the Columban missionaries where they have missions in different parts of the world.
After Fr. Hoare’s presentation, I felt the call to join them when I was moved by their missionary way of life. However, I could not join them at that time because I had not finished my studies yet. Later on, another Columban priest arrived again in Kiribati named Fr. William Lee whom I met and shared with him that I was interested in joining the Columbans.
I feel called because I am very interested to see their missionary way of life or charism where they work for Justice/Peace and Integrity of creation, Inter-religious dialogue, solidarity with the poor, providing education for the poor, and Evangelization. I have hope that my dreams and my calling will come true to become one of the Columban missionary priests for the future mission.
I have hope that my dreams and my calling will come true to become one of the Columban missionary priests for the future mission.
My favorite subject in my studies is philosophy. I have discovered that philosophy is the fundamental nature of knowledge which is trying to expand and enlarge my understanding based on natural things. Therefore, I found that philosophy doesn’t need many answers but depends on the questions to think critically about something that is beyond my understanding and it will try to enlarge my knowledge on different matters.
However, philosophy is not only a love of wisdom but also a willingness to learn and experience things that will help me to understand more different kinds of phenomena and encourage me to overcome and make meaning of my life. It was very important for me to learn philosophy at the Loyola School of Theology because it will prepared me well before I begin theology courses in upcoming years.
I like to read poems because I have found many important messages and symbolic features related to real life and things that are happening in this world. Moreover, some good movies that I like are religious movies where I learned many aspects of missionary life in preaching the good news. I am in year one of my formation, and it is a great experience for me to recognize very special and important things which have been prepared such as education, physical needs, etc. Lastly, my life in formation is now a big transition for me by experiencing different kinds of people, cultures, and new environments. I have learned a lot from them by living in the formation with my formators and brothers.
Columban seminarian Matang.M.Rotitaake is studying in the Philippines.