Today he is studying Theology in Rome, at the  Pontifical University of the Holy Cross  and resides at the Sedes Sapientiae International Ecclesiastical College, thanks to the help of the partners, benefactors and friends of the CARF Foundation.

His story begins in a moment of emptiness. And he wants to share his life experience to thank the benefactors of the CARF Foundation, who are giving his diocese and him the opportunity to study in Rome.

“My name is Jovan Faylogna. When people see me today, they sometimes assume I must have grown up very close to the Church. But the truth is quite different. I wasn’t the kind of child who went to Mass every Sunday. In fact, I lived my life without giving much thought to God.  Holy Mass was something I only attended on  Christmas, Easter, or some other important parish holiday. I didn’t know it then, but I was wandering through life aimlessly: calm on the outside, but empty on the inside.”

The Mass, an unexpected encounter

Everything changed unexpectedly in 2016, during her high school years. Her school experienced some strange, even terrifying, events, and the administration asked everyone to attend Mass on Sunday to pray for the school. “ I went simply because we were asked to . I sat with my friends without expecting anything… but during that Mass I felt something I had never experienced before.”

It wasn’t dramatic or noisy. “I felt a soft light inside, a quiet touch that went straight to my heart. The following Sunday, without thinking too much about it, I went back to church. And then the next. I attended because my friends went too, but little by little it became a habit, something that felt natural and peaceful. One day, the Youth Ministry invited me to join. I said yes almost without thinking, because something in me was drawn to it like a magnet.”

And it turns out that Jovan not only experienced  Holy Mass again , but he discovered something greater: a community that welcomed him and, in that welcome, the presence of God.

“Eventually, I became an altar server. And that changed everything. Suddenly, I wasn’t just going to Mass on Sundays anymore: I was attending every day. I even started waking up at 5:30 in the morning for adoration, morning prayer, and Mass. The parish community took me under their wing, even inviting me to have breakfast with them before school.  I felt loved. I felt at home.  It was the first time in my life that faith and God weren’t something I observed from the outside: God became someone I knew.”

However, his calling didn’t come as a sudden certainty. Before, as is normal, Jovan felt doubts and the fear of not being worthy.

“About a year later, seminarians from our diocese came to our school for vocational outreach. My friends teased me, telling me to join, but  I always laughed and said no. Deep down, I didn’t think I was worthy.  When the entrance exam came around, something in my heart whispered, ‘Give it a try.’ I told my parish priest, ‘Father, I want to try,’ but I didn’t tell my parents because I was afraid they would refuse.”

Jovan took the exam and passed. But to finalize his admission, his parents had to meet with the rector. “It took me months to convince them. The truth is, at that time they didn’t fully support me, not completely, not emotionally. And when the day came for the new seminarians to enter, they all arrived with their families… while I walked in alone. I still remember how heavy that moment was.”

Jovan emphasizes how God has a way of writing stories that surprise us. And at the most unexpected moment, the sign you need arrives.

” God writes stories with beautiful surprises.  During our investiture with the sacred habit, I waited and prayed for my parents to arrive. Five minutes before Mass began, they appeared. I saw them smile, but I also saw sadness in their eyes, because that same day was my grandfather’s funeral, which I couldn’t attend.”

The ceremony was beautiful, and at the end, my bishop called them together and spoke to them with a kindness that softened their hearts. After that, they accepted my vocation. They began to visit me frequently.

The seminarian’s path: a far from easy task

No path is easy. Life at the seminary is also expensive, and Jovan’s family was struggling financially. But God provides in unexpected ways. A generous family helped him continue his studies, something he will never forget.

“Inside the seminary, I wasn’t the best. In fact, I was almost expelled twice.  I struggled, made mistakes, and questioned myself many times if it was the right place for me. But God works in ways that surprise us.  Just before I finished my Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, my bishop asked me if I wanted to study Theology in Rome. I didn’t know how to answer. I remembered the boy I was: the one who barely went to Mass, and now they were asking me to study in the heart of the Church.”

The training in Rome

“My first reaction was, ‘I can’t.’ But in prayer, I felt the serene assurance of Our Blessed Mother: ‘I am your mother. I will take care of you. Don’t worry about your family: I will be with them.’ And with that, I found the courage to say yes.”

He arrived in Rome full of hope and enthusiasm… but suddenly he was told he had to return to the Philippines. Jovan didn’t understand why. He was plunged into a deep crisis. Although he confesses that that year was very valuable in his formation and instilled in him great humility. Later, his bishop called him again and said, “Go back to Rome. Finish what you started.”

The bishop entrusted him with a mission: to help his diocese build communion with the separated communities and to teach the truth of the Church of Christ, especially through the gift of the Eucharist.

Very grateful to the benefactors

An essential element of Jovan’s story is feeling grateful, especially to the benefactors, partners, and friends of the CARF Foundation. “None of this, absolutely none, would have been possible without the grace of God and without the people He uses as His instruments. People like you.”

“Their generosity, whether financial, spiritual, or emotional, has given me the opportunity to continue my journey. They have no idea how much their support has touched my life.  Every step I take toward  the priesthood  is also a step they’ve taken .”

“I don’t know how to repay you. I don’t think I can ever fully do so. But I can promise you this with all my heart: you are in my prayers every day. And I carry your friendship and generosity with me to every Holy Mass I attend. Thank you so much, friends of the CARF Foundation. May God bless you through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother!”