02/10/2026
IHHS Tongtongan and School Recollection Highlights the Power of Presence, Love, and Accompaniment
Natonin, Mountain Province | October 2, 2026 — Immaculate Heart High School, Inc. (IHHS) gathered its students and members of the school community today for the IHHS Tongtongan and School Recollection, a day of prayer, reflection, sharing, and meaningful conversations centered on the theme, “The Power of Presence: Culminating the Culture of Love and Accompaniment.”
The activity opened with a Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Andrew K. Claver, who invited the students to reflect on the meaning of presence and accompaniment in their relationships with God, their families, and the people around them.
In his homily, Fr. Andrew emphasized that accompaniment involves not only being physically present but also listening. Through genuine listening, people are given the assurance that they are valued, heard, and empowered. He also encouraged the students to face the challenges surrounding them with the attitude of little children—willing to listen, trust, and believe.
Drawing inspiration from St. Carlo Acutis, popularly known as the patron of the digital age, Fr. Andrew reminded the young people that age should never be a barrier to making a difference for God and for others. With technology as part of their everyday lives, young people can use digital platforms as instruments of evangelization and positive influence, beginning within their own families and extending to their communities.
He likewise encouraged the students to develop a personal source of spirituality by balancing prayer, study, and work; to make time to sit with the Lord; and to grow in love for Sacred Scripture. Challenges and problems, he reminded them, need not become obstacles to their growth but can instead become stepping stones that help them grow, shine, and become stronger in faith.
The recollection continued with meaningful sharing from the lay missionaries of Flames of Fire for Jesus—Ms. Weline, Ms. Adeline, Ms. Beng, and Ms. Emma—who alternately shared lessons drawn from their own life experiences.
Among the central messages of their sharing was the transformative power of prayer. The missionaries reminded the students that prayer can become a powerful means of bringing one's deepest desires before God, particularly those concerning oneself and one's family. They also encouraged the young people to dream not only for themselves but to include their families in those dreams.
The speakers also addressed the realities of growing up, including friendships and romantic relationships. They reminded the students that while relationships are a natural part of adolescence, these should never cause them to lose sight of their dreams and aspirations. Instead, relationships can become opportunities for two people to accompany one another in pursuing their goals and building a meaningful future.
The missionaries also spoke candidly about the struggles young people sometimes experience at home. As children, students may at times feel that family responsibilities limit their freedom or prevent them from enjoying the things they want. Rather than allowing these feelings to lead to self-centeredness, however, they were encouraged to look more deeply into the sacrifices made by their parents and to ask how they, too, can contribute to and help their families.
The students were further challenged to become people who add dignity to their families—young men and women who bring pride, honor, and hope to their homes and communities. One concrete way of doing so, the speakers emphasized, is through education: studying well, striving for excellence, and using one's gifts and opportunities to build a meaningful future.
More than a school activity, the IHHS Tongtongan and School Recollection became a space for the young people to pause, listen, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters. It reminded them of the power of prayer, the importance of strengthening their relationship with God, and their responsibility to shape their own lives through the choices they make.
As the day concluded, the students were reminded that a meaningful life is not simply measured by success or achievement, but by the people they choose to love, the families they choose to honor, the lives they choose to touch, and the faith that gives direction to their journey.
Rooted in the Lord, accompanied by others, and empowered by His presence, the young people of IHHS are challenged to dream with purpose, live with love, and become a light to their families and communities.
