Letting our small lights shine: AJHS students reflect on the meaning of the Pistanislao Mass 2025

On 13 November 2025, the AJHS community joyfully celebrated the feast of St. Stanislaus Kostka, patron of the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School. Dubbed the Pistanislao Mass (Pista ni Islao), the Holy Mass was presided over by Rev Fr Joaquin Jose Mari C Sumpaico III SJ, Vice President for Basic Education. Assisting him was Rev Bien Emmanuel C Cruz SJ, a recently ordained deacon who served as the homilist. Both Fr Sumpaico and Rev Cruz are proud alumni of the Ateneo de Manila High School.

Below is a reflection shared by JHS students Lyanne Bagsit (8-Chabanel) and Andi Lopez (8-Collins). Lyanne and Andi have also been serving at morning Mass in the Kostka Chapel since last year.
---o0o---

This year’s Pistanislao Mass at the Ateneo Junior High School did not just feel festive and filled with noise, color, and energy, it also made us pause and reflect. It was also especially meaningful knowing that both Fr Jonjee and Rev Bien once sat where we students sit now. They, too, were once young and simple Ateneo High School students eager to learn more about God.

In his homily, Rev Bien pointed out a couple of reflections that really spoke to us. First, he reminded us that part of growing up can feel thrilling, but it is also not easy. There will be moments when we are unsure that we belong. Like what Rev Bien said, “We face our own struggles: family issues, misunderstandings, difficult classes, and the pressure to prove ourselves.” But through all of it, Rev Bien also reminded us that God quietly walks beside us, just like how He walked with Jesus and St Stanislaus. Second, he reminded us of the importance of always being thankful and choosing to be more loving every day. These ideas stayed with us because they sound exactly like our experiences serving at the Kostka Chapel Mass every morning as part of the choir.

Our choir didn’t come together in a single instant; it took time, effort, and patience to become the little family that we are today. In many ways, the challenges we faced as a choir reflected the struggles Rev Bien talked about in his homily. Waking up earlier than everyone else (Mass is at 6:45 AM daily), practicing during lunch breaks, and balancing school work and our commitments are challenges that have tested us. But just as Rev Bien reminded us, God was quietly walking beside us, guiding us, strengthening us.

At the same time, serving in the choir taught us the second lesson Rev Bien shared: to be thankful and to choose love every day. What started as a simple reminder from our moderator, Mrs Dianne De Guzman, to attend the daily Mass became something we looked forward to. As our Chaplain, Fr Mamert Mañus SJ would always say, “There is no better way to start the day other than joining the daily Mass, to hear the Word of God and be guided and inspired, and to receive the Body of Christ and receive the fullness of Grace and the strength we need to persevere.”

Every morning, as we gather to sing and serve, we learn gratitude in small and simple ways, such as the joy of singing together and the friendships that we have created in the group. With every practice and every song we sing, our commitment becomes our own way of choosing to love a little more.

These two lessons, trusting God in our struggles and choosing gratitude and love daily, enable us to grow not only as a choir but as individuals. Last year, we were nominated for the Blessed Bernardo de Hoyos Award - a recognition of our commitment to serve in the daily mass.  We never expected this honor; for us, simply serving God was enough. As a choir, we try to live out a verse from one of our favorite songs:

Lahat ng mga lungkot, ligaya’t pagsubok
Lahat ng lakas at kahinaan ko
Inaalay ko’ng lahat, buong pagkatao
Ito ay isusunod sa’yo

          - From “Unang Alay” by Lito Magnaye

As we look ahead, we hope more students will join and continue what we have started. Our mission is simple: to serve, to grow together, and to let our small lights shine, just like St Stanislaus did!