"I was happy with the kids joining the Block Rosary...Then a catechist asked me to teach catechism to students... I told myself that this is my vocation. And until now, I carry on with this vocation." Alex Escurel Pura
Alex Escurel Pura encourages young people to actively and responsibly join church and society.
Aware of the harms that lurk around, he appeals to the youth to avoid things that may endanger their lives and cause them to lose their future. He decided to become a catechist for this reason.
Pura became a lay catechist in 2008. He started in a parish in Sorsogon, a province about 600 kilometers southeast of Manila.
The children in the barangays in San Antonio De Padua parish were the first ones whom he encouraged to participate in the practices of the church, initially the Block Rosary.
The parish is located in Gubat, a coastal town in Sorsogon that is one of the largest municipalities in terms of land area and population.
The town is known for its surfing spots and is frequented by surfing enthusiasts from different parts of the country.
By way of the Block Rosary, Pura engaged the children in the parish in the Marian devotion at night.
The Block Rosary is a Catholic practice in which the statue of Mary visits the faithful's homes one after another in a community for a novena.
"I was happy with the kids joining the Block Rosary," he said. "Then a catechist asked me to teach catechism to students at an elementary school." I taught Grade 4 students. I told myself that this was my vocation. And until now, I have carried on with this vocation."
“Put God at the centre of your life so that you would not get astray. Share Jesus with your fellows and become a good example to people who need love. Also, share with others what God has given you." Alex Escurel Pura
He taught catechism in the parish for almost three years, then left to work in Manila in 2011.
Pura was a crew member at a fast-food outlet on Tayuman, a street in Manila, the country's capital.
But a vocation in the church has repeatedly called him to carry it on.
So, he decided to quit the job after just several months. In Tondo's San Jose Manggagawa parish, he volunteered to work as a catechist.
Tondo is a district in Manila, and it is the largest of the city's 16 districts in terms of land area and population.
Tondo was also the home of Filipino revolutionaries, including Andres Bonifacio, a national hero who was the leader of the revolt against Spanish colonial rule.
It is also part of the Archdiocese of Manila, the country's current church leadership center.
Driven by the enthusiasm of his vocation, he taught catechism to Grade 3 and 4 students at Lapu-Lapu Elementary School and Melchora Aquino Elementary School, both in Manila.
Currently, Pura teaches catechism at Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Integrated School—High School in Santa Ana, another district in Manila.
According to Pura, teaching the young catechism is a basic need for a Catholic.
"Catechism is fundamental and is based on the sacrament of the spiritual life," he said. "The principle of catechism is to guide the young in their first communion."
Catechism seeks to teach the young everything they need about God, His commandments, and the sacraments, he added.
Pura, 31, is a full-time catechist. He is strongly inclined toward teaching the young for as long as he can.
Teaching catechism to young people gives him a purpose in life. He is keen on continuing with this vocation for a lifetime.
Pura believes that the young are the hope of society and the church. He encourages them to become active members of their respective parishes.
He believes that young people who join the church will become good Christians and citizens.
“Put God at the center of your life so that you would not get astray, " he told the young. "Share Jesus with your fellows and become a good example to people who need love. Also, share with others what God has given you."
