Fr. Ning Puentevella, SJ
Now in my 90’s, I celebrate, with profound gratitude, the gift of life. Of the countless multitude God could have created, He had chosen me, and of the many other places he could have chosen for me to be born, he had picked a Christian country, even more wonderfully, a Roman Catholic one. God be praised that of the many other religious school I could have studied in, it was to the Ateneo de Manila that I was sent. It was there that by God’s ineffable grace the Holy Spirit touched me to the quick during our fourth year retreat under Father James P. Moran.
Against my Father’s objection I had to forego my vocation and study Pre-law at U.P Padre Paura, then war broke out on December 8, 1941, and for the next five years my vocation was on hold. At wars end, with Manila in shambles, I continued my studies in San Agustin University in Iloilo. There, on the spur of the moment I wrote, to Ester “Ting” Hilado, about my vocation. After consultation with a Jesuit Priest, she replied, I had to fly to Manila — which I did on the first post-war PAL flight. I stayed in La Ignaciana to recuperate from a slight cold I had caught, but was well-enough by August 15 to transfer to Novaliches and apply to the Society. God be praised!
Fr. Renato L. Puentevella, SJ or Fr. Ning has been a Jesuit since 1946. He had been assigned to different communities including Xavier University, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Iloilo-Santa Maria Catholic School, Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Ateneo de Davao as principal, counselor, teacher, and chaplain. He is currently in the Jesuit Wellness and Health Center, inside Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Please click here if you want to be our mission partner.