Tita Mau’s Heartfelt Sharing at Brevolution 2025: A Mother’s Witness to 25 Years of God’s Faithfulness

     

           Good evening. As you've heard I am Maureen Leuzzi. But to those who know me years back I am Maureen Tanseco. I have three children: Mary Therese, Ricardo, and Quintin. And with each of these children I have a grandchild: Tron Isis, Raziel Qin, and Oren Kai. And this is why I say, I am a fulfilled grandma. "Thank You, Lord." I am a professed Benedictine Oblate for 26 years now. Benedictine Oblate is the third order of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. These two saints by the way are twins.

          My two sons, Ricardo and Quintin, got involved with the Brevs when the Brevs was just starting. Ricardo who is now 41 years old was one of the brave pioneers. I say brave because to start or to found a group or congregation isn't a joke. We need a tremendous light from the Holy Spirit. And for it to be successful we need tons and tons of prayers, courage, motivation, and inspiration. And I believe that's exactly what our main founder Brother Alex did and is still doing. I asked my son Ricardo who is now residing in Vancouver, Canada with his wife Beverly and six year old son Oren to give me a glimpse of his Brev life. This is what he said. " I was fifteen. Can't remember how many we were, around twenty or a little more. It wasn't even called Breviarians then. We sang at 5pm mass. I was their music director at one point. Mostly I was their drummer. But I also played guitar, bass, and was their sound tech at different times. And driver." This may sound simple but I distinctly remember they were a busy group of BFF. Meetings, prayers, practices, and masses. Yet they parted high spirited and always looked forward to their next gathering. Until one day he mentioned to me the name Brevs. As you know parents are naturally strict with what their children do, where they go, and with whom they go. But in my case, since this is a God related group I was so laxed and never worried. In fact I was a joyful and grateful mom seeing her son hanging around with youth serving the Lord and none other. What could be better than that? Especially ages like you. As young as you are you've already opened your hearts to Jesus. And with the best of spirit. Cheerful, energetic, frolicking in the Spirit of God, going with the wind, breathing the dew of the morning, sweating in the heat of he sun at daytime, and slowing down at the red-orange beams of the sun at the close of day.

          Going back to my two sons, my youngest Quintin, 35, who is also in Vancouver, being six years younger than Ricardo, tagged along during those early years. He was with the Brevs here and there. For a while he was the baby of the Brevs until he became a young teen like some of you here. This is what he has to say.

          "My time with the Breviarians was a transformative journey that shaped me in three unforgettable ways. First, I became more prayerful, finding creative and exciting ways to praise. Second, I also became super resourceful because of all the events that the Brevs do. I'll never forget one Easter fundraising at Baguio Cathedral. We were supposed to dispose of these long balloons because we didn't have a pump for them. But instead I turned into a challenge for the crowd and ended up raising lots of money! Lastly, I found a deep sense of being a community builder. Without even trying, I was constantly connecting people, creating space for belonging, creating communities, all thanks to the strong example that the Breviarians have instilled in me. These and many others have been core memories for me during my youth, and have influenced my adult life in ways I never imagined."

          I saw the Brevs grow even when my sons were already gone. I saw new faces coming in. I was in some of your masses listening to your choir. Witnessing you I always thanked the Lord. "Dear Jesus, You have indeed blessed the Brevs. See how it has grown. Bless each and every young heart. They may not realize it but their souls are actually dancing in heaven."

           Now forming a group like the Breviarians isn't a small thing at all. It has its ups and downs. It entails a lot of sacrifices and sufferings especially to the formators like Brother Alex and wife Robe Anne and everyone involved. What do you think the saints went through? Each of the saints had a battle to face. Persecutions. Some from their own families. Some from their friends and the public. And heavier still, from the church. Surely Brother Alex and his faithful supporters have their own story to keep the Brevs going. There were downfalls along the way but look at you now. Celebrating 25 years! In this prestigious hotel with the elders like me celebrating with you. This, my brothers and sisters, needs a big applause. As I was saying, the saints were not spared from hardships. St. Theresa of Avila, the great reformer of the Carmelite Order, in the midst of her sufferings, finally complained to the Lord, " Is this how You treat Your friends?' To which Jesus said, "Yes." And St. Teresa said, " No wonder You have very few friends." So my dear young Brevs, pray for your formators. Pray for everyone. It's your prayers that will make this spiritual group live up to another 25 years and celebrate Brevs' golden anniversary. Cooperate with your formators. Love the person you're working with, you're adoring with. Call the saints of the youth. We have St. John Bosco, his disciple St. Dominic Savio, the Fatima children Sr. Lucia, St. Francisco, and St. Jacinta, and of course Blessed Carlo Acutis. You know with my children as soon as they were born until the age of probably six I told them stories about the saints as they woke up in the morning and as they retired at night. Why? Because I wanted the first thing that entered their mind as they opened their eyes is something about Jesus. And at night the last thing they heard before falling asleep was again about heaven. Oh, especially if they had a tough day. Believe it or not, at my age now I still read books about the saints one after anther one. In all my travels I always keep one in my bag. And what age do you think I started? Twenty. My first book was St. Bernadette. Love the saints, dear children. They are our models and inspiration. They love Mother Mary so very much who helped them get to Jesus. Do you know that the saints are the most hard headed? They were stubborn in their conviction, that of offering themselves to the Lord. And that's what lead them to be saints.

          So my dear Breviarians, do not be afraid of trials. Trials make saints out of our littleness. No backing out. Work. Pray. For the salvation of souls. As St. Benedict says, "Ora et Labora." Pray and work.

           My big congratulations to all of you!

With my deepest gratitude in the Name of Jesus,

Maureen G. Leuzzi

Benedictine Oblate