Jeng or “Tita Jeng” is what people here at OLM call me. My full name is Regina Eileen Matias-Villa, the eldest of four children of Ricardo Matias and Erlinda Hidalgo Matias. My siblings are Roselle Elinore (Leng), Roxanne Eidee (Deng) and Rachelle Pia Emmylou (Meng).
I’m happily married to Oniths Villa and I’m the proud mom of Fiona Renee, Florence Ria and Fyllip Raven!
Education:
- Learned ABCs, Grammar, History, Algebra, Geometry and Physics at Canossa Academy, Lipa City
- Was taught Communications, Philosophy, Theology and being a woman for others at Ateneo De Manila University
- Finished Masters in Behavioral Sciences in De La Salle University
- Took Licensure in Education
- Completed Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies
Youth Ministry Involvement:
- Got involved in Youth Ministry at age 14
- Led Parish Youth Council
- Served as staff of Archdiocesan Youth Commission, Archdiocese of Lipa, Batangas
- Facilitated Youth Encounter, Basic Course on Youth Ministry, Parable of the Pencil Retreat, Youth Evangelization, Facilitators’ Seminar Workshops
- Elected Sangguniang Kabataan President of Lipa City and served the City Council as Youth Representative
- Worked as Campus Minister in De La Salle Lipa and Ateneo de Manila University
- Helped organize the National Youth Day, Philippines
- Participated in World Youth Day 1995 in Manila and WYD 2002 in Canada
- Was a representative of the Philippines to the International Liturgy Group and as such, was able to see Pope John Paul II up close on stage and read at the WYD mass in Toronto
- Journeyed with OLM/OLS pilgrims to World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain and to WYD 2016 in Krakow, Poland
Life’s Turning Points:
In November 2002, I came to the United States for love!!! Oniths and I got married at OLM in December. In 2004, I was invited to be a part-time youth minister. Two years later, I became the full-time Director of Youth Ministry. In 2008, I was also asked to take on the responsibility of becoming the Director of Religious Education.
My Personal Vision of Youth Ministry:
I want to see the young people of our parish as not only involved in terms of attending religious education and taking part in ministry, but also in terms of being “everyday evangelizers”. I would like to see them proclaiming the Good News and sharing their experiences of God’s love. I hope that they would touch lives by the way they live. I pray that in their heart, they know that they have a mission to make a difference in the lives of others. The church needs them to hand on the faith that is why it is important to provide opportunities for growth in all aspects so that the youth will be responsible Christians and citizens in the future.
When I came to the United States, I thought that God has taken away everything from me- family, friends, ministry, career. He “uprooted” me only to “plant” me again into the ministry that I have always loved.
I know God has a plan far greater than I could ever imagine.
The journey continues…Bloom where you’re planted!