Bringing Jesus into HR

The new commandment was “Love one another as I have loved you.” St. Thomas Aquinas, borrowing from Aristotle, said “love” means “willing the good of the other (person).” In more contemporary terms, we may say “desiring and working for, or seeking, the good of the other”.

We asked friends from the areas of entrepreneurship, development and social work, and government how they are seeking the good of others. Sharing her answer with us today is Mary Rose Manugas, who works for the Human Resources Department of a local government unit.

“Being a Human Resource Management Officer of the Learning and Development Section, I get to meet different people with diverse attitudes, values and behaviors. It’s challenging to engage all of them in programs and activities, attending to their diverse needs, while also ensuring that training objectives and learning goals are met.

I was able to do it only by the grace that the Lord has shown in my life. The grace He has given me, I am able to extend the same to others. When we have participants who show disheartening demeanors, I would ask myself the WWJD question: ‘What would Jesus do?’ And I would respond accordingly.

Being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ - studying His teachings and applying them to my life - has shaped my personal brand of professionalism. I am reminded that, as He forgave sinners and died for His enemies, I must also commit to His cause and be ready to forgive and bleed in the name of God and service to mankind.

We at the Human Resource Development Office continue to design developmental initiatives with the aim of improving the holistic wellbeing of our employees, firstly by directing their minds on the heavenly things and their hearts to the innermost parts of their being. This we hope to achieve through the Moral Recovery Program, involving a Departmental Bible Study Fellowship. Around 400 employees participate in this activity each week, which takes place in sixteen pioneering departments and offices.

Just as the "Word became flesh" to serve and not to be served, the flesh that I am obeys the Word and does the same by conducting my life in a circumspect manner and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in my words, thoughts and dealing with people while performing various roles in the society, even as a humble trainer of the Cebu City Government.

You can find Christ-centered materials on Mary Rose’s FB page - https://www.facebook.com/mayrjay.