Cebu gets 14 new priests

CEBU, Philippines - Fourteen Cebuano priests have become the newest addition to the Catholic clergy following their presbyteral ordination yesterday.

 Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma ordained 14 deacons into priesthood at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral as witnessed by hundreds of priests, deacons, seminarians, acolytes, laities, and religious groups.

 The newly-ordained priests are Ralph Argoncillo of Virgen de los Remedios Parish in Barangay Labangon; Jose De Dios of Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish in Barangay Capitol Site; Zenon Guanzon of Sto. Rosario Parish; Rogen Leyson and Rabi Mabala of Sto. Niño Parish in Barangay Guba; Fran Villegas of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral all from Cebu City.

 Others were from different cities and towns of Cebu Province, including Villy Jean Cortes of Our Lady of Remedios Parish in Barangay Odlot, Bogo City; John Temothy Judalco of Sacred Heart Parish in Bantayan; Moenil Lapa of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City; Arthur Manalo of Patrocinio de Maria Parish in Boljoon; Joseph Paul Pugasan of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Barangay Tuyan, City of Naga; Josephus Remonde of the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Argao; Andrei Mikhail Tabotabo of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City; Nissan Toring of the San Roque de Montpellier Parish in Asturias.

 Together with Archbishop Palma, the ordination rites were also attended by Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, and Cebu Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishops Fr. Emilio Bataclan, Antonio Rañola and the newest one, Dennis Villarojo.

 During the rites, the ordinands laid flat facing down before the altar as the congregation chanted the litany of saints to invoke the intercession of God’s holy men and women.

 As a sign of priesthood, they were given the stole (symbolizes the authority and responsibility to serve in imitation of Christ) and the chasuble (e principle garment of the priest celebrating the Eucharist and is the outermost vestment), anointing of the hands with oil, and the Book of the Gospels.

 This was followed by the laying of hands of diocesan priests upon the ordinands to invoke the Holy Spirit.

 Palma reminded the priests that their role is valuable being the messengers, watchmen and stewards of the Lord.

 “As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in accordance with its precepts. You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor,” Palma said.

 “You are to preach, to declare God's forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce God's blessing, to share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ's Body and Blood, and to perform the other ministrations entrusted to you,” he added.

 Palma, the main celebrant in the Eucharistic celebration for the event, also told the priests to treasure their vocation and be good disciples of God’s teachings. 

 "We pray that our young priests will value the gift of the priesthood and that they will be truly grateful for this gift,” he said.

 “We should strive to live as brothers. We should make real that sacramental of brotherhood,” he added.

 Palma further said Cebu is truly blessed by God as manifested by the canonization of Cebuano saint Pedro Calungsod; Cebu being chosen as venue for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress; installation of two auxiliary bishops Villarojo and Oscar Florencio; and the newly-ordained priests.

 “And today, God's love is manifested in this ordination of 14 young priest for the archdiocese sa pagkadako sa gugma sa Ginoo natong mga Cebuano,” he said.

 Cebu has the most number of clergy and Cebu Archdiocese is the biggest Presbyterian in the country with 385 diocesan priests and over 600 religious priests.

 This year’s batch is the second biggest batch of Presbyterian in the Archdiocese of Cebu since 1993, when 19 priests were ordained by Vidal.

 Fr. Judalco who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, admitted that most of them are still young to enter priesthood, but said they are ready to take on the challenge and go full swing in their pastoral work as priests.

 “…may gatas pa kami sa labi pero sa kasing-kasing ug sa hunahuna hinog na mi kaayo,” he said, asking the parishioners to continue praying for them.

 He said they are drawn into the vocation because of their love for God and His people. 

 He thanked God for not giving up on them and for continuously believing on them.

 “Thank you for not giving up on us even if we thought of giving up and thank you for believing on us…” he said. — (FREEMAN)