TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines - In thanksgiving to God for the gift of the Priesthood, Rev. Msgr. Bernardo R. Pantin, PC, JCD celebrated his 25th Sacerdotal anniversary yesterday, April 25 with a Mass at the Sto. Niño Church here in the city followed by a reception at the Archbishop Cipriano V. Urgel Hall in Palo, Leyte.
Pantin presided the Eucharistic celebration and, in a brief statement before the Mass, he said he thanks the Lord for His graciousness and mercy and he continues to pray to be a faithful priest.
Most Rev. Felomino Bactol, Bishop of the Diocese of Naval (Biliran), other monsignors and priests from the different parishes, classmate-priests from other parts of the country, religious sisters from various congregations, Leyte Vice Governor Ma. Mimiette Bagulaya and Palo town Mayor Remedios "Matin" Petilla, among others attended the event.
Bactol, in his reflection after the Gospel, said he felt privileged in doing a repeat performance for Pantin because he was also the one who gave the reflection during the Canta Misa or Thanksgiving Mass during the ordination of Pantin as priest on April 25, 1986.
"The Gift of Priesthood, no one can give but God. The implantation of the gift of the priesthood comes from God. To whom God wants to give the gift, only God knows," said Bactol.
Monsignor Pantin was born on October 31, 1961 to Remedios V. Pantin and Prudencia Roldan in MacArthur, Leyte. He studied his elementary in this town, after which he finished his high school and college studies at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte.
At the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary, He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology in 1984 and a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1986 at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary.
In Rome, Italy, Pantin finished his Doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1990. He was then installed as Papal Chaplain, with a title of monsignor, on December 27, 1994.
He became a Rector at the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology where he was also a professor of Canon Law. Today, he is the vice president for the Visayas of the Canon Law Society of the Philippines.
Right after his ordination as priest, Pantin was appointed as Parochial Vicar of Palo Cathedral where he is currently the Pastor.
Later on, Pantin held various key positions of leadership in the Palo Archdiocese: As chancellor, the official secretary and keeper of documents of the Diocese and at the same time the Notary; as member of the College of Consultors; as chairman of the Evangelization and Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan Committee and Commission for the Ongoing Formation of the Clergy; as Defender of the Bond and Promotor of Justice at the Archdiocesan Tribunal; and archdiocesan media coordinator.
His Grace Pedro R. Dean, D.D., erstwhile Archbishop of Palo appointed Pantin as Vicar General of the archdiocese on November 1, 1994.
In his 25 years in the priest ministry, Pantin has been parish priest to major parishes in the Palo Archdiocese, the foremost of which was in the Sto. Nino Parish in Tacloban City, a major city in Eastern Visayas, and the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Ormoc City for another five years.
As the current Pastor of the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral in Palo, Leyte, Pantin leads the preparations for the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Archdiocese of Palo next year.