MSP PRESBYTERAL ORDINATION 2011

by Fr Patrick Casino MSP

After six months of diaconal ministry, the four MSP deacons have been ordained to the Order of Presbyters in the month of June 2011. The first was Rev Roldan “Dano” Zerna MSP. The ceremony was held last June 4, 2011, 9:00 am, at the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Church in Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan. The Most Rev Jose Oliveros DD, of Malolos, was the ordaining bishop. The concelebrants were mostly MSP priests. A few diocesan priests attended. The POLA parishioners in Mandaluyong came in two buses. Aside from them, the relatives and friends of Fr Dano were present.

Fr Dano celebrated his “misa cantada” at three o’clock in the afternoon in the same Church. Fr Regie Lavilla, the Vice-Rector of the MSP Seminary, was the homilist, while the MSP seminarians in Tagaytay City stood as the choir during the holy Eucharistic celebration.

June 11, 2011 was the turn of Rev Marc Louie “Macky” Calo MSP and Rev Richard Cortes MSP. Their ordination was held at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral in Tandag, Surigao del Sur. The ordaining bishop was the Most Rev Nereo Odchimar DD, the bishop of Tandag. The MSP priests who went to the celebration were: Frs Alfie Africa, Patrick Casiño, Nilo Pacuribot, Mawe Jadraque, Regie Lavilla, Ernie Ablaza, Nilo Resco, Sonny Cantillano, and Fil Mahusay, who arrived all the way from Thailand. Fr Suthet Wanapongtipakorn, the rector of the seminary in the Diocese of Khorat (Thailand) arrived with him. Likewise, Fr Nilo Tabana, a priest from the Prelature of Marawi, also attended, together with three MSP seminarians, namely, Sem Biljohn Arienza, Sem Anton Crema and Sem Rodney Mondido.Members of the Fil-Mission Auxiliary Association from Davao and Gingoog, Fr Percy Singco MSP, and Fr Jun Tacaisan MSP, four ladies from POLA in Mandaluyong, the families, relatives and friends of the two ordinands graced the occasion.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Fr Macky celebrated his “misa cantada” in the same cathedral. The MSP priests and a few of the diocesan priests concelebrated. The homilist was Fr Randy Ochigue, a cousin of Fr Macky, who belongs to the Diocese of Butuan. The following day, the guests traveled from Tandag to Bislig City for the thanksgiving mass of Fr Richard Cortes. We had lunch in Barobo, the new parish of Fr Allan Fiel. He is the former parish priest of Fr Cortes. At 3:00pm of June 12, 2011, Fr Richard celebrated his “misa cantada” at the St Joseph the Worker Parish in Forest Drive Subdivision, Bislig City. Aside from the MSP priests, a few diocesan priests also came. The homilist was Fr Edgar Clar, a priest who hails from Bislig City.

The last ordinand was Rev Fredy Permentilla. Like the others, his ordination to the priesthood took place at 9:00 am, this time of June 18, 2011 at the Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in Lipa City. The Most Rev Ramon Arguelles DD, Archbishop of Lipa, was the ordaining bishop. His “misa cantada” was held on the same day at 5:00pm at the Lipa Cathedral.

This year marks another grace-filled year for the Mission Society of the Philippines because of the four gifts of priests. Congratulations, Frs Dano, Macky, Richard and Fredy