Make Me Worthy, then I Fear No More

“I testify that he had been found worthy.”

Thus were the words that resounded amidst the solemn atmosphere inside San Pedro Cathedral’s walls on the 13^th of June 2013. Msgr. Matt Gorgonio, the Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Davao, delivered such confirmation to verify the worthiness of the candidate for diaconal ordination.

For any young man willing to respond to God’s call, such words give inexpressible joy, setting the soul at ease. However, it was not for the candidate who has been ordained to the diaconate recently.

Rev. Ronald Bolo Arcillas, the newly ordained deacon of the Archdiocese of Davao, received the Order Deacon from the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, Archbishop of Davao, at the Davao’s metropolitan cathedral on the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, 9 o’clock in the morning.

Born on October 25, 1983, Rev. Arcillas is a product of San Roque Parish, Malabog, Davao City. He is the second among the five siblings of Mr. Valeriano and Mrs. Albertita Arcillas, who currently resides at Pulokon Laman, Calinan, Davao City. Knowing his desire to the priesthood, he responded to God’s call and eventually entered the Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary where he was conferred the Bachelor of Arts in Classical Philosophy on the year 2007. At the Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao, Rev. Arcillas accomplished his theological studies last year and finally submitted himself for the Diocesan formation in preparation for Holy Order.

Not long, Rev. Arcillas expressed his ardent desire to be ordained which Archbishop Valles accepted, setting the date of the diaconal ordination on the 13^th of June which also marks the birthday of one of the Archdiocese’s ordinaries, the late Archbishop Antonio Lloren Mabutas.

Rev. Arcillas’ ordination is the first Diocesan diaconate ordination presided over by the recently installed Archbishop Valles. During the celebration of the sacrament, priests from the Diocesan Clergy of Davao and other religious congregations were present. Apart from that, a number of seminarians from the Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary were also invited to witness the ordination. Seminarian Emmanuel Retorca from the Sto. Rosario Parish, Toril remarked that their presence is an opportunity for them to witness a forthcoming event that could happen someday in their lives.

The character of the diaconate ordination of Rev. Ronald Arcillas was anchored on the theme “Ayaw kahadlok… Ubanan Ko ikaw.” (Jer. 1:8). According to him, receiving the sacrament of the Holy order made him doubt and afraid. Nevertheless, he affirmed that God secures him to fear not the challenges that may await him considering his young age and lack of confidence to speak before many, as he humbly admitted. Moreover, the said verse from the book of Prophet Jeremiah is Rev. Arcillas’ stronghold as he advances towards the challenging path to priesthood.

The event culminated with a thanksgiving lunch at the cathedral’s auditorium.

By Sem. Amiel Arado/Contributor