Priest to seminarians: Stay in love with God

“Love your people in the Parish and learn from them,” this was one of the message conveyed by Rev. Fr. Edilberto Mahinay, parish priest from Tarragona, Davao Oriental during the graduation of seminarians held March 20 at the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao, Catalunan Grande, Davao City.

Fr. Mahinay stressed the importance of staying “in-love with the Lord” as the seminarians are expected to go back to their respective Dioceses to complete their mission to the Priesthood after completing preparation years inside the seminary. “Spend time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, spend time with God’s people and learn from them too,” he said during the graduation ceremony. “My 9 months in the parish taught me practical and important lessons in life after seminary years,” Fr. Mahinay said.

The simplicity of barrio folks in expressing their faith moves Fr. Mahinay to love the Priesthood. “There were times when you’re touched by their simple faith- and will be moved to go on despite the challenges of living difficult life in the countryside,” Fr. Mahinay said.

“In the parish where I was assigned, riding in mortorcycle (habal-habal) during visits and Masses to the GKKs is already considered a luxury to the mostly-poor parishioners of mine,” he said. “You will be touched by their sense of concern for their Priest when they will fetch you in the Parish with their carabaos and horses. The roads are so bad that only horses and carabaos can pass through,” he said.

“At one time I was humbled by their simplicity when they asked for water before entering the chapel. They asked for water to wash their feet before entering the chapel because they were so muddy. They go to the chapel literally on foot during Masses- and the situation is more difficult during rainy season,” Fr. Mahinay added.

From the original 43 seminarians, 22 made it to graduation.

Rev. Fr. Edilberto R. Mahinay was the guest of honor and speaker during the 23rd Commencement Exercises held March 20 at the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary in Davao City.

Fr. Mahinay finished Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEED) at Davao Oriental State College before entering the seminary. He was assigned in the Parish of Saint Francis Xavier in the Diocese of Mati prior to his stint as School Principal and Administrator of Maryknoll Academy of Cateel from 2000 to 2006.

In 2006, he received his new assignment as part of the faculty and resident formation team of the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary in Mindanao. He returned to his Diocese and was assigned as Parish Parish in Tarragona, Davao Oriental in 2016. He earned his Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology in the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy with a distinction of Magna Cum Laude.