Cardinal Quevedo to new deacons on their ministry: Look beyond comfort

TACURONG CITY—Orlando Cardinal Quevedo has told his newly-ordained deacons to look beyond the comfort in the performance of their ministry.

In his homily during the rite of ordination to the diaconate at the Nuestra Señora Dela Candelaria Parish here, April 30, Cardinal Quevedo said deacons should have love for their service to the people especially to the poor.

“Our service is not humanitarian. Service is love,” Quevedo said explaining that deacons are not non-government workers.

“Our basis is love. Without love, service is just a routine,” he added.

He also said the ultimate purpose of their service is the salvation of souls.

Quevedo ordained three deacons namely: Rev. Daryll Dhan Bilbao, Rev. Danilo Diaz II, and Rev. Filrey Michael Magno, who are all graduates of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao.

Sense of the Holy Spirit

The only Cardinal from Mindanao has also underlined the need to spend time for prayer and ask the Holy Spirit for deacons, like St. Stephen who was a deacon who became a martyr.

“The deacons must have a sense of the Holy Spirit in themselves so that the whispering of the Holy Spirit can be heard,” Quevedo said adding that they can’t do God’s will without their kinship to the Holy Spirit.

He also said that prayer is also important in the life of a deacon, priests and religious.

“Be constant in faith, be constant in love, be constant in purity,” he said.

Influence to others

He added that deacons should also watch out for their actions as they are looked up to by those who also want to become future priests someday.

“Your life will inspire those who want to be priests,” Quevedo said.

The new deacons will wait for their respective assignments after their ordination. They have chosen the verse, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) as their theme for their ordination.

The event was attended by the priests from the Archdiocese of Cotabato and visiting priests from different dioceses including the newly-ordained deacons’ formators in the seminary.