Silver jubilee to infinity: Nine Davao priests mark 25 years in the priesthood

Inspired by the latest movie Avengers: Infinity War, the images of nine priests were overlaid in the faces of the main actors for the backdrop in the reception after the mass in celebration of their 25th year in the priesthood, May 1, feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

“The characters have different powers. Just like us, we have different personalities and different ages,” said Fr. Amado Arroyo in jest.

Fr. Arroyo, is one of the silver jubilarians for this year explained about the tarpaulin during the reception held at the San Pedro Cathedral Auditorium.

Aside from him, the following are also celebrating their 25th year in the priesthood last April and this May:

Fr. Joey Francisco
Fr. Jose Marie Escuadro
Fr. Ricky Flores
Fr. Vicente Candia
Fr. Rommel Banilad
Fr. Junar dela Victoria
Fr. Pedro Maniwang
Fr. Ed Sombilon

Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles officiated the Holy Mass at the San Pedro Cathedral in honor of the nine jubilarians.

He said that it is a great joy for a bishop to celebrate the mass with his priests and join them in celebrating the gift of their priestly ministry which they receive through the imposition of hands of the ordaining bishop.

He also enjoined them to visit the tomb of the late Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas who ordained them 25 years ago.

Abp. Valles said that with their ordination, the image and likeness of God are brought forth in the gift of the priesthood.

“We become co-creators of God,” he said, adding that “You participate in the work of redemption.”

The archbishop also told them that through their priesthood, they become stepfathers of the people.

He added that though they did not take the opportunity to have a family, but they have a family in the faithful that inspires them.

“It’s a wonderful gift to the people that we become their father though how unworthy we are,” Abp. Valles said as he likened their being fathers to the people to St. Joseph who became a father to Jesus.

Before the final blessing, the archbishop has announced that celebrating the mass together with silver jubilarians will become a tradition in the Archdiocese of Davao and the nine priests are the first ones who initiated this practice.