He is now a Bishop but he is our Fr. Bong forever

November 20 was a regular Tuesday when the SocCom team gathered to collate, write and organize the news articles ready to be submitted to Davao Catholic Herald. On two successive weeks, the team decided to use the WIFI connection of the St. Joseph Parish and its enormous table at the porch pretty convenient for a good amount of paper works.

Fr. Bong Lunas as usual comes and goes doing his daily routine seeing people for a meeting at his office downstairs, visiting GKKs and doing errands in Digos. He came back late afternoon, sat with us at the table, personally took out some snacks and refreshments and chatted with us for a while. We grabbed the chance asking him some concerns related to the articles we were writing.

Later on, a text message from Bishop Afable was received and it was an invitation for the SocCom to come to the Diocese on November 22 (Thursday) for an exclusive activity of the Clergy and the Consecrated Persons, adding that a very special announcement will be made during the occasion. We asked Fr. Bong about said event and first thing he said was “the trinity should be there”. He meant Bien, Doc Manilee and myself to cover it because it’s a special day. I said what could be more special to Bishop Afable and all of us than a news of a succession to occur. I deliberately asked, “could it be you finally becoming a Bishop?” He only said, “we will all wait and see.” Bien started naming some dioceses needing a Bishop at present and he was laughing at all our funny speculations. Later on, he went to the chapel with the seminarians for their evening prayer and asked us to stay for dinner. We went back to writing while they were in the chapel praying.

Dinner around the table was the usual light chats I usually experience with him on some occasions. He was bubbly and in good spirit. Again we grilled him to our versions of speculations and one thing he told us seriously was that he would want to remain a priest forever, staying close to people and doing things he so loved to do, visiting the GKKs. The evening ended with all the puzzles I was trying to connect and interpret. In my heart I know that the good news will be all about him.

The day came and on the afternoon of Nov 22, 2018, the SocCom team arrived early and had the chance to mingle with some of the priests who came in early. I was happy but could not avoid feeling sad and nervous. In my mind I thought if Fr. Bong becomes the Bishop soon, does it mean Bishop Afable will move up to a certain position and leave us? No, it can’t be. Not now. We love working along with him in the Social Communications. Deep in my heart I said no, he can’t leave us.

The moment of announcement came at around 7 PM, right after the hour of praise and chanting Canticles which had set the mood of Holiness drifting across the chapel and outside. Bishop Afable made the announcement. Fr. Bong is the bishop elect of the diocese of Pagadian! I froze for the next 3 minutes. Unable to concentrate on my job. I saw everyone getting in line to congratulate him, his brother priests hugging him and some were kissing his hand in reverence. I just stared blankly at the sight.

Yes, we are soon to send forth a Bishop to the diocese of Pagadian. I hate to think it’s a loss from our end but we cannot questions God’s wisdom. We gained a Bishop and we lost a Fr. Bong in the GKKs where he spends most of his time visiting. The Church celebrates a new leader to shepherd the flock. To Fr. Bong, our endless gratitude for shepherding us in the parish for the past 4 years. What we have achieved and how we became what we are now is because you have motivated us all to our deepest core. We will continue praying for you every single day and during the masses we offer. You are loved more than what you think of. Godspeed! (Blaze Q. Cantaros)