Kidapawan Bishop told new priests: ‘Don’t lord over your people’

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The Bishop of Kidapawan has called on his newly-ordained priests to be partners of their people and not just lord over them.

“Work with your people. Be partners of your people. Do not lord over them,” said Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo during the priestly ordination of Fr. Brian Asumbrado and Fr. Dave Bao in Kidapawan.

Giving his piece after the prepared homily during the Mass held May 27 at the St. John Vianney Parish in Apo Sandawa in Kidapawan City, Bp. Bagaforo said he has 3 W’s to guide the new priests in their ministry — Wake up, Walk with your people, and Work with your people.

“Wake up! Listen to your people and know your people. Empathize and sympathize with them,” he said, adding: “Know the situation of your people. Wake up and read the signs of the times. Look after your people.”

He also said that the new priests should look after the interests of their people and not theirs.

“Protect and defend them. Be a good shepherd to your people,” he said.

To walk with the people, the bishop said that they should identify themselves with the people — their joys and hope and the joys and hope of the Church.

“Give an extra mile of yourself by walking with the people,” he quipped.

And to work with the people, the bishop said that the new priests should treat them as partners and not servants lorded by them.

“Give extra time to work with them. Be a participatory church. Teach the Gospel, preach God’s word and sanctify them with your prayer and the sacraments,” Bp. Bagaforo said.

The new priests are graduates of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary in Mindanao where they have submitted themselves in the rigorous training or seminary formation in preparation for the priesthood.

For them to perform their priestly ministry and apply what they were told, Bp. Bagaforo informed them of their assignment as parish administrators in their respective assigned parishes in Matalam and in Kisante in North Cotabato.