A Family of Faith

Excerpt of the Homily of Most Rev. Romulo Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, during the Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons, September 2, 2019 at San Pedro Cathedral, Davao City.

We know very well that vocation is not only limited to becoming a sister, a brother, a priest. It is the call of God to serve humanity in wondrous and beautiful ways like being a papa and a mama.

A few weeks ago, our three new deacons are here at the cathedral for the required presentation that they are already candidates for Holy Orders.

When we were planning for that event, the three of them had an idea to have a dinner with their families so that I can get to know them.

That was a very beautiful idea, so we did.

For you to know, we have been living together in the Archbishop’s residence for many months now. So probably they have known where I like to eat.

They know that I like Penong’s, so we ate there. And it was wonderful.

Where am I driving at this story to? That I came to know their family. Not perfect, but seeing their parents, I said, you can sense that there is faith in the family.

I realized that families are really the seedbed or the nursery of their vocation.

I am smiling saying this because the families are really the basic venue of vocation.

While talks in schools are good, we have to back track to the family.

When there is faith in the family, it is easier for a young man or a young woman to hear and appreciate the call of God.

But faith in the community is also very important. It makes it easier for people, especially today, to appreciate the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.