Remembering Msgr. Nards Vicente: Not too late to heed God’s call

“If it’s really for you, it will really come”.

This is how Msgr. Leonardo “Nards” Vicente, the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Davao described his late vocation to the priesthood.

He thought he would never become a priest since he’s already too old to enter the seminary that time.

Though in heeding God’s call he was delayed, God didn’t mind it and he blessed Msgr. Nards with 42 fruitful years in the ministry.

His attraction to the priestly life started when he was a child. It was the time that he was very enthusiastic in joining the Flores de Mayo and other Church activities.

“Katong bata pa ko, ang parish priest namo, buotan kaayo. Mubisita pa sa among balay unya manghatag namo og candy, stampeta ug Rosary,” Msgr. Nards said in an interview with DCHerald in January 2008.

Aside from becoming a priest, Msgr. Nards also dreamed of becoming a doctor. He wanted to become either of the two since both will cloak him with white linen, which he is very fond of.

Known for being strict and meticulous, he sees to it that no single dirt or stain will touch his wardrobe. He was also doing the laundry to make sure that his clothes are white and clean.

But through the years, his desire to answer God’s call to priesthood ceased. It stayed that way until he finished studying in the then Harvardian University, where he took Bachelor in Secondary Education major in Physics.

Msgr. Nards was already teaching for three years in Holy Cross of Caburan, his Alma Mater, when he finally decided to heed God’s call—not as a priest but as a brother due to his age.

He opted to join the Brothers of the Sacred Heart since he was already a professional and no late vocation program for priesthood was offered yet.

While he was in the community, he was assigned in Tagum, where the congregation also handled a school.

Due to lack of teachers who can handle Mathematics and Physics in Holy Cross of Caburan, Msgr. Nards was asked to return. He left the congregation and continued his teaching profession.

When God closes a door, He opens another and this happened to Msgr. Nards who stopped teaching after a year when a program for late vocation was opened in St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary (REMASE).

Through the encouragement of his friends, the PME Fathers, Msgr. Nards decided to join the program.

His family was also supportive of his decision. His eldest sister, Edilberta also supported him until he finished studying.

Msgr. Nards was ordained April 6, 1978 by the late Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas at San Pedro Cathedral Parish. That time, he was 32.

Though his father, Victoriano was already gone when he was ordained, and his mother, Avelina, was in Oroquieta that time, his nine brothers and sisters where there to show their support.

His first assignment was being the parochial vicar of Sto. Rosario Parish in Malita, Davao del Sur (now Occidental) from 1978 to 1979. It can be noted that the parish was still part of the Archdiocese of Davao when the Diocese of Digos was not yet established.

He then became parochial vicar of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, Malvar for one year. After that, he was assigned as parochial vicar of San Pedro Cathedral from 1981 to 1983, where he worked with his close friend, the then Fr. Julius Tonel, now Bishop of Ipil.

Msgr. Nards went to take advance study at the Angelicum University in Rome, Italy where he took up Pastoral Theology with specialization in Spirituality from 1983 to 1986.

When he came back, he became the Spiritual Director of REMASE Spirituality Formation Year, for four years.

Thirteen years after his ordination, Msgr. Nards went back to St. Jude Parish because he was appointed as its parish priest for the first time.

Aside from St. Jude, he was also appointed as parish priest of Sta. Ana Parish from 1995 to 2001. While handling the parish, he was appointed as the Diocesan Oeconomus from 1998 to 2003.

Msgr. Nards also handled St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Sasa for one year. He was transferred to San Pablo Parish when Bishop Tonel was transferred in Ipil, then his last assignment was as rector of San Pedro Cathedral.

Unlike in the seminary where he used to handle a few people, Msgr. Nards said that handling a parish is very challenging because of the number of people he has to attend to.

After finishing his term as Oeconomus, Msgr. Nards went to St. Lucia, West Indies to do missionary works for three years.

If handling a parish in the archdiocese is challenging, Msgr. Nards said that to do missionary work in other countries is more challenging because he was dealing with people of different culture.

He added that he had to do some adjustments to their culture, food and in dealing with people of different attitudes. Despite that, he enjoyed his stay there since people are very understanding and they are open to changes.

He also did his best to improve the celebration of the Holy Eucharist there which at that time is needed. He also organized their own pastoral council and finance council since there is a need to organize their Church structure.

Msgr. Nards said he found more meaning in his ministry though the challenges were more difficult since for him, he’s already old but God sustained him in his endeavors.

When he was assigned as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Davao for the first time in 2008, Msgr. Nards said in jest, “Tiguwang na baya ko. I’m not as strong as before.”

Looking back, Msgr. Nards has only these words to say, “I thank my God for sustaining me in my ministry.”