Fr. Pete Lamata, a Seasoned Priest (Part 2 of 2)

Fr. Pete’s family plays a very crucial role in his priestly formation. When difficulties come, he remembers what his parents by their example have taught him and that gave him the strength to carry on. Fr. Pete’s parents are Ilongos, who migrated in the late 40’s to Davao City and settled in Bunawan, where Fr. Pete was born on September 20, 1954. His parents are dedicated public servants: his mother, a teacher and his father, a barangay captain. He is the 7th child in a brood of 12.

Fr. Pete believes that the family as domestic church must be strengthened. His experience in his own family as well as his exposure as Coordinator of the GKK or Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban program of the Archdiocese of Davao has impressed upon him the significant part families play in the spiritual formation of children and in the awareness of vocation, reiterating that the family is the seedbed of vocations both in religious life and the priesthood.

“If you want to strengthen your diocese you should go back to the family,” Fr. Pete echoes the call of the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family and the emphasis on family catechesis by Pope Francis. Thus, in all his assigned parishes the GKK is always given prominence in his pastoral programs, building and sustaining it through worship, formation and service. In fact, he finds fulfillment in this work and looks forward to inspire and energize them more in the year 2017, hoping that GKKs will be able to discover Jesus as the source of inspiration and energy through their active and constant participation.

Fr. Pete’s sense of fulfillment is derived as well from the joy he feels in responding to the needs of the poor. Programs and projects are put in place in his assigned parishes such as the food bank of the poor. With their 100 pesos the identified poorest of the poor in his current parish of St. Jude are able to buy 4 kilos of rice, 4 pcs of canned goods, 6 pcs of noodles while a 32 peso amount goes to the Social Action Caritas Program. Such savings they also will enjoy later on. It is not a dole-out program but one that preserves the dignity of the poor through shared responsibility. This program is still aligned with Fr. Pet’s care for the family around his parish.

The Children’s Rondalla is another project that focuses on the youth, which he organized in his assigned parishes. As current parish priest of St. Jude Parish (since 2012), he organized 120 children as rondalla members. Their caroling activity last December raised funds for building an infirmary for sick diocesan clergy.

Fr. Pete is upbeat despite his illness. He fondly shares his discovery of the usefulness of social media. It provides him more time to pray and also to be informed of what is going on in society, latest discoveries. He watches the Word Exposed show of Cardinal Tagle, talks, homilies and lectures of Bishop Robert Barron over You Tube and even beautiful insights coming from Protestants. These help sustain him, he says.

Fr. Pete’s indomitable spirit comes from the mercy and love of God. Human beings commit mistakes, he says, but the love of God is always there. In his personal life and as a priest, it is what sustains him. “Siya ang nagtawag sa akoa, so Jesus sustains me.”

Fr. Pete’s priestly formation started in the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary where he finished his AB Philosophy while he earned his Theology from the Theology Central Seminary of the University of Santo Tomas in Espana, Manila. He also obtained his masters in Philosophy from its Graduate School of Philosophy. (He returned there in 1985-86 for special studies in Philosophy).

At the time he was ordained along with 6 others from his batch in March 31, 1980, there were only 14 diocesan priests in the Archdiocese of Davao. Archbishop Mabutas was proud to have ordained an additional half of that. Right after ordination, he was assigned from 1980-1984 as professor of Philosophy, Procurator and Dean of Studies in the seminary (XACOSE). He was also assistant parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Mintal, Davao City from 1980-1982.

Fr. Pete’s other assignments in the Archdiocese of Davao include the following: 1987-1988 – Parish Priest, Immaculate Conception Parish, Peñaplata, Samal Island; 1988-1994 – Parish Priest, Santo Rosario Parish, Toril; 1994-2000 – Parish Priest, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Fatima St.; 1994-1998 – Executive Secretary, Mindanao-Sulu Social Action Secretariat; 2002-2006 – Parish Priest, St. Joseph the Worker, Sasa; 2001-2006 – Pastoral Director, Archdiocese of Davao, 2006-2012 – Parish Priest, St. Mary of the Perpetual Rosary Parish in Buhangin; and 2006-present – coordinator, GKK program, Archdiocese of Davao, Director Archdiocesan for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue (ACEID).

Fr. Pete hopes that he and his parishioners will be able to continue their 1 year and 6 months Pastoral plan. To his parishioners he says, “For being with you the last 4 years, I thank you for your solid support and genuine understanding of my life and mission being your parish priest. Let us continue to do this mission of strengthening and sustaining our GKK by way of our inspiring and energizing related with one another.”