Calinan youth leader to priesthood: The Story of Judimar Alilongan

PSB. Assistant District Coordinator. Seminarian.

Judimar U. Alilongan, 17 years old, a grade 10 graduate from Telesforo Singson National High School is an active youth at GKK San Isidro Labrador, Sitio Pangyan, Brgy. Tamugan, Marilog District, Davao City. The GKK is part of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Calinan jurisdiction.

He became the Pangulo sa Batan-on (PSB) in March 2017 and led his youth to different parochial activities. He was elected as the Assistant District Youth Coordinator last March 18, 2018 and became a member of the Parish Youth Apostolate (PYA) Core Group. Last April 7 this year, he attended the special search in at St. Francis Xavier Pre-College Seminary. He decided to enter the said seminary this June 2018.

He said it was never his dream to enter the seminary, but after joining activities, he was inspired and the desire to enter priesthood became strong.

The last activity he was able to serve was the Parish’s Summer Youth Camp 2018, which took place last May 11-13, 2018 at the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Camp Malagos, Davao City. The event was participated by 450 young people from 109 GKKs. It started with a Holy Mass presided over by Most Rev. Maximo Bahinting, parish administrator, on the first day. Rev. Fr. Arnel Tadeo presided over the mass on the second day, and Rev. Fr. Raul Nieves, parochial vicar and youth spiritual director, on the last day.

“The mighty one has done great things for me and holy is His name” from Luke 1:49 was the theme of the event from 2017’s National Youth Day.

Plenary talks were given by Roy Felix Abrio, parish youth coordinator of the Immaculate Conception Parish Mintal, with a topic “I am flawed yet good and gifted”, and Rev. Fr. Ritsche Gamaya, managing director of Davao Verbum Dei Media Foundation, Inc., with a topic “We are called to make a difference”.

Judimar expressed his sadness that it will be the first and last activity that he will be able to attend to, yet he is already excited on his new journey towards the formation that will lead him to priesthood. (Gie Rhea Jadulco)