New members of Davao Clergy: Six deacons ordained in Vocation Month launch

DAVAO CITY—It was like an ordinary Monday in the city if not for the buses lined up in front of the cathedral, which was filled up to capacity with people mostly from different schools witnessing six young men whose lives would be changed through the archbishop’s laying on of hands.

“Sa sunod, kamo na pud!” said an old lady to the youth in cassock in front of her pew while the ceremony is ongoing. “Pila na lang man ka tuig?” she added, to which one of them replied, “Dugay pa te.”

The seminarians, along with the people from different walks of life joined in the ceremony officiated by Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles who ordained six new deacons of the archdiocese.

Rev. John Pelonio, Rev. Ramon Jamora, Rev. Kim Samones, Rev. Jasper Alfeche, Rev. Marvin del Campo and Rev. Efren Gubac, Jr. received the sacrament of ordination last September 3 at San Pedro Cathedral.

It was also the day when the Archdiocese of Davao launched the celebration of the Vocation Month.

Priests from the diocese and religious congregations, women religious and the families and friends of the honorees were present for the vocation month launching and rite of ordination.

MYSTERY OF GOD’S CALL

“We pray for you that you will be effective in your action, effective because in many ways ang trabaho sa clergy ug deacon, failure in the eyes of the world, that people would be convinced that our actions would be effective and truly these are actions of the Lord through our hands,” said Archbishop Valles in his homily.

The archbishop said that it is a mystery that it is the Lord who has chosen them despite their frailties yet, they should continue to cling on that mystery.

“And again and again, the Lord will send angels to purify us. The constant offer of grace, conversion along the way that hopefully we improve along the way simply because the Lord is faithful and good to us who has called us to serve His people,” he said, adding:

“My dear soon to be ordained deacons, keep that sense of mystery that the Lord has called you. Way kumpyansa gyud. It is always going back to that mystery of God’s calling to us.”

NO SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT

The archbishop has also told the newly-ordained not to adopt the culture of self-entitlement, the culture that they are above the law and the culture that they are a gift to the Church as they serve through their ministry.

“Let us not forget, let us remember that the Church is in reality, a community of sinners, leaders who would fall again and again,” he said, adding that the Church is a community that is frail and in need of conversion—the human side of the Church.

“We will not be discouraged. We must know that we are all weak and sinners and in need of conversion. The Church is so strong because in the darkness and sinfulness, the grace and presence of the Lord is here,” he quipped.

The archbishop is hoping that the power and grace of God, His mercy and compassion, and the presence of Jesus would always manifest in the clergy and consecrated persons. (with reports from Mary Ann Almeria)