Not too old to Answer God’s call

“If it’s really for you, it will come.”
This is how Msgr. Leonardo Vicente describes his priesthood. He is one of those priests who answered God’s call at a time when they were already professionals and were working like as lay people.
Msgr. Nards, as he is fondly called, once wanted to become a doctor. He likes wearing white clothes, noting that he doesn’t want any single stain to land on his clothes and he even does the laundry himself during his youth.

He recalled that the parish priest in his home town in Caburan used to visit them in their house and give them candy, stampeta and Rosary, saying that it is the kind of witnessing that attracted him to the priesthood.

Msgr. Nards. never heeded God’s call right away. He continued with his studies until he graduated with a degree of Bachelor in Secondary Education Major in Physics in the defunct Harvardian University in Malvar St., Davao City.

He landed on a job as teacher in Holy Cross of Caburan, his Alma Mater. He was teaching for three years already when he decided to answer God’s calling. This time, he no longer pushed through with the idea of becoming a priest but as a religious brother.

The young Msgr. Nards joined the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and was assigned to do community works in Tagum where the congregation also handles a school.

He was informed about the lack of number of teachers who can handle Mathematics and Physics in Caburan and he was asked to return. He left the community and continued his teaching profession only to find out that his teaching stint will only last for a year.

Upon learning about the late vocation program of the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary (REMASE) in Catalunan Grande, Davao City, from his friends, the PME Fathers, Msgr. Nards signed in and pursued his desire of becoming a priest. The PME Fathers also encouraged him to join the program.
The rest is history.

On April 6, 1978, at the age of 32, Msgr. Nards was ordained to the priesthood by the late Archbishop of Davao Antonio Ll. Mabutas at the San Pedro Cathedral.
His first assignment was in Sto. Rosario Parish in Malita, Davao del Sur from 1978-1979, as parochial vicar. That time, 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 the St. Jude Parish, Malvar for one year. After that, he was assigned as parochial vicar of San Pedro Cathedral Parish from 1981-1983, where he worked with his close friend, the then Fr. Julius Tonel, now Bishop of Ipil.

Msgr. Nards left the country to enroll at the Angelicum University in Rome, Italy where he took up Pastoral Theology with specialization in Spirituality from 1983-1986. He came back when he was appointed as Spiritual Director of the REMASE Spirituality Formation Year and now called Pre-Theology Year. His stint lasted for four years.

Msgr. Nards was also assigned in different parishes in the Archdiocese of Davao. He is the first diocesan parish priest of Sta. Ana Parish in the late 90s and also became the parish priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Sasa and also at San Pablo Parish in Matina, among other assignments.
Msgr. Nards was conferred the title of Monsignor in 2009 along with other priests of Davao in time for the 60th Diamond Jubilee of the Archdiocese of Davao.

At present, he is the parish priest of San Pedro Cathedral and the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Davao.

Looking back to his entire years in the priesthood, Msgr. Nards felt that he’s not too old when he decided to heed God’s call for priestly vocation. It’s just a way of preparing him for the trials and difficulties that come when one chooses to follow Christ.