Silver Jubilee thanksgiving

“Vocation is a call from God to make us happy,” said Rev. Fr. Jesus Samaniego as he pronounced his homily last May 12, 2019 in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Calinan, Davao City.

Fr. Samaniego, together with Most. Rev. Abel Apigo and Rev. Fr. Voltaire Dimol, celebrated their 25th Sacerdotal Anniversary thanksgiving mass con-celebrated by Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Retardo with the parishioners in Calinan.

He shared a little story in his homily of his journey with Bishop Apigo from being altar servers, to his seminary life, until priesthood. He emphasized that vocation starts in the family and encouraged parents to support their children should they want to become a nun or a priest.

Fr. Samaniego also reminded mass goers that it was the Good Shepherd Sunday, the 56th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and Mother’s Day Celebration.

The bread and wine were offered by Bishop Abel and Fr. Samaniego’s mothers in connection with the celebration.

Meantime, Fr. Dimol shared his experience when he was the parish priest in Calinan from 1997-2003. He was thankful that Calinan has become a part in his early priestly life.

He said that the parish produced 23 priests in Mindanao, four of them, including the late Rev. Fr. John Hover Jocson, were from the Archdiocese of Davao.

Fr. Samaniego and Bishop Apigo was ordained on April 18, 1994, while Fr. Dimol was on April 19, 1994. The late Fr. Jocson on April 20, 1994 by late Archbishop Antonio Mabutas. (Gie Rhea Jadulco)