50 Years of Simplicity, Humility: Msgr. Bonifacio Burlaza marks Golden Years in priesthood

If there is one thing that makes him stay faithful to his priestly ministry, it would be his guiding motto, “Simplicitas et Humilitas” or simplicity and humility.

Msgr. Bonifacio Burlaza, 77 has celebrated his 50th year in the priesthood last December 20 with a Holy Mass at San Pedro Cathedral.

In an interview with Davao Catholic Herald, Msgr. Burlaza quipped that his 50 years in the priestly ministry has never been easy saying that in all his assignments, challenges and temptations are present.

He said that everything is grace from God as long as he keeps simplicity and humility as his so-called guiding star.

Born on December 12, 1942 in Digos but grew up in Bansalan in Davao del Sur, Msgr. Burlaza has spent his youth learning about Christ as early as high school when he entered in the seminary as a high school seminarian at St. Francis Xavier College Seminary in Davao City.

Back then, he said that his father did not want him to enter the seminary as he was looking forward for him to become an engineer or a lawyer or any other profession but not priesthood.

Knowing that he is called to become a servant of the Lord, the young Bonifacio entered the seminary. And the rest is history.

He finished his Theological studies at St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary and was ordained at his home parish at Immaculate Conception Parish in Bansalan on December 20, 1969.

He also earned his Doctorate Degree in Biblical Theology at AngelicumPontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy, Doctorate in Psychotherapy in Pennsylvania, USA, and Diplomate in Canon Law in Trinidad and Tobago. Aside from that, he also studied Education in Davao City.

Among his notable assignments in the Archdiocese was as first Filipino diocesan priest Vicar General from 1978 to 1998 during the time of the late Archbishop Antonio Mabutas, and also the first Filipino diocesan priest director of the John XXIII Catechetical Center.

He has been the chair of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly of Davao I and II, and secretariat head of the first Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference (MSPC I) in 1974 in Davao and subsequent MSPC’s.

He also became the first Filipino parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Parish which was established by the PME Fathers. He also became a parish priest of San Pedro Cathedral, St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Obrero, Sto. Rosario Parish in Toril and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Tibungco.

One of his recent assignments was as missionary in Castries, St. Lucia, Caribbean Region in West Indies from 2006-2015 and from then on, he is helping parishes and sectors for ministerial help.

Looking back, Msgr. Burlaza recalled that there was a joke among his contemporaries saying that they can also become priests like Msgr. Burlaza: “Napari man gani si Bonifacio, ako pa kaha?”

He said that he would still continue living a humble and simple life, celebrating the Eucharist and the other sacraments as a priest of God.