Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma poses with the newly ordained priest and deacons after the Mass and ordination rites at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.(CDN PHOTO/ADOR MAYOL)
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday ordained a priest and five new deacons in solemn rites at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown Cebu City.
With over 400 diocesan priests and about 200 others from various religious congregations, Cebu still has the most number of clergy in the Philippines.
“We thank God for this wonderful gift, a sign of God’s favor and blessing to our archdiocese. Priesthood is an expression of God’s love and mercy for us. We should rejoice and be grateful,” he said in his homily.
Ordained as priest was Fr. Japheth Geonzon, who was also named the archdiocesan liturgical master of ceremonies.
The newly ordained deacons, on the other hand, were Rev. Jestoni del Castillo, Rev. Hezron Jhud Cartagena, Rev. Sherwyll Mingo, Rev. Venedict Into and Rev. Earl Sevilla.
During the ordination, Palma challenged the new priest and deacons to meditate on the word of God, to teach what is right and to put into practice what they preach.
“In our hearts, we know we are not worthy, and yet God has chosen us. We are called to serve and so let us do our best in everything we do. As the scripture says, ‘Let us put our gifts at the service of one another,’” he said.
Palma called on priests to emulate the late Cebuano Bishop Teofilo Camomot whose generosity and love for the poor were exceptional.
Camomot’s cause for sainthood is being processed by the archdiocese.
“His (Camomot) life is an invitation for us to have a heart for God and for his holy people,” Palma said.
The prelate laid his hands upon the heads of the new priest and deacons to invoke the blessing of the Holy Spirit.
The ordinands’ hands were blessed with sacred oil to strengthen their vocation.
The faithful also sang the Litany of Saints as the newly ordained priest and deacons laid their faces on the ground to manifest their total surrender to God.
Also present during the ordination rites were Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu Auxiliary Bishops Dennis Villarojo and Oscar Florencio, and retired Bishop Christian Vicente Noel.