Palo welcomes 3 new priests, deacon

PALO, Leyte – In a rare scenario, three priests and a deacon were ordained on the same day, April 27, at the Transfiguration of Our Lord Cathedral.

Ordained to the Sacred Order of Presbyter were:

• Rev. Angelo Nikko Olimpo Brosas of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Burauen, Leyte;
• Rev. Alfie Edward Adarne Protesta of Most Holy Trinity Parish, Alangalang, Leyte; and
• Rev. Goldie Kenn Advincula Zabala of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Tolosa, Leyte

They spent seven months of diaconate before their priestly ordination and stayed for sometime at the Bishop’s Residence while assisting Palo Archbishop John Du with the celebration of pontifical Masses and leading vocations promotions among the youth.

Ready for the diaconate

All three immediately received their parish assignments immediately after ordination.

On the same day, Rev. Adrian Espiño was ordained to the diaconate without undergoing the pre-diaconal program.

Zabala said that according to Du’s assessment Espiño is already prepared to be a deacon.

About a hundred clerics led by vicar-general Msgr. Rex Ramirez and Archdiocesan Commission on the Clergy chairman Fr. Gil Manaog witnessed the ordination.

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Florencio, former rector of St. John the Evangelist School of Theology, where all the four ordained had their Theology formation, was also present.

Living the call

In his homily, the prelate stressed that just as they were anointed with the chrism oil so must they anoint the faithful.

“We cannot let this anointing stay within ourselves because the ointment is not intended just to make us fragrant, much less to be kept in a jar for then it will become rancid and the heart bitter,” explained Du.

“What good is your obedience to your assignment when you do not fulfill your ministry to the best of your ability, when you do not allow yourself to give that anointment to the people?” he added.

Obedience to God can be lived out, said Du, if one commits himself to a prayerful life.

The ordination of the new priests brings the total number of active priests in the Archdiocese of Palo to 152. CBCPNews