Town produces 115th priest

HAGONOY, BULACAN – The 115th priest-son of this town, Fr. Daniel Maniego Coronel, celebrated his first solemn Mass on March 21 at the National Shrine of St. Anne, Hagonoy, Bulacan.

In his homily, Fr. Federico Ramos III, who served as preacher, thanked the Lord for the grace given to Coronel despite the many challenges he faced. He said it was indeed “God’s grace”, which helped him throughout his journey to the priesthood. Ramos also noted how the generosity and support of significant people in Coronel’s life have sustained him during his seminary formation.

Fr. Vicente Lina, Jr., former president of Kapatiran ng Kapariang Taga-Hagonoy, Inc. (KAKATHA), spoke on behalf of his fellow Hagonoeño priests, thanking the Lord for the blessings given to the town of Hagonoy for a continuous line of priest-sons, “signs of God’s abundant love through the intercession of St. Anne”, also known as Apo Ana among the locals. He expressed the hope that Apo Ana’s intercession would continue to bring an increase in priestly and religious vocations in the town.

Before the Mass, a procession began at Santiago Trillana Academy in barrio San Sebastian with devotees of St. Anne and Our Lady of Remedies following their respective carozzas to the shrine. Coronel’s batch mates, KAKATHA members, and members of the Malolos clergy and religious priests concelebrated the Mass.

Hailing from Mercado Hagonoy, Bulacan, Coronel is the 115th native of the town to be ordained a priest. KAKATHA records shows that the town has 49 deceased priests, beginning with Fr. Sebastian dela Rosa de Lara, ordained in 1765, 67 active and retired priests, and 5 priests who have chosen other paths to holiness.

Coronel will be assigned as assisting priest at the Diocesan Shrine of Mahal na Poon ng Krus sa Wawa – St. Martin of Tours Parish in Bocaue, Bulacan up to June of this year before enrolling in the diocesan neo-presbyteral program. CBCPNews