Nine men lie prostrate for their ordination as priests for the Archdiocese of Cebu on Sep 17 | PHOTO BY SAMMY NAVAJA
By CBCP News
Sep 22 2020
MANILA – Archbishop Jose Palma has ordained nine men to the priesthood on Thursday during an invitation-only Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
In keeping with the country’s public health orders amid the coronavirus crisis, each ordinand was allowed a limited number of guests, few priests and religious.
The ceremony was held as the country reached six months of quarantine, being the world’s longest and strictest Covid-19 lockdown.
The faithful wore face masks and were spaced out among the pews which had been taped off to ensure physical distancing.
With the ordination of new priests, the archbishop stressed that the archdiocese has more reason to rejoice even amidst the pandemic.
“Covid-19 will pass but this celebration will forever be part of our history and the love of God will forever stay,” Palma said in his homily.
He reminded the new priests to view their calling as a mission and to engage the world with the Gospel message of Jesus.
“We find joy if we are aware that our life is meant to be shared with God’s people,” Palma said.
The ordinands lay prostrate before the altar while the assembly prayed the Litany of Supplication.
The archbishop imposed his hands on each of them invoking the Holy Spirit.
The new priests are Fr. Leo Lou Arce, Fr. Res Kenneth Arong, Fr. Julrie Camay, Fr. Christian Jame Mayol, Fr. Rogel Murillo, Fr. Christopher Carl Ompad, Fr. Jonas Yap, Fr. Gilbert Ytang, and Fr. Romel Rey Rosil.
Archbishop Palma also thanked the families of the new priests “for cultivating the desire to serve God in your sons”.
“Cebu is number one in terms of the number of priests in many ways because of you, our dear families,” he said. – CBCP
