Praised be the Lord our God who never ceases to bless us with every blessing in Christ his son. On May 1, our confreres Michael Luneta Inovero, CRM and Michael Jorge Hombre Mercado, CRM have been called by the Universal Church to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders for the Presbyterate. The priestly ordination of our brothers, Michael Luneta Inovero, CRM and Michael Jorge Hombre Mercado, CRM took place in the parish church of Mary Mediatrix of all graces in Lipa City, on the afternoon of May 1. 2023. Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera ordained our two brothers and there were many priests of the Adorno Fathers and others who concelebrat[1]ed. We were honored to have also our Superior General, Teodoro O. Kalaw, CRM who joined us for this wonderful celebration.
In his homily, Archbishop Garcera reminded the ordinan[1]di to consider the following: “The priest acts in the person of Christ, Spouse of the Church. He is not ordained for himself or for his own family, but he is ordained For the Universal Church. He noted that both ordinandi were named Michael and he urged them to learn from Saint Michael the defender of the church and to be godly in their ways.
Afterwards, Archbishop Gilbert Garcera took into consid[1]eration the following words of the Holy father, Pope Francis “As for you, beloved sons, who are about to be promoted to the order of the priesthood, consider that by exercising the ministry of sacred doctrine, you will participate in the mission of Christ, the only teacher. You will be pastors like him, that is what he wants from you, be faithful pastors. Be pastors of God’s holy and faithful people. Be pastors who accompany the People of God: sometimes you will find yourselves in front of the flock, sometimes in the middle or behind, but always there, with the people of God.”
The Sacrament of Orders has three degrees: the diaconate, the presbyterate and the episcopate. Priests are instituted to be collaborators with bishops, associated with them in the priestly function at the service of the People of God.
In conclusion to his homily, the archbishop urged the new priests in these terms: seek consolation in
Jesus, seek consolation in Mary. Do not forget the Mother, always seek consolation there: be comforted from there. And bring
your crosses. there will be some in our life. in the hands of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. And don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. If you are close to the Lord, to the bishop and to your superior, between yourselves and to the people of God, if you have the style of God closeness, compassion and tenderness do not be afraid, everything will be fine.”
Our Superior General, Father Teodoro O. Kalaw, CRM also spoke at the end of the Mass. He thanked Archbishop Gar[1]cera for performing the ordination, and also encouraged the two ordinandi to live out their priesthood in the footsteps of our Founders.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph and Saint Michael the Archangel, let us continue praying for the graces of the vocation to the religious life and to Holy Orders in the Order of the Clerics Regular Minors.