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Philippine isle ordains first locally born priest

New priest Jonathan Pading comes from Homonhon Island where Christianity first arrived in the country
Philippine isle ordains first locally born priest

Friends and relatives greet Father Jonathan Pading after his ordination on Dec. 13. (Photo by Alren Jerome Beronio)

 

Published: December 15, 2017 07:58 AM GMT
Updated: December 15, 2017 08:02 AM GMT

The island where Christianity first arrived in the predominantly Catholic Philippines has produced its first native priest with the ordination of a 30-year-old resident this week.

Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan ordained Jonathan Pading to the priesthood on Dec. 13.

The ordination was supposed to be held on Homonhon Island, but heavy rain, strong winds, and huge waves made travel to the island difficult.

"I’m happy and humbled by this occasion," said Father Pading. "I’m thankful to the Lord for sharing his very self, especially his priesthood," the new priest said.

In his homily, Bishop Varquez spoke of the joy that comes in assisting others to understand and follow God’s teachings.

"We have to be happy in proclaiming the Good News," said the prelate, warning the newly ordained priest that "material possessions, pleasure and power" can destroy the ministry.

"We must constantly be aware against being enslaved to these things because I’m sure that these will destroy our priesthood," said the bishop.

He noted the timeliness of Father Pading's ordination because the Catholic Church in the Philippines starts celebrating the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons this month.

The celebration is part of the church’s nine-year "spiritual journey" that started in 2013 toward the 500th jubilee of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

The island of Homonhon is where Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his men landed when they reached the archipelago on Mar. 16, 1521.

Some historians said the celebration of the first Mass in the Philippines was held on the island, but the Philippine government recognizes Limasawa, an island off the province of southern Leyte, as the site of the first Mass on Mar. 31.

Father Pading grew up in Homonhon's Casuguran village where he had his early education before entering the seminary in Borongan, the provincial capital.

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