Fr Dennis Gabriel Lamug-Nañawa SJ solemnly professed his Final Vows on 3 December, feast of St Francis Xavier, and International Day of Persons with Disabilities, at the Oratory of St Ignatius of Loyola, Loyola House of Studies, Quezon City.
Before the Holy Eucharist raised by Philippine Provincial Fr Primitivo Viray Jr SJ, Fr Gabby, as he is fondly called, pronounced his vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Society of Jesus, and a fourth vow of obedience to the Holy Father regarding the missions, and a special concern for the education of children.
Concelebrating at Mass were Fr Antonio Moreno SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, and Fr Silvino Borres Jr SJ, Rector of Loyola House of Studies.
Fr Gabby’s family members and brother Jesuits from nearby communities were present, too. The celebration was streamed live for those who joined virtually.
In his pre-recorded homily from Cambodia, Fr Jose Hildy “Totet” Banaynal SJ exhorted Fr Gabby to remain as he is, “a father to all”.
“People call you and will continue to call you ‘Father’…. Fr Gabby, please remain as you are, a good father to all, not just a priest, not just a missionary, but a father to all: friend and foe, rich and poor, Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims alike. Let your heart be a place of welcome for everyone always!” he said.
In being “a father to all,” Fr Totet assured Fr Gabby that he always has a loving Father in heaven to whom he can always turn for joy and passion.
“Please know that in your life as father to everyone, you always have someone to run to when chips are down. You have a loving Father in heaven, the Father who called you to this mission, the Father who sustains you. From Him comes the Spirit that gives you joy and passion,” he said.
Fr Gabby entered the Society in 1994 and was ordained a priest in 2005. After ordination, he was missioned as a parish priest in the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang in Cambodia. As a missionary, Fr Gabby spent considerable time studying Khmer, the local language of Cambodia, which he can now fluently write and speak.
Two years after his first mission in Cambodia, Fr Gabby was sent to Australia to pursue a master’s degree in Applied Science from James Cook University in Queensland. He returned to Cambodia after his studies and started the Ecology Program of Jesuit Service Cambodia with his two students at Banteay Prieb. He is one of the pioneers in promoting the care of our common home in the said community.
He did his Tertianship in Manila and then became the Coordinator of Jesuit Service Cambodia from 2017 to 2020. Presently, he is the Jesuit conference Coordinator for Reconciliation with Creation in Asia Pacific.
In his heartfelt message, Fr Gabby gratefully remembered individuals, both living and dead, as well as communities that he encountered in the past 27 years of his Jesuit life. He was especially thankful to Cambodia where he had spent 16 years of ministry as a Jesuit priest.
In an informal conversation after his Final Vows, Fr Gabby recalled one prayer period during his eight-day retreat. He saw the risen Jesus standing on the shore and calling out to the disciples to bring along the fish that they had caught.
He shared: “When I arrived at the shore behind the disciples, Jesus was already surrounded by all the Jesuit saints, all the Jesuits I knew during my formation years who have since passed. And to me Jesus says, ‘Welcome, welcome to this Company!’”