“Today is a great day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad,” declared Bishop Honesto F Ongtioco of Cubao as he began his homily on that special Saturday morning of 14 October.
Indeed, it was a great day to be thankful to the Lord as 12 scholastics of the Society of Jesus from six countries were ordained as deacons in the Philippines. The diversity of the ordinands is a testament to the universal character of the Society of Jesus and reflects unity amidst diversity, a timely motif in a world where peace and unity are being challenged. Perhaps this ordination of men from diverse cultures and traditions is also a living witness to the Church’s yearning for synodality, where the faithful journey together as the people of God.
Bishop Ongtioco reminded the ordinandi that the vocation to the priesthood is a gift, and so too are they. He urged them to never forget the gift and, above all, to remember the Giver. All is gift; all is grace, the Bishop stressed. He further shared that the responses of the candidates during his conversations with them made him appreciate more the love, mercy, compassion, and wisdom of God.
It became evident that despite the distinct circumstances of the 12 deacons, which eventually led them to their vocation in the Society of Jesus, they have common reasons and motivations in following Jesus through this least Society. They all share a profound hunger and thirst for God, a quest for meaning in life, a desire to do more to change people’s lives, and a heart moved by situations of injustice and oppression. This priestly vocation is also a beautiful realisation that life is not for one’s self, but must always be oriented towards selfless service, caring especially for the voiceless and those at the peripheries.
One of the moving moments in the Bishop’s homily was when he called each ordinand by name and thanked them for their courage to say “yes” to God’s call. “It makes a big difference for you, for the Church, and for the world. Today, once again, God confirms your vocation to the priesthood, choosing you to be a channel of his life and love. To give hope to people and make them realise they too are loved by God,” he said.
The deacons were also reminded of their duty to “constantly make visible in the world the characteristic features of Jesus–the chaste, the poor, and the obedient one.” Being ordained deacon means being consecrated to serve the community in charity and justice. It is a life marked by service, with Jesus as the ultimate example of what it means to be a humble servant. Moreover, as deacons, their role is to serve the poor, assist the priest and the bishop at the altar, and be initiated to preach the Gospel. The ordaining bishop commended the 12 ordinandi to the intercession of Mother Mary, imploring her to keep them under her maternal care and inspire them to always say yes to God. He reassured them, “Today, with your fiat, the Lord assures you, do not be afraid…”
Before the Ordination Mass ended, Maltese Deacon Rob Rizzo SJ from the Euro-Mediterranean Province expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the newly ordained deacons. “Thank you for welcoming us into this new service…. Today marks a milestone, not of what we’ve achieved, but of all we’ve received. All we’ve received from God, and all we’ve received from each and every one of you.”
He added: “The Church will know us as deacons, not because of the vestments we wear, or the offices we occupy, not even because of the things we do, but because of the love we have received from God, and from you, His Church. This love is so immense, so intense, so inexhaustible that we can’t help but share it with others. The service we wholeheartedly take on, is fruit of this love.”
He ended his thanksgiving speech by encapsulating their response to God and the community in three aspects: prayer, love, and service. “Our response to God, and to you, today expressed in words, for the rest of our lives expressed through our deeds.”
Service through words and deeds is the fulfillment of what the Church says while handing the Book of Scriptures to each deacon: “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
Rev Jeffrey Lloyd C Pocong SJ, from the Philippines, was one of 12 deacons ordained on 14 March in the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila University. He was ordained alongside Rev Rob Rizzo SJ from Malta, Rev Daniel Joon Min Chung SJ from Korea, Rev Gabriel Liu SJ from the Chinese Province, Rev Joseph Doan Thanh Tam SJ, Rev Vincent Pham Van Doan SJ and Rev Joseph Le Vinh Tu SJ from Vietnam, Rev Peter Mwe Seng Aung SJ and Rev Saw Justin Nay Hgay Htoo SJ from Myanmar, and Rev Erwin F Arandia SJ, Rev Kenzlee E Ybañez SJ, Rev Richard S Sumera SJ from the Philippines.