In a celebration filled with gratitude, joy, and a renewed sense of mission, three new Jesuit priests were ordained in the Philippine Province on 30 May at the Church of the Gesù, Ateneo de Manila University. The day was not only a culmination of years of formation but also marked 11 years since Fr Dom Joseph Bulan SJ, Fr Bien Emmanuel Cruz SJ, and I first entered the Society of Jesus on 30 May 2015. What began as a simple “yes” in the novitiate has unfolded into a life offered in service, now deepened in priestly ordination and mission.
The ordination Mass was celebrated with deep reverence and thanksgiving, bringing together Jesuits, family, friends, and members of the wider Church who have accompanied us through years of formation, prayer, and discernment.
The Gospel reading for the ordination was from John 10:11–16, where Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. This image became central to the celebration, reminding the newly ordained that our priesthood is rooted not in authority or privilege but in self-giving love and pastoral care. We are called to shepherd God’s people as Christ Himself does: knowing, accompanying, and laying down their lives in service.
In his homily, His Eminence Pablo Virgilio S Cardinal David DD, Bishop of Kalookan, offered a clear and grounding reminder: “From this day forward, you are being ordained not to become substitutes for Christ but to become His representatives.” He emphasised that Christ remains the one true Shepherd and that priests are called to make Him present, not replace Him. He also reminded us that ordination does not take away human weakness. We remain disciples in need of grace, still learning, still growing, and still dependent on the Lord. Like Peter and Paul, we will experience struggles and limitations, but it is precisely in weakness that God’s grace becomes most visible and effective.
A deeply meaningful part of the celebration was the enthronement of the image of Our Lady of Hope of Palo. The devotion holds a special place in the life of the Church in Leyte and in communities affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.
For the newly ordained Jesuits, this moment also carried a shared personal significance. The experience of Yolanda, though tragic and marked by loss, has become part of our respective vocation stories. It is a shared memory that, over time, has become a source of meaning and grace. In different ways, it has shaped and accompanied our journey to the priesthood.
For me, the devotion is especially personal, as it is tied to the memory of my parents, Augusto and Elizabeth Santos, who perished during the super typhoon. In the years following the tragedy, I recall moments of deep grief and silence. Over time, these moments became spaces where I experienced not answers but the reassuring presence of Christ. The blessing of the image of Our Lady of Hope of Palo during Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines in 2015 became a turning point in my journey of healing. In Mary, holding the Child Jesus, who reaches out in rescue, I began to see my own story differently as a source of healing, hope, consolation, and trust in God.
As the celebration concluded, Philippine Provincial Fr Xavier Olin SJ announced our mission assignments. Fr Dom has been assigned to the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service and the community of Xavier School and Mary the Queen Parish. Fr Bien Emmanuel has been sent to Zamboangita, Bukidnon, as assistant parish priest of Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Parish and part-time chaplain of the Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center as part of the Jesuit community of the Bukidnon Mission District. I have been missioned to the Myanmar Jesuit Region for language studies and educational service at the St Aloysius Gonzaga Institute of Higher Studies (SAG-IHS) in Taunggyi Province, Myanmar.
In our shared reflection as newly ordained priests, we expressed gratitude for the years of formation, the people who accompanied us, and the grace of being called to serve. We also acknowledged how our vocation stories, in different ways, were shaped by moments of suffering that God transformed into something life-giving. As we begin our priestly ministry, we do so as shepherds after the heart of Christ, called not to replace Him but to make His love present in the world.
