The presbyteral ordination of Filipino Jesuits Fr Amado T Tumbali SJ and Fr Robbie John Paolo Paraan SJ at the Oratory of St Ignatius, Loyola House of Studies on 22 August was definitely one for the books. A senior Jesuit quipped: “It will surely be the most dramatic and most memorable in our (Philippine Jesuits’) recent history.” Amidst the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was postponed twice in the last two months, adjusted according to countless last-minute revisions and emergency meetings, not to mention the hard decision to change from one ordaining bishop to another—and yet another—until the third one agreed to take on the task, the celebration finally pushed through.
It was far from what everyone imagined. There was no crowd filling the venue to the brim. No choir. No handshakes, nor pleasantries. No feast followed. It was a simple and intimate gathering of a handful family members, close friends, and Jesuits from the Loyola House Studies community, which had been home to Fr Tumabli and Fr Paraan during their formation years. Nevertheless there was an immense sense of warmth and joy that extended far beyond the walls of the oratory, as the rest of those who could only hope to personally witness the event said a special prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of priesthood.
“It is finished!” (Mt 19:30) These were Jesus’ words on the cross. It is the Christ who suffered, died, and rose again. According to ordaining prelate Bishop Roberto Gaa of the Diocese of Novaliches, this can be understood if we look at the image of the Risen Christ. “For us really to have a figure of the priesthood of Christ, we also have to look at the Risen Christ.” A better image of the priesthood is that which sees Jesus who proclaimed the good news and accompanied those who suffered, those who died, and those who will rise again with him. Bishop Gaa reminded Fr Tumbali and Fr Paraan to “educate the people not from the vantage point of knowledge, but from the vantage point of experience,” using their own rich experience of the Gospel and of accompanying people in their suffering, death and transformation.
Undoubtedly, the pandemic is a most challenging time to live out the priesthood, a time when “God disturbed us and turned things around,” as Bishop Gaa said. He exhorted the ordinands to let God continue to transform them amidst the pandemic: “Your formation is not yet over.” Perhaps it was most fitting that the ordination fell on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, who did not know the plan of God but trustingly said yes and obeyed. As Bishop Gaa beautifully put it: “We see our priesthood still being formed by Mary.”
“This celebration of the People of God will remind us that God is still very much on board and that there is still hope. Personally, and as a Church, today’s ordination and the glorification of Mary means, God is faithful,” Fr Tumbali said. He called himself and Fr Paraan two “irregular” Jesuits who had a longer than usual formation: 15 years for him and 12 years for Fr Paraan. But thanks to the delay, Fr Tumbali was assigned as one of the pioneers of the Jesuit Mission Station in Kalookan, a hotspot for the extra-judicial killings in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Fr Paraan had the chance to be assistant chaplain at the Philippine General Hospital, which has become one of the main hospitals for Covid-19 patients. “All this,” Fr Tumbali said “is grace.”
Two days after their ordination, the two priests traveled to Bukidnon, a landlocked province in southern Philippines. Fr Paraan will serve as Director of Saint Isidore High School, while Fr Tumbali as Retreat Director at the Jesuit Retreat House. Both assignments are under the Jesuit Bukidnon Mission District.
As they begin their ministry, albeit delayed, Fr Tumbali said: “Robbie and I could only respond by becoming your good and dedicated priests, especially to the bleeding part of our Church, the victims of oppression and injustice. Remind us when we fail to do this. We now ask then for your prayers and the prayer of our Blessed Mother who has been with us in this journey of our priestly vocation so that we can undertake this task joyfully and lovingly. Amen.”
Lloyd Sabio SJ is a scholastic of the Philippine Province.