The new deacons with Palo Archbishop John F. Du, DD and the clergy of the diocese after the diaconal ordination at the Sacred Heart Seminary Chapel, Sept. 26, 2016. (Photo: Fr. Benjamin Pantas)
PALO, Leyte, Sept. 28, 2016 – When one gives one’s total yes to God, His business becomes yours.
This was the message of Palo Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du, DD in a homily during the diaconal ordination of three new deacons held at the chapel of the Sacred Heart Seminary on Sunday, Sept. 26.
“In other words, your business is no other than God’s business” stressed the prelate.
No attachments
He added that any other attachment becomes an obstacle to their vocation, such as attachment to things, position, popularity, power that would distract them from being a “witness of the Word.”
“Attachment to money, friends, to the closeness in terms of relationship becomes a problem when there is a conflict,” Du explained.
While the three new deacons were warned against the tendency to be attached to attractions of the heart outside church ministry, he clarified these were not necessarily evil.
Du exhorted the deacons to continue to be faithful to God and to their vocation without necessarily isolating themselves from the real world.
’Living sacrament’
The prelate underscored the role of the clergy as being the “living sacrament of the Gospel itself”, which is more profound than being proclaimers of the Word of God.
This, he added, is the “reason why the deacon or any ordained minister must leave behind all attachments that prevent [him] from giving his whole life fully to the Lord.”
Du expounded that when one commits himself to someone, he denies himself for someone he loves, like the Blessed Virgin Mary who humbled herself before God and responded to His offer for a deeper relationship.
Albeit in need of proving themselves more for a few more months, these seminarians from Alang-Alang, Burauen, and Tolosa towns in Leyte are a few steps away from the priesthood.
Prayers requested
Ordained on Sept. 26 were:
- Alfie Edward Adarne Protesta of the Most Holy Trinity Parish of Alang-Alang;
- Angelo Nikko Olimpo Brosas of The Immaculate Conception Parish of Burauen; and
- Goldie Kenn Advincula Zabala of St. Michael the Archangel Parish of Tolosa
In contrast to the the usually big number of entrants to the seminary for their batch, only the three lasted this far.
Brosas attribute this grace to “striving to always do the will of God for me at the present moment.”
For him, “Being a deacon is being totally of service to the Church.”
Du called on the people to pray for the new deacons as they continue their journey of discipleship.
“Through our prayers, we too will be drawn towards friendship with the Lord and the community,” he said. (Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros / CBCP News)
