November 30, 2024 – The Mother Church and the entire Rogate Family rejoice in the gift of Priesthood as our confreres John Dela Cruz, RCJ, and Joseph Bryan Balagtas, RCJ, were ordained to the Holy Order of Presbyters through the hands of Most Rev. Jose Elmer Mangalinao, DD, at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (OLMHRP), Multinational Village, Parañaque City, on the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.

The solemn celebration was concelebrated by the Rogationist clergy, diocesan, and other religious priests – each of them, in one way or another, were instrumental in the vocation of Fr. John and Fr. Joseph Bryan. Family members, confreres, friends, and benefactors gathered to witness the ordination, united in gratitude to the Lord of the Harvest for the blessing of vocations.

Bishop Mangalinao invited them to reflect upon the gift of vocation and see the greatness of God in the midst of it all. He told them it is not what we can do but “what God could do if we allow Him to.” He reminded everyone that our strength and identity is that we are God’s beloved. He further acknowledged the hands of God at work by professing that “God’s call is God’s choice.”

Fr. Orville Cajigal, RCJ, provincial superior of the St. Matthew Province, draws his sharing and reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus embroidered in the vestments of the newly ordained, connecting it to the love of Jesus and our response to it. He quotes St. John Mary Vianney, who said, “Priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus.”

Let us continue to pray that God may continually bless these chosen men and make them holy as they strive to serve in the vineyard of the Lord.

Send, O Lord, Holy Apostles into Your Church!

Photo: Marian Pizarra
Provincial Rogate Center for Vocations – Digital Communications

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