29
Fri, Mar

Ordination Fr. Paolo AsprerMAKATI CITY, Philippines— Rev. Fr. Angelo Paolo O. Asprer, SSP is ordained a priest by Most Rev. Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in a Eucharistic Celebration on December 7, 2014, the Second Sunday of Advent. 

In his homily, the good archbishop emphasized that as the format of the Liturgy of the Word reveals in the ordination rite, the ordinandus becomes the focus or even the homily itself of the proclaimed gospel. The Archbishop stressed that the person, vocation as well as the total committed response of the one to be ordained is the witness to the euanggelion, the Good News who is Jesus the Christ.

Thus the archbishop poses the challenge to the ordinandus—that his sharing into the priestly ministry of Jesus demands single-heartedness to the proclamation of salvation in the midst of a world that embraces worldly values. Thus this means a courageous person who sees the ministry in the light of the "mystery of the cross" and does not give in to the temptation of materialism and power.

Vicar General Fr. Celso C. Godilano, SSP, after sending fraternal greetings and acknowledgments, also prays that Fr. Asprer's priestly life may be "a joyful one and may bear abundant fruits." He further says, "May the Spirit of God sustain you and make you worthy of the 'ministry of Christ Jesus... in performing the priestly service of the gospel of God (Rom 15:16)' in the aeropagus of communication which is both marvelous and disquieting. Take into account that you are receiving the gift of Pauline Mission from the hands of Blessed James Alberione who today is close to you in paternal tenderness and who intercedes for you..."

After the official photo ops, the congregation kiss the hands of the newly ordained to share in the grace and joy of the ordinandus and proceed to meal fellowship at Don Zanoni Gym.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, at 6 PM, Fr. Asprer held his first Eucharistic Celebration with the Makati Community and some lay faithful in the same sanctuary. The first mass is also followed by the traditional kissing of the ordinandus' hands.