The Pauline Family in Sydney, Australia. gathered in the Chapel of the Society of St Paul on Sunday, 10 December, to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr Nestor Candado SSP.
While still a Junior professed, Fr Nestor was assigned to Australia from the Philippines in 1981 and was ordained to the priesthood in St Jude’s Church Scoresby (Melbourne) in 1983. He has served his entire priestly life in Australia, in our houses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, including three terms as the Regional Superior.
In his homily, Fr Nestor spoke of his life as a journey firstly from his hometown in Iloilo to the Society of St Paul in Makati, then from the Philippines to Australia, and now into the future. Every stage of the journey has been with the Lord, and with many people, beginning with his parents and family. He is grateful to the Lord and all his companions along the way. He said his ‘yes’ to the Lord has always been in the context of his Pauline vocation. His priesthood is a Pauline priesthood.
At the end of the Mass, Fr Michael Goonan, thanked Fr Nestor for accepting to journey with the Pauline Family in Australia, and in a special way with the Society of St Paul, for these past forty years. Certainly, there have been blessings for Fr Nestor along the way, interspersed with many challenges that he has courageously accepted. The Sydney community remains very grateful for his continual ‘yes’ in the varying circumstances of our life.
On the previous Saturday, Fr Nestor was in the Philippines to join his companions, Fr Celso Godilano and Fr Ruben Areño, in celebrating forty years of priesthood. Fr Celso and Fr Ruben, along with Fr Mario Sobrejuanite, the Provincial Superior of the Philippines-Macau Province, travelled together on the same boat from Iloilo to Makati many years ago to begin their Pauline adventure. It was a special joy to celebrate this milestone with them.
