Homélie de Mgr Honesto Ongtioco, évêque de Cubao, à l’occasion de l’ordination diaconale des frères Jean-Baptiste Nguyen Van Thê et François-Xavier Cao Minh Toan, le lundi 14 octobre 2024, dans la chapelle d’Assumption Language College (ALC) à New Manila.
Après avoir accueilli chaleureusement les familles et les amis des ordinands en les remerciant pour le soutien, Mgr Honesto Ongtioco, a présenté les deux candidats au diaconat, comment ils ont connu l’Assomption, leurs parcours vocationnels et leurs désirs. Il les a encouragé dans leur ministère. « To our dear Francis Xavier and John the Baptist, we give thanks to the Lord, not just for the gift of vocation given to you, but for the gift of yourselves, to the Church and to the Augustinians of the Assumption. Each one of you declared to the Lord and to the Church gathered here: “Present” – that is to say, “Yes, I am present! I am here! All of me! This defines your entire ministry as deacons and later on as priests. That’s a simple word: “Present.” Yet it perfectly encapsulates the same passion, zeal and fire that moved St. Paul to remain steadfast in his ministry despite trials, persecutions and suffering he faced as he carried out the mission the Lord had given him. Your vocation is a gift. And so you are! Never ever forget that. Never forget the gift. And never forget the Giver! Because “all is gift,” and “all is grace.”
Après avoir accueilli chaleureusement les familles et les amis des ordinands en les remerciant pour le soutien, Mgr Honesto Ongtioco, a présenté les deux candidats au diaconat, comment ils ont connu l’Assomption, leurs parcours vocationnels et leurs désirs. Il les a encouragé dans leur ministère.
« To our dear Francis Xavier and John the Baptist, we give thanks to the Lord, not just for the gift of vocation given to you, but for the gift of yourselves, to the Church and to the Augustinians of the Assumption. Each one of you declared to the Lord and to the Church gathered here: “Present” – that is to say, “Yes, I am present! I am here! All of me! This defines your entire ministry as deacons and later on as priests. That’s a simple word: “Present.” Yet it perfectly encapsulates the same passion, zeal and fire that moved St. Paul to remain steadfast in his ministry despite trials, persecutions and suffering he faced as he carried out the mission the Lord had given him.
Your vocation is a gift. And so you are! Never ever forget that. Never forget the gift. And never forget the Giver! Because “all is gift,” and “all is grace.”
I would like to thank you also for the enriching dialogue we had last Oct. 4 in preparation for your ordination. I asked each one of them the questions: 1) How did they come to know the Augustinians of the Assumption And 2) What made them decide to embrace religious life and particularly to the Augustinians of the Assumption? Our conversation was very enriching and made me appreciate more the love, mercy, compassion and wisdom of God. John the Baptist said that he was attracted to their community life. They work together, discern things together. They are humble and have their apostolate in solidarity with the Church and in, collaboration with others. By living with other nationalities, they learn to adjust to the culture, language and learn to care for each other. John the Baptist also worked with the youth who were poor and encouraged them to study and sing at Mass. He had his CPE at the Heart Center. He felt happy helping people. He finished electrical engineering. He became attracted to the charism of he Assumptionist Fathers that is to engage in anything so that God’s kingdom may come – it can be in education, assisting the youth, and other situations like working with the poor.
Francis Xavier, took a course on Event Organizing. He had his First Profession in 2015 and then studied Philosophy and Theology in Vietnam. In 2022, he came to the Philippines. He had his CPE at the Lung Center. They listen to people as they express their pains. They learned how to journey with them. They felt that they became the hands and feet of Jesus bringing them to prayer and consoling them in their need. Having been touched by God’s love, they reciprocate and say: “Yes, Lord, I want to follow you” and share their experience with others.
Their decision was based more on a deeper hunger and thirst for God, quest for meaning in life, desiring to do something that would change people’s lives, situations of injustice and oppression. It was a beautiful realization. This is grace. It is God who is at work within humanity.
Thank you, my dear John the Baptist and Francis Xavier for having the courage to say, “Yes” to God’s call. It made a big difference for you, for the Church and for the world.
Our First Reading reminds us how deacons were chosen in the early Church. They were reputable men, filled with faith, with the Spirit and wisdom. The apostles prayed and laid hands on them. John the Baptist and Francis Xavier, you are also appointed by the Lord He sends you. You are to be courageous for it is the Lord who sends and He will always be there for you to deliver you. Fear should have no place in your heart. He will always empower you to carry out the mission entrusted to you.
In the Second Reading from the First Letter of St. Peter, we are to carry out our mission with clarity, with love that is intense and selfless service as good stewards relying on the strength from God so that in all things He maybe glorified.
In the Gospel, Jesus sends His appointed disciples ahead of Him. He sends them as lambs among wolves and to trust God for their material needs. What is more important is their mission to cure the sick and preach that the kingdom of God has come.
My dear John the Baptist and Francis Xavier, you too are expected to do the same; to bring the peace and joy of the kingdom of God to others. Be always open to the ways of the Lord. Because of your openness you have discovered many beautiful things especially the vocation that God has given you.
Your journey of faith made you surrender everything to the Lord’s providence. Your exposure to different people and situations was a blessing for you. You were given the opportunity to journey with wounded people in crises so that you can maintain that enthusiasm and give more to serve the Lord through them
Your lengthy years of formation enabled you to experience that mercy of God in a deep manner. In carrying out your mission, the Lord will work with you and through you. What is important is that His message will take root into your heart. My dear John the Baptist and Francis Xavier, things will work out well. It is the Lord who calls! As you have experienced in the past, there will be times when you have to let go of even your most cherished dreams. What is important is to always align oneself to the will of God. It is that openness and availability that shapes the life of a future priest.
Dear John the Baptist and Francis Xavier, on this day of your ordination to the diaconate, I shall lay my hands on you as a sign of your being set apart and dedicated to the service of God and ministry of the Church. You know very well that “being set apart” does not mean you are exclusive or above the people— all the more it means that you are with them and you shall serve them through this sacred ministry you will receive.
Pope Benedict shares his reflection in his book Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives – that when the angel departed from Mary, the hour of great encounter came to an end, and she remains there alone, with the task that truly surpasses all human capacity. There were no more angels standing beside her, yet she must continue along the path that leads her to many dark moments. But what sustained her is her remembrance of the Annunciation – the day she was chosen by God and assured her “not to be afraid.” After today, you will continue along the same path – a path that sometimes leads to moments of loneliness and pain, but keep in your heart what happens today – for today, with your own fiat, the Lord assures you “do not be afraid.” Today is a memorable day. But it will be more so if you take to heart your commitment to poverty, obedience and chastity and these words the church says to you while handing the book of scriptures to you: “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” Amen.
