On three separate occasions, DGMA through its officiating officer, the Rt. Rev. Vicente Salvador Ballesteros, ordained two priests and two deacons in an unprecedented one-month record period between September and October 2024. Two were held at the Cathedral of the Crucified Lord in Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City; while one was held at the historic Maria Clara Church in Sta. Cruz, Manila. In all these solemm ordination rites, the Cathedral Choir provided the music with its rendition of the “Misa Kangkong.” (It is an original composition for the Eucharistic Service with the music and lyrics penned by Mr. Joel Ballesteros, and the choir conducted by Mr. Glen Aranzano.)
The first Cathedral ordination to the Sacred Order of Priesthood was for Deacon Daniel Joseph de Guzman Nillo, on September 21, 2024, Feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. Then the week thereafter, Deacon Jayson Joshua Paderna delos Reyes was admitted to the Sacerdotal Ministry, Order of Melchizedek, on September 29, 2024, Feast of St. Michael the Archangel in the Maria Clara Church in Santa Cruz, Manila. (This historic IFI Church, official seat of the late Obispo Maximo Isabelo delos Reyes Jr. and later of the former diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Gregorio delos Reyes, has been declared by the National Historical Commission as a National Shrine.)
Then a month later, October 28, 2024 on the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, the diocesan Cathedral was again the site of the combined ordinations of Brother Roy Guemo D. Cuayzon from Balingasa, Quezon City, and Brother John Ernest Casayuran Tibay from Pililla, Rizal. Both were ordained and accepted into the Sacred Order of the Diaconate in a solemn Holy Eucharist presided by the diocesan overseer, Bishop Buddy Ballesteros, as main celebrant, preacher, and ordaining officer. During the Holy Mass, he was assisted at the altar by the Msgr. Emmanuel Ballesteros, diocesan vicar and domestic prelate; and the Rev. Fr. Severino Ismael II, former Cathedral canon and current Diocesan Council treasurer.
In his homilies, Bishop Ballesteros paid tributes to the ordinands in their sacrifices and perseverance in reaching their most cherished goals of becoming the servants of the Lord. In his third homily, during the diaconate ordination, he outlined the qualities of a spiritual minister in the vineyard of God. Also applicable to the priests, he defined the role of a deacon as follows, as outlined in the Book of Acts Chapter 6: (1) Exemplary model servant of God in attendance, stewardship, prayer life and study of Bible, witness of faith and service in the Church; (2) Encouraging servant as comforter to people’s needs; (3) Engaged and involved servant especially in meeting the challenges of pastoral work (no celebrity status); (4) Enthusiastic helpful servant who always works “better than good”; (5) Enduring lifetime servant – answering God’s calling without quitting, as vows made are not promises (to be broken). Bishop Buddy exhorted the ministers to aim for God’s commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant; welcome thou into my Kingdom.” (Matthew 25:23).
The following is a brief background of each ordinand:
Rev. Fr. Daniel Joseph de Guzman Nillo – assigned to Sucat Mission of Birhen Balintawak
Home Address: San Gabriel, Malolos City, Bulacan
Education:
- Pili Central School
- St. Louis de Marillac School of Pili
- Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary, San Jose, Camarines Sur
- Institute of Formation and Religious Studies (Theology)
- Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS) – Bachelor of Theology
Rev. Fr. Jayson Joshua Paderna delos Reyes – assigned to Tatalon and Fabie Missions
Parents: Romina Paderna and Benedict delos Reyes (+)
Home Address: Santa Cruz, Manila
Education:
- Nazareth School
- St. Louise de Marillac School of Tabaco
- National University
- St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary – Bachelor of Theology (cum laude)
Rev. Deacon Roy Guemo D. Cuayzon
Parents: Guillerma Cuayzon and Rodelio Cuayzon
Home Address: Balingasa, Quezon City
Education:
- Balingasa Elementary School
- Balingasa High School
- Global Reciprocal Colleges – Business Administration (Marketing Management)
- Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS) – Master of Divinity
- (Apolinario Mabini Award)
Parish of the Resurrection, Balingasa, Quezon City
Rev. Deacon: John Ernest Casayuran Tibay
Parents: Ernielyn Tibay and Lominito Tibay Jr.
Home Address: Pililla, Rizal
Education:
- Virgilio B. Melendres Elementary School
- Pililla Academy Foundation Inc. (high school)
- Our Lady of Fatima University (Antipolo Campus) – Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
- Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS) – Master of Divinity (cum laude)
Parish of the Good Shepherd, Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila
CONGRATULATIONS, REV. FATHERS AND REV. DEACONS!
GOD’S BLESSINGS BE WITH YOU IN YOUR WORK IN THE LORD’S VINEYARD!
Contributed by:
The Rev. Vicky Esguerra
