(April 7, 2009) – Sounding more at ease with his priests, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles reminded his priests that they are signs of unity of the Christian faithful in their parishes, just as the Bishop is the sacrament of unity in the Archdiocese. This was the gist of his homily delivered during the Chrism Mass held during Holy Tuesday, a tradition in the Archdiocese of Lipa, departing from its Holy thursday morning schedule. He explained this also citing the distance of the parishes that priests would have to go back to if this rite is celebrated as the liturgical calendar suggest. “For pastoral reason, the Archdiocese of Lipa celebrates this Mass of the Chrism during Holy Tuesday,” he explained.
This unity is externally shown as lay leaders of the different parishes, led by their Parish Council officers, accompanied their pastors and assistant pastors, during this celebration. Archbishop Arguelles also announced that this year’s opening of the “Year of St. Joseph, the Faithful Icon of the Fatherhood of God” will be held on April 18 — again because April 10 falls on a Good Friday. This will be the last of the three-year preparation to the celebration of the Centennial Jubilee of Lipa as a local church. He explained that the theme of the Year of St. Joseph is precisely centering on the importance of unity of the communities, centering on the priest, who should mirror the fatherhood of God. ”Communion and Solidarity” would be emphasized during this year and the Chrism Mass reminds the members of the local church to achieve just that.
In the same Mass, the priests renewed their vows made during their ordination. The close to a hundred diocesan priests, together with religious priests working in the Archdiocese attended this annual renewal. Among the religious congregations working in the Archdiocese of Lipa, the Oblates of St. Joseph (OSJ) has the most number. They run the parishes comprising Vicariate IV, one of the 7 vicariates in this ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Other religious priests come from the Redemptorists, Capuchins, SVD, Salesians, Dominicans, Companions of the Cross (the Canadian Congregation to which the renowned healer, Fr. Fernando Suarez, belongs) and a lone Stigmatine priest. Archbishop Arguelles was joined by Auxiliary Bishop-emeritus, Bishop Salvador Quizon, and Lucena Bishop Emeritus, Bishop Ruben Profugo. The diocesan clergy was led by Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan, Vicar General.
Conspicuous among those who were in the jam-packed Cathedral of San Sebastian were the parents and close relatives of the diocesan priests, belonging to the Association of St. John Mary Vianney, which has different chapters in the Archdiocese. This was started by then Archbishop now CArdinal Gaudencio Rosales. Archbishop Arguelles also announced that from June 2009 to June 2010, Vatican has declared to be the Year of St. John Mary Vianney to commemorate the 100 years of the death of this declared patron of parish priests.
