(Dec. 13, 2010) — This Christmas gathering was made more special for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Lipa as they welcome back their former Archbishop and now CArdinal Gaudencio B. Rosales whose resignation as Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila had been accepted by the Holy Father and whose successer was finally installed into the prime see of the Philippines yesterday at the Manila Cathedral.
Amidst the cheering and clapping, Frs. Oscar Andal (chancellor) and Fr. Dong Rosales (not related to him) escorted the smiling prelate into the primed St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary gym! Archbishop Ramon Arguelles escorted him to the table where the most senior members of the clergy were seated. (The arrangement was that members of the different LIfe Groups were seated together!) Picture taking by groups or individually were the order of the day.
In his short message, he thanked the clergy for praying for him especially during his stint as the Archbishop of the most important see in the country. He later sang a piece from “Sound of Music” acappella, dwelling on the lines “I must have done something” as he narrated his own vocation story. He urged the clergy to be “good and holy priest”, and not to be afraid for “God may have found something good in you.” He also disclosed that he was currently writing a biography of Venerable Bishop Alfredo Obviar, whose cause for beatification is already in Rome.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Ramon gave his personal gifts to each one, including the members of the Oblates of St. Joseph in the ARchdiocese of Lipa. This year, aside from his personal calendar, the package included a soutane, a set of books, including those tackling Family and Life, the whole proceedings and talks during the first Asia Oceania Mariological Conference hel in Sept. 12-26, 2009. The Archbishop has been consistent with his gift giving during this occasion.
The Commission on Clergy was in-charge of the event. After the regular holy hour and confessions held at the College Seminary chapel, the priests trooped to the gym for lunch and program. Raffles of cash prizes were held; exchange gifts were done by the Life Group members among themselves. A Life Group, that which is composed of the second batch of senior clergy, put in their cash contributions and divided this to be given to their two sick colleagues, Rev. Fr. Ricardo Echague and Rev. Fr. Ricardo Rodelas Rodelas. A game, adopted from Eat Bulaga, was participated in by selected members of each of the seven vicariates. Entitled “Paring Henyo”, the Oblates of St. Joseph (Vicariate 4) won the game, besting the diocesan clergy-held vicariates. A special entry, composed of Archbishop Arguelles, Bishop Salvador Quizon and Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista (who came to surprise his colleagues), got the second prize.
Traditionally, this Christmas party is held before the Misa Aguinaldo starts.
