Embracing the Call: The Vocation Ministry of SIDTP

By Dra. Rosmel Chavez

Published on July 7, 2024

Vocation comes from latin word, vocare,” a call, summons”. A vocation is God’s invitation to each individual to love and serve Him and His Church in a particular state of life. For Christians, a vocation is not just something that God calls us to do, it is also the person God calls us to be. Every baptized Catholic shares in the universal call to holiness and to be like our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ministry is essentially what a Christian or Believer does with his or her life to advance the Kingdom of God. God’s investment of His Grace upon our lives is one sure way we can Minister unto others and unto Him. To this, every Catholic believers has a calling to Ministry.

The Vocation Ministry of SIDTP started last October 2023, the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. It is a ministry in the parish which promotes vocations most specially those who in their discernment, would like to enter priesthood. Ideally, through workshops like seminars, resources and guidance of the parish priest, the ministry will be able to implement effective and impactful strategies to encourage the youth understand their personal vocations whether as priests, religious member, or lay persons committed to serving God. For indeed God calls everyone to certain vocation.

In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls his First Disciples. “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said and I will send you out to fish for people. At once they left their nets and followed Him.” Also in 1 Samuel 3, God is sovereign and has the power to bring low and exalt. God can use anyone who has the character and humility to listen and trust in Him. Those who worship God must do so in purity.

The vocation ministry is keen on supporting and nurturing vocations to the priesthood through prayer, education and providing resources coming from benefactors and vocation promoters. In the future, the ministry hopes to have various activities such as vocation retreats, discernment groups and spiritual direction for the youth. Also for the vocation promoters and benefactors, it is also the plan of the ministry to gather and thank them; for they are important part of the vocation journey of these would be priests.

The parish has has been blessed to have priests and nuns who are native born Tanayans. Rev. Fr. Nomer Lozano De Lumen, Rev. Fr. Mark Lemuel Medinacelli Tibay, LRMS, Rev. Fr. Mhandy Santelices Maligan,O.P., Rev. Fr. Eric Suarez Ollague, OFM, Rev. Fr. Cristino Robles Pine, OFM, Rev. Fr. Jose Candelaria Bautista, Rev. Fr. Noeh Emor Elnar, Rev. Fr. Carlos S. Santos, OFM, Rev. Fr. Albert Thomas Bonayon Tan, Rev. Fr. Raymond Joseph Librea Arre, Rev. Fr. Salvador Olaguer Yun and Rev. Fr. Manuel Montevirgen, Jr. SVD For the nuns we have Sr. Magdalena Goretti, SPC, Sr. Aida A. Bautista, SPC, Sr. Ma. Luz, F.I. Sr. Maryver Mabanta, O.Carm., Sr. Nimfa Ebora, PDDM, Sr. Alfreda Maria V. Piguing, SPC, Sr. Erlinda P. Gesilva, SPC, Sr. Maria Emilia Fontanos Lagasca, SPC, Sr. Marie Leonie,SPC, Sr. Orosia, SSPS, Sr. Mary Stephen, SSPS, Sr. Constancia, SPC, Sr. Marie Anastacia, SSPS Sr. Floracelli, SPC, Sr. Anunciation de Jesus, SPC,Sr. Mary Benita Figueroa, SPC, Sr. Amy, F.I. Sr. Alma Cristina Catambay, M.M., Sr. Wilma Catolos, SPC, Sr. Ildefonsa de Josef Bendana, SPC, and Sr. Marie Josellin, SPC.

At present, the Vocation Ministry supports five seminarians who are taking their formation from both Diocesan and Religious seminaries.