THE 2ND NATIONAL CONGRESS OF PHILIPPINE CLERGY, Part 2 The Grace of Meeting Former Students

Three of my former students in Philosophy at the St. Paul College Seminary in Silang, Cavite. From left: Fr. Aljim Tuazon of Pampanga, Fr. Randy Salunga of Tarlac and Fr. David Reyes of Laguna.

These are the pictures I had with three young and wonderful and grace-filled priests who were my former students of Philosophy in St. Paul College Seminary in Silang, Cavite. They are Fr. Randy Salunga of Tarlac, Fr. David Reyes of Laguna and Rev. Aljim Tuazon [now Fr. Aljim, he was ordained last Feb. 13, 2010] of Pampanga.

I believe that besides the spiritual graces received during the Congress having met these former students is the greatest blessing the Lord has given me during the event.

It is so wonderful to see these boys turned into young men. They still have the boyish looks, the handsome faces but much more they now carry the nobility of priesthood, the blessing of high education and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Abe Arganiosa, CRS with Fr. Randy Salunga

It is so heartwarming to see them still young but given the grace to be like their teacher - a minister of Christ. They are still humble, with eyes filled with blessed joy and obviously Men of God manifesting His goodness and holiness.

Fr. Randy is assigned in Diocesan Seminary where he is teaching and is helping Radio Maria Philippines, a theology graduate of the prestigious Pontifical Universtiy of the Holy Cross in Rome. Fr. David is assigned in Los Banos, has finished his M.A. in Dogmatic Theology and is also teaching at St. Paul Seminary. Rev. Aljim is soon to be ordained then but now a newly ordained priest being less than a month in the Order of Presbyter. During the Congress he served as one of the Deacons and at the Concluding Mass he was given the grace to be the Gospel Bearer, to sing the Gospel and sat at the right hand of the Cardinal Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Rosales... in short the main Deacon of the Celebration.

Fr. Randy

There are two more in the Congress: Fr. Michael Linga, but we failed to have a picture together. Then a day after the Congress I've met in St. Paul bookstore, Alimall Cubao, Fr. Paul Anthony Aguilar. He is formerly of La Sallette Seminary but now in one of the Dioceses in Australia.

The night after meeting them tears of joy washed my eyes. I never realized how beautiful it is when the faith and the accumulated wisdom of the Church is being passed from teachers to students and students becoming teachers of the faith and shall pass the same Deposit of Faith to another. How great You are, O Lord.

May the Holy Spirit bless these young men, His servants, so that they all the more grow in Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding and Holiness of Life.