QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES — On July 3, 2026, coinciding with the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, the Claretian community of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province and Fatima Province celebrated the ordination of three young missionaries to the sacred order of presbyters: Fr. Paul Mark Layugan, CMF, Fr. Nguyen Trong Quan, CMF, and Fr. Ho Quoc Vu, CMF (who is incardinated into the Province of Fatima).
The ordaining prelate was the Most Rev. Elias L. Ayuban, Jr., CMF, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao.
In his homily, Bishop Ayuban reminded those present that a true vocation does not spring from an illusion of flawless capability. Addressing the wider community, he clarified that the modern world does not need missionary-priests who chase after comfort, social prestige, or institutional influence. Instead, the Church desperately needs shepherds who “smell like the sheep”—men who have learned the art of listening deeply before speaking and who dedicate their lives to accompanying the wounded.
He challenged the newly ordained missionary-priests to shed any illusion that ordination magically erases human flaws or insulates them from the gritty hardships of ministry. With stark honesty, he reminded them that they will still face profound moments of loneliness, exhausting fatigue, painful misunderstandings, and quiet failures. However, using the Feast of St. Thomas as a powerful backdrop, the Bishop beautifully noted that when Christ rose from the dead, He chose to keep His wounds open and intact—not as a sign of defeat, but as a brilliant testament to glory.
Finally, the Bishop closed with a strong warning against pastoral rigidity, harshness, and strictness. He reminded the ordinandi that while the faithful can easily overlook an imperfect sermon or a priest who cannot sing well, they will not tolerate a pastor who is cranky and unforgiving. To guard against this, he challenged them never to view community life as a secondary option or a logistical backup plan. Instead, he urged them to make their fraternal community the very first place of their mission—the essential testing ground where they learn to love their brothers, encounter the risen Lord, and effectively reflect the merciful face of God to the world.
The event was well-attended by members of the Claretian family, including Fr. Jorge R. Sánchez Palacios, CMF (Provincial Superior of Fatima) and Fr. José Enrique García Rizo, CMF (Provincial Econome). Joining them were diocesan clergy, religious men and women, seminarians, and the families and friends of the newly ordained. Let us keep these new priests in our prayers as they begin their sacred ministry.
