Bishop Quiambao, Four Others, Mark 50th Priestly Anniversary

BACACAY, Albay, April 11, 2010-Celebrating the milestone of his sacerdotal ministry, Legazpi's Apostolic Administrator Emeritus Lucilo Quiambao marked his golden anniversary of priesthood with a thanksgiving Mass in his hometown together with fellow jubilarians Fr. Conrad Goullet, SSS, Fr. Joventino Romano, Msgr. Lucio Odiver and Msgr. Pastor Gotiangco of Ormoc, Leyte.

The bishop, who led the concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass at St. Rose of Lima Parish on
April 9, said he thank God, his formators and associates, who have helped him in his mission as a worker in the vineyard in his 50 years of ministry.

"Our celebration means we have no regrets, if we could only be rejuvenated, I for one, would be more than willing to start all over again," he told the congregation of about a thousand composed of local government officials, townmates and visiting prelates and clergymen.

Quiambao noted that their golden jubilee coincides with many meaningful events in the universal, national, regional and parochial levels.

The universal church celebrates the 150th year of the death of St. John Mary Baptist Vianney, "our priest model par excellence," who extolled the dignity of the priests saying, "Oh, how great is a priest. The priest will not understand the greatness of his office till he is in Heaven. If he understood it on earth, he would die not of fear but of love and awe."

While at the national level, Quiambao said, "our country observes a year-round devotion to the Two Hearts, intended by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines for clean, honest and credible elections a month from now."

He pointed out that most Filipinos are devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as seen by the many confessions and communions, and praying of the Holy Hours on first Fridays of the month. He said his family has the Immaculate Heart of Mary as patroness.

Quiambao credited the religious environment he grew up with as instrumental in nurturing his vocation. Recalling his younger years, he said his grandmother and mother were both hermanas at the barangay chapel, while he was the errand boy who looked after the upkeep of the village chapel.

On the regional level, the bishop said, the entire Bicolandia is celebrating the 300th year of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, fondly called "Ina" (Mother) by her devotees. He said he would usually invoke and pour out his problems during his first years of seminary formation in Naga City to Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Quiambao said he chose to celebrate his sacerdotal anniversary in his hometown instead of Legazpi City since St. Rose of Lima Parish is celebrating the 350th foundation this year.

He added the celebration is enriched with indulgences from the Vatican's sacred penitentiary extended to the two daughter parishes of Bonga and Cabasan.

Quiambao's town of Bacacay is well known for having produced a great number of priests and religious. He said his town has churned out already 85 priests assigned to various missions and parishes. The number is more than a diocese's presbyterium, the bishop said.

'Gratitude is a Memory of the Heart'

Quiambao also remembered the 350th death anniversaries of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, acknowledging the important role the Vincentians played in his formation and that of fellow prelate, Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose C. Sorra, Msgr. Lucio Odiver and several others.

"Almost coinciding with our golden jubilee is the quadri-centennial of the University of Santo Tomas, where I, Msgr. Odiver, Fr. Joventino Romano and Msgr. Gotiangco, Bishop Sorra and many other bishops had their philosophical and theological studies," he added as he expressed gratitude to the Spanish Dominican fathers.

He also acknowledged the support given him by the late Archbishop Pedro Santos "who granted me five years half scholarship in the Holy Rosary Seminary (Naga City) which meant paying half of the P 400.00 annual board and lodging fee plus school fees."

Quiambao likewise mentioned the late Bishop Ariola, Legazpi's first bishop who sponsored one half of their expenses for seven years of studies at the University of Santo Tomas central seminary.

Among the prelates who concelebrated with Bishop Quiambao were Zamboanga Archbishop Emeritus Carmelo Morelos, Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose C. Sorra, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Rañola, Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso, San Fernando Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio, Virac Bishop Manolo Delos Santos, Libmanan Bishop Jose Rojas, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD, Masbate Apostolic Administrator Msgr. Claro Caluya and Legazpi Bishop Joel Z. Baylon.

In closing, Bishop Quiambao said he is happy to have left the Diocese of Legazpi to his former altar boy and now Bishop Joel Z. Baylon who was installed last December 9, 2009 by the Metropolitan Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, OP. (Melo M. Acuna)