Diakonia 2009

Frt. Reymond Barrales- Mulingbayan of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Mamburao is expected to receive diaconal ordination tomorrow, July, 15, 2009 at the Saint Joseph Cathedral in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The ordination of Frt. Ymon, as he is fondly called,- coincides with the 25th founding anniversary or Silver Jubilee of our Vicariate’s Saint Joseph College Seminary (SJCS).

Let me share you this : Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Roman curia emphasized that, “The deacon is a prophet of a new world, the bearer of a message which sheds light on all the burning issues of society. He is also the principal collaborator of the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist”. These words were part of the homily given by Archbishop Piacenza on 30 June 2009 at the Chapel of Centro di Studi Superiori, during Mass for the ordination of 38 deacons in Rome. Msgr. Piacenza explained the triple service of the deacon: the deaconate of the Word, the Eucharist and the Poor. It is the duty of the deacon to proclaim the Gospel and assist the priest in the explanation of the Word of God. He added that “in a special way the deacon is entrusted with the Church's mission of Charity, which is the origin of the Deaconate ”. The deacon is called to be concerned for the needs of others, to notice the suffering of others and to offer himself as a gift for others.

The dogmatic constitution on the Church “Lumen Gentium” of the Second Vatican Council declared that "… the diaconate could be restored as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy" (No 29). The Code of Canon Law effectively legislates for two types of deacons, the permanent deacon and those deacons who are destined for the priesthood (also called “transitional” deacons). There are no permanent married deacons in the Philippines unlike in the United States. Why? Just ask the Catholic priest near you.

As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services. As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshalling the Church's resources to meet those needs. Deacons are also dedicated to eliminating the injustices or inequities that cause such needs. He is a cross- (and not crown) bearing social agent.

Going back to our “Man of the Hour”, Frt. Ymon, 29, is the the second child in a brood of four of Cleta Barrales and Reynaldo Mulingbayan who are both active members of various religious organizations and ministries in their parish. Mulingbayan finished his Elementary in Mamburao Central School, Secondary Education in West Mindoro Academy or WEMA. In college, he studied at Christ the King Minor Seminary in Quezon City and Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay City.

Congratulations to your family, your formators, your friends and the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in general. The Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose is truly blessed today. But our untiring support for Frt. Ymon, as members of our particular Church, is needed now more than ever. With this ordination, the journey of the mission has just began. He greatly need our prayers, our encouragement and our examples. With these, the same grace that brought him at the foot of the altar will lead him through his mission and vocation warmed with Father's embrace…

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(Photo grabbed from Frt. Ymon's Friendster profile without his permission)