Deacon Christoper Aguyos Aban became the first priest from Dalingoan, Sinacbat, Bakun, Benguet to be ordained in the Diocese of Baguio and the first-ever Bakunian to become part of the Catholic church during ordination rites at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Ampusongan, Bakun, Benguet on Friday, January 12, 2018.
A congregation of around 2,000 witnessed the Bishop of Baguio, Most Rev Victor B. Bendico, DD, ordain Christoper.
In his homily, Bishop Victor quoted John 15:16: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my Name, He may give it to you”, and out of the priestly people of God, Jesus chooses men and sets them apart to serve God’s people in his name as ordained priests. They are icons of Christ to his Church and ambassadors to the world.
“Christoper, as a priest you will be the human minister of the divine things of God. In Jesus Christ you will take the ordinary stuff of human life and invest it with the life and presence of God himself. As a priest you will have to learn to constantly empty yourself in order to be filled with God’s grace. Before the prayer of consecration, you will prostrate yourself before God – you will abandon yourself to God’s power and will, so that his purpose may be worked out in you,” said Bishop Victor.
“I will lay my hands on your head to call down the very presence of God to this place and into your life. You will be clothed in the sacred vestments of priesthood as a reminder that not only are you set apart for sacred duties but that you are now being enveloped in Jesus Christ himself.
“You will be anointed with the sacred oil of Christ to strengthen and empower you to be a sign of Christ’s presence wherever you go,” said Bishop Victor.
After the ordination, Rev. Fr. Christoper received Blessings from Bishop Victor and fellow priests.
The congregation included family and friends of Rev. Fr. Christoper and parishioners from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, together with people from the different churches of Bakun, Benguet, parishes in which he has served as a Seminarian & Deacon. Prior to that, Christoper spent six years in formation for the priesthood in St. Francis Xavier, San Pablo Seminary, Baguio City and his theological studies at Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.
BY: ROMEL D. PECDASEN
