Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan reminded new priests that their mission is not to be in the “limelight” but to put the “spotlight” on God.
The prelate made the remark during the ordination of three new priests of the Society of Divine Word in Tagaytay City on February 6.
He said priests are called to nourish the faithful so that they can shine the spotlight to where it should be — Jesus Christ.
And if time comes when the light is pointed at them, the archbishop said priests should not hesitate to withdraw and fade away if needed.
“You are not called to be celebrities, you are not called to be in the limelight. You are called to be a light pointed to Jesus because you are only a sign,” he said.
The archbishop told the new priests — two of whom are Filipinos and the other a Vietnamese – that they are only disciples and not the master.
“You are only a symbol, you are not the symbolized. You are only a pupil, not the teacher,” Archbishop Villegas said. “You are only a sign and nothing more.”
He reminded the new priests who will be soon sent as missionaries to Japan, Mexico and China, that their ordination is only the beginning of a journey, not its end.
He said that there will come a time that “the cross will be heavy” to the point of even asking questions like, “Is this the life for me?” or “Where are you, Lord?”
But even if God knows that they will stumble in the future, the archbishop said “God whispers to you now, ‘it is forever.’”
“Wherever you go, keep in mind it is the Lord working in your life, living in your life, speaking through you, living in you,” Archbishop Villegas said.
The newly ordained priests of the Society of the Divine Word are Fathers Dondon De Guzman, Thomas Nguyen, and Germone Tugadi.
