By: Bro. Michael Zion Anthony G. Madrona
Two priests of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR) marked their 60 years of being members of the Order.
Fr. Emeterio D. Buñao, OAR and Fr. Hubert Dunstan H. Decena, OAR, celebrated the 60th anniversary of their simple profession of vows on August 24, 2023, at Mira Nila Homes, Quezon City.
(right) with Fr. Dionisio Q. Selma, OAR, the former Prior Provincial.
The celebration was highlighted by a mass which was presided by Fr. Buñao and concelebrated by Fr. Decena along with other Recollect priests.
Fr. Emilio Edgardo Quilatan, OAR, who was the homilist, emphasized the importance of the vows for each religious: chastity, poverty, and obedience.
He explained the definition of these vows on the Recollect’s point of view based on the Order’s Constitutions.
He said the vows serve as guides on how the religious should live their lives. Of the three vows, obedience is the most important because without it, one would have a hard time fulfilling the two.
Fr. Quilatan himself is a witness of the celebrants’ strong friendship throughout the years as both of them are his former fomators during his formation years at the Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary (CaReS) in Baguio City.
He said, despite their differences, Fr. Buñao and Fr. Decena are able to live a life with one mind and one heart offered to God.
Fr. Emil concluded his homily with the words, “We may differ from each other, but still in Christ we are one.”
In the OAR, the first simple profession of vows grants the formand his official but temporary membership of the Order.
The celebrants first professed their simple profession of vows in 1963. They are now on their 60th year as full-fledged members of the Order.
Fr. Buñao is currently assigned at San Sebastian College-Recoletos (Manila) while Fr. Decena is a formator at Recoletos Formation Center (Mira Nila Homes in Quezon City).
The renewal of the celebrants’ profession of vows also took place during the mass.
Fr. Dionisio Q. Selma, OAR, the former Prior Provincial, led the acceptance of the renewal of promises in lieu of Fr. Bernard C. Amparado, OAR, the current Prior Provincial.
The celebration serves as an inspiration for current and aspiring religious. One can maintain his commitment to his vows and continue to serve the Lord amidst the long years of challenges they may face in the service as long as one’s love for God is firm.
The third and fourth year college seminarians, together with some formators, represented the CaReS community to the said event.
Also present were members of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters, Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity (SARF) of Mira Nila, Recollect Augustinian Youth (RAY) of Mira Nila, Pre-Novices and Novices of St. Ezekiel Moreno Novitiate-Recoletos and two other congregations of religious sisters.
After the holy mass, the participants partook the dinner and program prepared for the jubilarians that was held at the Bulwagang Recoleto, Mira Nila Homes, Quezon City.
