It takes some time for young people to discover their calling and what they want to achieve in the future and their lives. Fr. Ferdinand Delatado, the parish priest of the Holy Family Parish, Parang Marikina City, recounted that he saw the light of God's calling to him when he joined the knights of the altar when he was a fourth-grader. He said that it was one of the things that he wanted to do in his life.
Initially, he wanted to become a sacristan to impress "someone special," but of course, since he couldn't use that as an answer when interviewed, he said he wanted to become a priest.
Why did Fr. Ferdie wanted to become a priest?
One of the reasons is that he saw a poster in the church saying, "Love God More Dearly, Know Him More Clearly, and Follow Him More Nearly." So he wrote in the interview form that he desired to become a priest because he wanted to love the Lord and that he wanted to open his life to the world of becoming a priest.
"Inspiration is not something that you will discover in an instant," Fr. Ferdie shared when asked what his true inspiration was in entering a seminary and fully entering the vocation of being a priest. He continued being an altar server until he became a high school student. Fr. Ferdie met and formed friendships with other priests who became his idols and inspirations during that time. And because of them, he decided that he wanted to enter a seminary and become one of the people he admired.
After graduating as a high school student, he immediately wanted to enter the seminary. But entering the seminary and becoming a priest is difficult to do, and it means that a person is about to form a new life with God. His parents disagreed with his desire and requested that he enters college first. Since Fr. Ferdie loved his parents and didn't want to disappoint them, he enrolled and studied computer engineering.
He described his college life with the word "okay." It was okay. However, he admitted that there was a longingness inside him. A longingness that made him feel that something was missing in his life.
Because of that, he decided to talk to his friend, who was a church worker. His friend suggested that he should speak to a priest who will guide him and give suggestions about what he should do in his life. So after he prayed, he followed his friend's advice and decided to approach Fr. Sandy Enhaynes. Together, they had a discernment process. After many months, after that process, Fr. Ferdie finally formed a firm decision to enter a seminary.
The seminarian life
To begin his journey to become a priest, he entered St. Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati City, and stayed in it for ten years. He studied philosophy, theology, and pastoral & spiritual works.
The challenging part inside the seminary is 'molding yourself,' your willingness, accepting weaknesses, and seeing the strengths to offer to God. And one of the most difficult was his parent's acceptance when he entered the seminary. Still, as years passed, they accepted his decision to become a priest with the support from their Parish Vocation Ministry, parish priest, and his family. Fr. Ferdie could finish his studies inside the seminary.
A new mission as a priest
On October 15, 2011, Fr. Ferdie, Fr. Mowie Villamayor, Fr. Glenn Relucio, OP, and Fr. Mark Anthony Naval were ordained priests. As a newly ordained priest, he celebrated his first mass in a poor community in Angono, Rizal, to remind him of his priestly mission.
Fr. Ferdie's first assignment was in Sto. Domingo Parish, Talim Island in Binangonan. He said, "It was my dream to be assigned to Talim Island because I know the community well and will enjoy my stay there as the parish priest."
As a young priest, he was enthusiastic about serving the people despite the challenging travels to the communities by boat. He formed his missionary spirit with the help of his friends from the San Damiano Prayer Community, the foreigners visiting Talim for missionary works, immersion of students and parishes in the community.
From a small parish on an island to a big parish in the city.
On September 8, 2017, Bishop Francis de Leon assigned Fr. Ferdie to Holy Family Parish as the new parish priest. He was the youngest parish priest to be assigned after 31 years senior clergies from the diocese pastored the parish. Holy Family Parish was his first "big parish," with 3 Barangays (Parang, Fortune, and Nangka Phase 2) and more than 15 pastoral communities and chapels. He asked himself if he could do his duties because 1. he doesn't have a parochial vicar or assistant priest and 2. the schedule of masses in the parish, chapels, the sacramentals, etc.
Fr. Ferdie was thankful because priests from different religious congregations were there to help him serve. He was also grateful to the communities and church workers, who were supportive and friendly to their priests, as told by previous parish priests.
The struggles during the pandemic.
The church closed its doors to the public multiple times because of the quarantine restrictions implemented by the Inter-Agency Task Force or IATF. Despite these challenges, he said, "We must continue. We shouldn't stop because of the pandemic." He added, "because of the Social Communications, the masses continued and now available online. We're also able to share the works of the parish during the pandemic."
He thanked the Social Services Ministry who organized the relief operations to the poor communities by providing goods and gift checks from Caritas Manila. And he was also thankful for the ministries and organizations who continued to pray and support the parish projects during this pandemic.
Prayer for his Presbyteral Anniversary
When asked what he prays on his presbyteral anniversary, he said, "I pray to God to give me more strength so I can continue to serve the people. I pray for everyone, especially those struggling during the pandemic, the sick, the jobless, the families who lost their loved ones. I also pray for the community, especially here in our parish, that despite the pandemic, I hope they continue to value and strengthen their faith."
Message to those entering the priesthood.
Fr. Ferdie's message was simple, "Pay attention to the vocation." He said that with the noise in social media, we couldn't hear or see the call of Christ. He added that those who are in the vocation, don't stop. Reflect on their life and where God will lead them. It's also important to value the relationship with the Lord. And do not be afraid to seek help from priests to guide them on their discernment and others.
Article by: Marianne Aragon, Tom Valientes
Photos from: Fr. Ferdinand Delatado, Ryan Cruise, & Estrella Communications
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