Immaculate Conception Parish of Alicia Celebrates Feast of San Pedro Calungsod

The Immaculate Conception Parish of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay in the Diocese of Ipil recently celebrated the Feast of San Pedro Calungsod with a Lenten recollection among its Knights of the Altar. Around 104 altar servers happily joined this spiritual preparation for the Holy Week. Fr. Sherwin Aromin and Frt. Aaron Paul Hizola facilitated the activities.

Fr. Sherwin’s homily, which centered on the life and virtues of San Pedro Calungsod, was filled with encouragement to follow the young Visayan martyr in his dedication of serving the Church and its missionary activities.

The Immaculate Conception Parish of Alicia was turned over by the Diocese of Ipil to the Divine Word Missionaries last February 5, 2012. Its first and still present SVD parish priest is Fr. Loreto Estomo, SVD. It is the nearest parish northeast of Olutanga Island.

Thanksgiving Mass - Fr. René Gerona, SVD

Fr. René Francisco Gerona, SVD recently had his thanksgiving mass at the St. John of Sahagun Shrine of Toledo City, province of Cebu. He was ordained in Chicago. Also present during the mass were Fr. Geronimo John “Gerry” Paat, Fr. Popo Perey, Fr. Jingjong Rocha, Fr. Jimmy Sales, Fr. Felmar Fiel and Fr. Roberto Ebisa.

Reception followed at the Consolatrix College of Toledo City. Augustinian Sisters and Holy Spirit Sisters also graced the event. His workmates, classmates, friends and relatives also joined him in and several of them were asked to recall their special moments with him.

Fr. René was a high school Math and Science teacher before he entered the seminary. He finished his Theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He has his cross-cultural training program (pastoral year) in West Virginia. He recalled his vocation story with fondness about the great things the Lord has done to him: “I gave up a good stable job for the sake of becoming a priest. Looking back, I am more blessed now than before. God indeed is generously providing my everyday needs!”