An account of Fr. Leo Distor’s Ordination

By Ray Noel “Wing-Wing “Delgado

Fr. Leo Distor could be described as a late vocation, that is, he worked as a lay missionary with the T’ Boli people in Lake Cebu before he decided to become a Columban missionary Society of St. Columban student tells the story of Leo’s ordination.

That day in Koronadal was not just an ordinary day. It was the day of the very first ordination of a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban from the Diocese of Marbel: FR. LEO DISTOR.

Koronadal, known better as Marbel, is located in the central part of Mindanao and can only be reached by land travel. It is only a town, yet it is more like a city and it is the center of South Cotabato. Most of the visitor who came from Luzon and Visayas traveled by airplane to General Santos (formerly Dadiangas) which is only about an hour‘s ride from Marbel. It was a comfortable trio for them compared with those who came from Pagadian and Ozamis. They sailed by launch to Cotabato City in Maguindanao and then rode a jeepney for almost 3 hours.

In you were a stranger in town that day, you might have wondered if the United Nations Headquarters had been transferred to Mindanao. There were Koreans, Fijians, people from Ireland and England, Americans, Australians and of course, Filipinos. Most of these visitors were housed at the Diocesan Seminary.

After breakfast, everyone was heading to the Church for the Ordination which started at 9:00 o’clock. The Mass was said in Ilongo (Hiligaynon), including the sermon of the Bishops. The ordination rites were in English. As the ceremony continued, more people arrived to witness this extra special even in their remote place.

Filipino and Korean Columban seminarians were also present together with two visiting Korean women who where friends of Fr. Leo (He did his Overseas Training Program in Korea.) there were the Kingdom of Tonga and four from Fiji.

At the end of the Mass, the altar area was filled up with crowds of people – especially Leo’s parents and family – to greet the newly ordained priest. And, during the meal which was held in the Seminary, a program was conducted. Close friends of Fr. Leo sang and others spoke. A group of students fro Notre Dame University of Marbel, where Fr. Leo graduated, rendered a cultural dance.

At three o’clock in the afternoon of the same day, Fr. Leo celebrated his first Mass in the same church where he had been ordained. During the offertory, a T’Boli dance was performed by T’ Boli friends of Fr. Leo from Santa Cruz Mission where he had worked with Fr. Sean McDonagh before joining the Columbans.

These tribal people symbolized the commitment of the new priest to a life of mission, with special preferential option for those like the T’ Boli on the margins of life.

“I Remember My Ordination

Some personal words from Fr. Leo Distor
The Priests Laid Their Hands on Me

What I remember most strongly of my ordination was that laying of the hands by the priests on my head – the warmth, the power of the Spirit moving through my whole self, so that I even cried a tear of joy with the moving presence of God in that very special and significant moment. It was, for me, an overwhelming feeling with the experience of that power flowing out through those hands laid on my head – strengthening, affirming and making me feel really chosen. I can feel that much was added to me with those hands communicating blessing, support and joy for the life I have professed myself to and commitment I have made. I am grateful to those hands that held me in my years of formation, hands that welcomed and assured me of a journey together in the missionary life. I felt strengthened by that gesture which gave me a strong sense of bond to the clergy, to the church in carrying out and in living out the mission of Christ.

I was delighted with the presence of all the Columban priests and those who also came from a far distance and through a rough and tiring journey to be part of that celebration of my ordination. Needless to say, they really meant so much to me and my family. We are most grateful for them, I would like to mentions especially for Fr. Al Utzig, a Columban from Korea who we worked very closely with during our Overseas Training Program. I just feel that he was quite symbolic of my Korea experience especially when he handed me a bottle of their sesame oil and reminded me of the labor I have shared for that when I stayed and worked with them in the farm they’re working.

I Blessed My Parents

In that moment that I laid my hands on my father and mother, I felt so happy, grateful and blessed by God that I still have my parents to touch and lay my hands on, especially my ailing mother. I felt proud of them. They have been loving, generous and simply good formators who had put me in situations where I learned how to tackle rough and difficult times with hope and faith and taught me how to accept responsibilities in my young age. In a family where I am the only son and in a culture which says that the only son is the sole hope to make the name stronger, my parents could have encouraged me to marry and bear children instead of priesthood but they listened, understood and supported me. I feel so much love for them and I wished that in laying my hands on them at that moment, they could get every blessing could bring – healing, joy, and love.

The thing I remember with gratefulness was the all out and remarkable support that our parish has extended with its parish priest and lay leaders. We were made to feel we really belong despite my not having much contact with them or with the parish. The series of organizational meeting we had making things, places and people available for the ordination were just great. The really made that event memorable.