By Fr. Neil Collins

There is such a long preparation for ordination--sometimes 12 years--that no wonder it’s a day of magic and a day of destiny. Fr. Neil Collins tells us about Abe Sumalinog’s big day and Fr. Abe shares his personal feelings.

Fr Abe presents himself.

Our neighbor’s rooster woke us early which was just as well for the bus to Kumalarang was at the door just after 6:30am. Within minutes, we were all on board and climbing the hill to Dumalinao. We reminisced about all kinds of farces and tragedies and fell silent as bus passed the cemetery where one of our Columban confreres is buried. A flat tire stopped us briefly in Tubud, a place of cool and clear mountain air. Nobody complained at the delay but all enjoyed the sun or the sound of falling water. Further down the same barrio somewhere was Abe’s house. Them, we were out of the hills into broad rice fields of Kumalarang.

All aboard for Kumalarang

International Day

The beautiful new Church of San Isidro Labrador was already filled and the priests of the Parish, Frs. Juan Domingo Grifone and Frank Pupkowski, wasted no time in marshalling the 30 visiting priests for the ceremony. Bishops Escaler, S.J. presided in Cebuano and English. Fr. Donie Hogan, Columban Superior, later threw in a few words in Hiligaynon [the language spoken in Panay and Negros] which pleased the congregation who are settlers originally from Panay. The multicultural aspect of the day was emphasized by the presence of 11 different nationalities.

Columban History

Bishop Escaler lays ordaining hands on Abe

But at the center was a quiet-spoken, dapper young man whose family could write a chapter or two of the Columban Story. Abe Sumalinog was born in Ozamis and baptized by Fr. Aodh O’Halpin. His father once taught in Our Lady of Peace High School in Malabang when Fr. Pat Fahey was a Director. And now, Abe was being ordained as a Columban missionary priest. That must be why there was a sense of fulfillment as the choir evoked St. Columban in the Litany of the Saints.

Back to Korea

After, Mass, the local community entertained us to a banquet. Then, it was all rush and farewells and forgotten barongs as we climbed onto the bus and out onto the dusty highway back to Pagadian and Ozamis, Manila and Seoul .Fr. Abe was assigned to serve the people of Dinas from February to June, help the vocations team in July, before returning to Korea in September on his second missionary journey.

A Young priest’s feeling

Newly ordained Fr Abe distributes Communion

I can still recall the pictures that I used to enjoy in the Bible Story Books, when I was young. During my ordination, especially when the priests laid their hands on my head, I could recall the images of the prophets and priests being anointed. I could feel God touching me and pouring His grace over me. I could feel God’s hand anointing me and giving His words: “Go and bear much fruit.” There was singing from the choir but I heard them like angels singing Hosanna. I could feel the warm hands of the priests energizing me as if giving me more strength and courage like Jesus reminding his followers not be afraid. I could really feel that it was a moment of grace pouring down from above. My heavenly feelings lifted me high but when I noticed the dust on their hands, which they accumulated from the dusty rough-country road, I was brought back to my senses that I was still on earth and this was only a beginning.

I was very glad that most Columbans whom I knew attended the celebration, particularly my Formators. When I was small I often heard a particular name of Columban father. My father is a teacher and he once worked in a Columban Parish School in Malabang in the late 1960’s. He used to recall how he ate the famous alcoholic Irish ‘plum pudding’. He could never forget Fr. Pat Fahey and his pipe for some special reasons. Fr. Pat’s name was the first Columban name that was imprinted on my mind and there he was at my ordination. He was happy to see my father and told me: “I remember him now.” After ten years of trying to recall what my father looked like it all came back to him. Thank you Fr. Pat, for being one of those whose quiet presence in my childhood made a difference. I hope I’ll be that to others too, though maybe in far away Korea.

The grace received on Ordination day grows and grows only if they young priest develops a real interior spiritual life.