Simple Profession: A Good News for the New Year

Antipolo City, Rizal – As the religious of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno of the Order of Augustinian Recollects welcomed the year 2021, the Province also welcomed a new member of the Augustinian Recollect family. Fray Chrislean Rey Pamilaga, OAR, from Rizal, Palawan and a former Diocesan seminarian, made his simple profession of the Evangelical Counsels in a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St. Ezekiel Moreno Chapel, St. Ezekiel Moreno Novitiate- Recoletos (SEMoNoRe) last January 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM where it was attended only by a few.

The said celebration was presided by Fray Dionisio Q. Selma, OAR, Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno. With him were the religious from the Provincial Curia, SEMoNoRe Community, Recoletos Formation Center, Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary, and San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Cavite. Attending the celebration were the friars from the Theology House, religious brothers, and a few members of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity Antipolo Chapter.

Although his family, relatives and friends were not able to physically join the event because of travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic, they, instead, witnessed the said celebration via livestreaming in the official Facebook page of the Province.

The profession of vows of Fray Pam, as he is fondly called in the seminary, is a milestone for the beginning of the year 2021. On the part of the Order, a new brother is incorporated to the religious family. On the part of the friar, his simple profession of vows marks the culmination of his novitiate year where he prepared himself to embrace religious life through serious and intense prayer, community life, study of the history and Constitutions of the Order and the practice of the vows.

In behalf of the Prior General Fray Miguel Miró, OAR, Fray Selma received Fray Pamilaga’s simple profession.

In the homily given by Fray Anthony Ireneo, OAR, highlighted that the love a religious has, the kind of love that makes him submit himself to the Lord, is a kind of love that responds to the unconditional love of God. The ultimate goal and source of a religious is the Summum Bonum, God himself. And for this reason, a religious professes the vow of poverty with the intention of having God as his greatest treasure. With the many goods that is before him, he chose to offer himself to the church to make himself available to wherever the Church needs him. He professes the vow of obedience to the will of God, through his superior, for this is more liberating and fulfilling. With this consecration, a religious is expected to exude joy in his life.

Fray Pamilaga  will proceed to the next stage of initial formation, the theological formation, at Recoletos Formation Center, Mira Nila Homes, Quezon City where he will spend years of rigorous study of the Christian faith and doctrines together with his simply professed brothers in the community and living of the evangelical counsels that he professed.

After the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, everyone proceeded to the seminary refectory for a simple lunch prepared by the community.