Ending Each Day as a Priest

Our second jubilarian has just arrived from his almost 5-year mission in New Zealand or in the Maori dialect “Aotearoa” in the Diocese of Hamilton. There he was able to learn to say mass in Maori. Fr. Rico’s nickname is Coy and as the name suggests is also very shy. Among the things he loves is music, where he excels and is a master. One trivia is that he taught our Editor-in-Chief, Fr. Ritsche Gamaya, techniques which enhanced his skills with the guitar.

Among the highlights of his 25-year journey he shared that his zeal, his passion for mission is still there however it is now polished with experience. The idealism is now filled with wisdom due to the different wins and losses he has encountered.

Although he only recently fulfilled his long term thirst for mission, he is still very much open to the next challenge he will face.

In his interviews, he has mentioned quite frequently the late Msgr. “Nards” Vicente who has been a huge chunk in his priestly life. Not only was Msgr. Nards, his spiritual director but he was also a friend, mentor and supporter. One striking thing Fr. Rico said was that he just wants to end each day as a priest, that daily he is renewed by the grace of God and that the privilege to celebrate the sacraments especially the Holy Eucharist pushes him to continue his mission as a priest, until the next 25 or more!