He, the Lord Jesus, must increase. I, Muloy, must decrease. (Part 2 of 2)

(Excerpt from the message of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during his 50th Sacerdotal Anniversary Mass at San Pedro Cathedral April 10, 2026.)

With Archbishop Garcera are Msgr. Bernie Pantin, the CBCP Secretary General, and Fr. Bryand Restituto, the CBCP Assistant Treasurer, and Sr. Rory and Sr. Gloria, both RVM Sisters – all of them in the CBCP Secretariat.

From the Apostolic Nunciature, with Archbishop Charles J. Brown, are Msgr. Guilherme de Melo Sanches, Sr. Emily and Sr. Lennie both SPC Sisters – your presence is deeply appreciated.

I cannot let this day pass without mentioning the Maryknoll Fathers and Maryknoll Sisters who were directly instrumental in inspiring me to answer the call to the priesthood while I was growing up in the Diocese of Tagum.

The Maryknoll Fathers are represented by Fr. Bill LaRousse here present, who is Assistant Secretary General of FABC. Fr. Bill is the nephew of Fr. Walter Maxcy, a Maryknoll Priest, my first parish priest who inspired me to consider the life of the priesthood. The pastoral staff, the crozier that I am using, is actually the staff of Bishop Joseph Reagan, Maryknoll, which was passed on to me at my episcopal ordination. In 1976, he ordained me using that very same pastoral staff. I cannot think and recall my ordination to the priesthood today without remembering the Maryknoll Missionaries – Fathers and Sisters. The Maryknoll Sisters were present throughout my high school life.

Both my parents are long gone; my prayer is that they are watching us, watching me this morning from on high. I am the youngest of four (4) children; and I have three older sisters, two are deceased, and one is 83 years old, and too weak to come today. All I have present with us are my dear nephews and nieces and their children whom I consider also as my apos. Sincerely, I tell you, they are my constant source of joy and strength. In fact, the youngest of these apos whom I used to carry as a little baby, si Anthony John who is now taller than myself and a regular Mass server, usually in my Masses here in the Cathedral.

Having said that, in my day to day life, my family is now the faithful of the local Church of Davao – the clergy, both diocesan and religious – religious sisters and brothers, the staff in the parishes, the countless BEC members and leaders, the countless lay faithful, the many dedicated leaders of our religious and mandated Church organizations or covenanted communities, our Archdiocesan Secretariat, and Archbishop’s Residence personnel – you are my family too.

In fact, I have to mention that led by Msgr. Paul Cuison and Msgr. Julius Rodulfa, our Vicars General, with Bishop George Rimando, they have worked so hard to organize and prepare for this celebration. Msgr. Paul, Msgr. Julius, I can tell you now that for several instances in these recent weeks, I thought of requesting you to cancel this celebration because of the crisis that we are facing today due to the war in the Middle East. But I can sense that our coming together is not simply a celebration of showing off our wonderful human bonding and relationship, it is instead our sincere way of celebrating a gift from the Lord, the extraordinary gift of the priesthood given to my person, unworthy as I am, a gift that has served us in Davao for the past years.

In the spirit of journeying together, in the spirit of walking together, you have taught and inspired me to focus on Jesus, to focus on serving his people, his Church, to be aware of the motherly presence of our Blessed Mother, to be confident of the intercession of St. Peter the Apostle, the patron of our Archdiocese.

All of you, in many ways, continuously taught me, and continue to teach me to be little, to be small, to be humble, not even to think of any legacy, and simply to be ready to fade away. Day after day you all remind me of my episcopal motto Illum Oportet Crescere – He, the Lord Jesus, must increase. I, Muloy, must decrease.