Tagaytay City—Two esteemed pillars of the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS) commemorated their 48th sacerdotal anniversary last September 5, 2023, at the hallowed grounds of the institute.
The visionary founder and first Director of DWIMS, Rev. Fr. Edgar G. Javier, SVD, along with Vice Director for Studies of DWIMS and former Superior General of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Rev. Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD, received the Sacrament of Ordination last September 5, 1975.
The celebration of the 48th anniversary of this solemn event featured the Holy Mass at the DWIMS Chapel and the simple gathering of the DWIMS community at the DWIMS dining area.
The day commenced with a solemn Holy Mass at 6:30 AM, held at the serene DWIMS Chapel. The Mass, concelebrated by Fr. Edgar and Fr. Antonio, was also attended by ten of the resident priests of DWIMS, creating an atmosphere of spirituality and unity.
In his homily, Fr. Antonio shared two poems—the first about “the beautiful hands of a priest” and the second about the priest being “in the midst of the people.”
The first poem was from a heartwarming story about his elder brother, a diocesan priest. He recalled that the invitation card during his brother’s ordination had the poem "The Beautiful Hands of a Priest," a traditional Irish poem which was later popularized by Irish singer Tom Linehan.
In his story, Fr. Antonio stated that priests should immerse themselves in the communities that they serve, particularly during turbulent periods. During the height of activism in response to the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines, there was a “paradigm shift” in priesthood and an understanding of the evolving role of priests, said Fr. Antonio.
The cultic or sacramental role of priesthood, he said, involves the sacred rituals, sacraments, and spiritual leadership that priests provide to nurture the faith of the community. On the other hand, he stressed that priests are also called towards kerygmatic or service-oriented priesthood, which embodies the essence of Christ's teachings by actively engaging with and serving the needs of the people.
In his discussion, Fr. Antonio illuminated the harmony between these two facets, illustrating how priests, as spiritual leaders, are called not only to preside over the sacred rites of the Church but also to be beacons of compassion and selfless service, bridging the divine and the human in their sacred ministry.
Inspired by the Gospel reading from the Holy Mass, wherein Jesus demonstrated the power of His word in commanding spirits, Fr. Antonio talked about the authority of this word and its capacity to bring about transformation.
Fr. Antonio, who shares this day with Fr. Edgar as their sacerdotal anniversary, both graduated as part of the “DIWA 75” class last September 5, 1975. Relating the theme of their ordination to the Gospel, he explored the etymology of the concept of "word." This concept, according to him, is beautifully encapsulated in the Filipino word "diwa."
Interpreting “DIWA” as an acronym, Fr. Antonio stated that Jesus is the "damdamin" (sentiment), "isip" (thought), "wika" (word), and "adhikain" (dream) of God. In doing so, he emphasized that Jesus is the embodiment of "missio Dei" for all, the ideal that DWIMS is trying to embody.
To conclude, Fr. Antonio shared a poignant story about Mother Theresa’s conversation with a Hindu man. Mother Teresa asked the man whether he wanted to become a Christian, and the man replied that if Jesus is like her, then he wanted to. He challenged the DWIMS community to be living examples of Christ's mission, encouraging them to reflect Christ's love and teachings in their daily lives.
“When others see Christ in us, we can say that His mission is our mission,” said Fr. Antonio.
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Later that day, members of the DWIMS community gathered for a simple yet heartfelt lunch at the DWIMS dining area, continuing the celebration in an atmosphere of fellowship and gratitude. Rev. Fr. Samuel “Sam” Naceno-Agcaracar, SVD, current Director of DWIMS, was present among the attendees.
The sacerdotal anniversary celebration of Fr. Edgar and Fr. Antonio will be remembered not only as a day of reflection but also as a testament to their enduring commitment to spiritual guidance and the profound impact they have made on DWIMS and its community. Their legacy continues to illuminate the path for all those they inspire.