In a solemn rite followed by a concelebrated Eucharistic celebration on June 4, 2019, Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, O.P. was installed as the 15th Parish Priest of the Sant铆simo Rosario Parish by Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Manila.
Fr. Talavera succeeded聽College of Science聽Regent Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., who served for three years.
In his homily, Msgr. Ignacio said to become a parish priest today in a fast and changing world is difficult. 鈥淲e pray that [Talavera鈥檚] life and his good heart as a pastor will manifest God鈥檚 love for us which the martyrs proclaim with their lives and for this parish, longing to also share a vision which is my only prayer for the Santisimo Rosario Parish.鈥�
鈥淲e become the Church where the poor is seen as a realm of treasure and to aspire to become not an elitist Church, but to become a humble serving Church鈥搉ot to be a church of entitlement but stewardship,鈥� Ignacio added.
Fr. Talavera, in his speech, asked the faithful on hand to pray for him, his brother priests, and the Church in general.
His installation took place during the Feast of St. Pedro Varona, whom Fr. Talavera cited as uttering 鈥淐redo in Unum Deum鈥� (I believe in one God), a sentence Fr. Talavera prayed priests will be able to say with their dying breaths.
Fr. Talavera thanked His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle, D.D., Archbishop of Manila, who appointed him to the post, his predecessor Fr. Coronel, and his Dominican brethren, particularly those in the Priory of Saint Thomas Aquinas, for electing him. He rallied everyone to work together for the good of the Parish and Church, quoting Apostle Paul: 鈥淲hatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord鈥or Christ is the real master you serve.鈥�
Prior to his appointment, Fr. Talavera was assigned at the Angelicum School of Iloilo in Jaro.
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