Mabuhay!

As you read this message on May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, I am with family  in Manila celebrating my 6th priesthood anniversary. This is my first time to celebrate my anniversary in the Philippines where the seed of vocation was first planted  in my heart, and I am excited to be reunited with priests and friends who are instrumental in my journey to the priesthood.

On May 17, I will also celebrate a memorial Mass in honor of my grandmother Rosita who passed away two years ago. She definitely is one of those people God sent to guide me in the path towards being a priest, no matter how unworthy I may be. My “Nanay” saw what I did not see in my self before – the possibility of doing something beyond the ordinary, and allow the will of the Lord to be made manifest in my life through the extraordinary gift of sharing in His priesthood! Every single day, I am grateful for the Lord’s fidelity in using my sinful, weak self to be a channel of His infinite grace.

I am truly blessed to have this opportunity to be home after being away for more than two years, especially during the high restrictions of COVID-19. Please pray for me, as I will definitely keep you in my prayers. I will send photos and short stories of my trip back home, I promise.

See you in two weeks!

Sempre grato,
Father Erick

For the 5th Sunday of Easter, 2022