Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

Funeral Mass for Fr. Roberto “Roy” C. Villamil will be on 12 March 2010, Friday, 9:00 AM at the Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.

Interment will be at the Ossuary for Priests in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

Fr. Roy was the first parish priest of Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.

6 March 2010 - DagupanCity. Arhcbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, issued the following statement today: “Our brother in Christ, Father Roberto C. Villamil died in the grace of the Lord on March 5, 2010 in Dagupan City at the age of fifty nine. At the time of his death, he was the procurator of the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary, Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City. He was born on January 5, 1951 and received priestly ordination on April 16, 1977.  We request our Catholic faithful to pray for the repose of his soul.

His body lies in state at the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary. We will announce the burial arrangements later.”

Rev. Fr. Roberto “Roy” C. Villamil (5 January 1951 - 5 March 2010)

Farewell, Father Roy!

(Photo courtesy of Fr. Luello N. Palacpac)

3 March – Dagupan City. Archbishop Socrates  B. Villegas, DD, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, has laid down the pastoral guidelines covering converts from those “who have received valid baptisms in other Christian churches, sects and denominations”. In the same document, the Archbishop Villegas also provided guidelines in the diligent and correct recording of the First Communicants in the parishes.

Below is the pastoral guidelines addressed to all parish priests and team ministry moderators:

March 13, 2010
Prot. 2010/4

TO: All Parish Priests and Team Ministry Moderators
RE: Book of Conversions and Book of First Communicants

In our desire to make more effective the documentation of the members of the Catholic Church who have received the sacraments of Christian initiation; by virtue of our office as Metropolitan Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan, we hereby decree that all parishes within our ecclesiastical jurisdiction maintain in the parish archives the BOOK OF CONVERSIONS and the BOOK OF FIRST COMMUNICANTS.  The diligent and correct recording of the conversion to the Catholic Church of those who have received valid baptisms in other Christian churches, sects and denominations is the responsibility of the parish priests or moderators of team ministries. The same diligence and care must accompany the recording of the First Communicants in the parishes. These two additional canonical books will be inspected during pastoral visits by the Local Ordinary or his delegate.

This archdiocesan ruling imposing the obligation to record all conversions and first communicants in the parishes will take effect on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010.

For your pastoral guidance, the following Christian churches have valid baptisms using the Trinitarian formula for baptisms:

Seventh Day Adventists
United Methodist Church of the Philippines
Convention of the Philippine Baptist Churches
Philippine Episcopal Church
Lutheran Church in the Philippines
Methodists IEMELIF
Presbyterian Church
United Church of Christ in the Philippines

After receiving liturgical admission to the Catholic Church, the converts must receive Communion and Confirmation immediately and the necessary recording must be made in the canonical books pertaining to them. All other adult baptisms in Christian churches not mentioned above must be entered in the Book of Baptisms.

As I thank you for your usual faithfulness and pastoral diligence, I also invoke upon you the blessings of God.

Sincerely yours,

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan

Introductory Notes:

1. The installation of a new parish priest always takes place within the Eucharistic celebration to emphasize the primordial function of the parish priest. The Mass for the day with its assigned readings and prayers will be used for the liturgy.
2. The rite of installation takes place after the homily.
3. After the homily, the Archbishop is seated in front of the altar and says:

 Archbishop:  Let the appointment letter of the new parish priest be read.

                      A senior priest in the vicariate reads the letter.

Archbishop: Beloved brother in Christ, you must renew your Profession of Faith in the presence of the people to be entrusted to your pastoral care.

Parish Priest:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting.

Amen.

INTERROGATION:

ARCHBISHOP:   It is the duty of the priest to proclaim the Word of God.

He must study the Bible and meditate on its message, believe what he reads, teach what he believes and practice what he teaches.

Are you willing to co-operate with your Archbishop in preaching Christ in season and out of season, explaining to all the Word of God?

 PRIEST:  I am, with the help of God.