By Br. John Sealtiel Abarquez, OP (Photos by Mr. Davy Chioa, OP)

“Wala pong imposible sa Diyos. Kung kagustuhan Niya, magaganap, kahit may humarang, malalampasan.” Those were the words of Rev. Fr. Reynor E. Munsayac, O.P. as he expressed his gratitude to God, to St. Dominic, to his family, to the Order, and to everyone who supported him throughout his journey.

Last August 31, 2019, Saturday, Rev. Fr. Reynor E. Munsayac, O.P. celebrated his Thanksgiving Mass at the Holy Angel’s Parish, San Jose Plaridel, Bulacan. Present were the Dominican Family, his family, relatives, and friends, who shared the joy of the gift of priesthood with him. It was Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor C. Marquez, O.P., then Master of Students and Thesis Adviser of Fr. Munsayac who delivered the homily. In his preaching Fr. Marquez, elaborated the motto of the present administration which is Build, Build, Build, and invited everyone that we should build ourselves, our souls, our identity as Filipinos, our identity as Christians, that we should “build our morals, our sense of honor and shame, of right and wrong, our sins of integrity and respect. For we build on what is given, upon the default goodness of each and every one.” He challenged everyone to nurture ones blessings, so that in the end we can give back to the Lord a hundredfold what is entrusted to us, in grain of goodness and holiness.

Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Rico L. Trinidad, the parish priest of the Holy Angels Parish welcomed everyone and expressed his great joy as a parish priest on the ordination of Fr. Reynor. It was then followed by the thanksgiving message of Fr. Reynor who shared the difficulties and struggles he went through in the course of his journey.  But he was able to overcome all of these not because of his own strength, but because of God’s grace. Fr. Reynor considers himself as one being called and that he just responded to that call with full confidence and trust in Him; because he believed that with God nothing is impossible.

As a tradition Fr. Reynor handed over the manutergium to his mother, Mrs. Noralyn E. Munsayac. A manutergium is a hand towel or a linen cloth used to clean the priest’s hand after having been anointed with the chrism during the ordination by the ordaining bishop. It is given to the mother on his son’s first Mass which, tradition says, she can present it at the time of her judgment.  It is considered a special honor, a symbol of a mother’s sacrifice and contribution in the formation of her son.