Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula formally installed Rev. Fr. Herbert Camacho as Rector and Parish Priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Penafrancia last Feb. 15, 2023.
In his message for Fr. Camacho, the Cardinal advised him to guide his parishioners with the word of God through his meaningful homilies.
“Busugin mo sila ng Salita ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga homily. Makabuluhan, pinaghandaan upang ang mga ito ay tunay na magiging gabay nila sa kanilang pamumuhay,” Cardinal Advincula said.
He as well told Fr. Camacho that one of the qualities of a good shepherd is to journey with the faithful.
“Maging pastol ka na hindi malayo, hindi palaging wala, kundi nakikipaglakbay kasama ang kawan,” said the Cardinal.
In addition, the Cardinal reminded Fr. Camacho of his principal mission as a shepherd which is to always pray for the members of his parish.
“Ito ang pangunahing tungkulin mo bilang pastol. Araw araw mo silang ipagdasal. Lagi lagi mo silang ipagdasal lalo na sa pagdiriwang ng Banal na Misa. Mahalaga na bilang pastol, ipagdadasal natin bilang kawan, sapagkat ang tunay na mangangalaga sa kawan ay hindi tayo, kundi ang Mabuting Pastol na si Hesus,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Joel Jason, STI, Formator of San Carlos Seminary and Commissioner of Family and Life who served as homilist during the Mass appealed to the parishioners of the shrine to support and assist their new rector and parish priest as well as to constantly remind him of his vocation.
“So tulungan niyo po siya, iparamdam niyo sa kanya ang inyong pagmamahal at suporta pero huwag niyo po siya iispoilin, dahil kapag siya ay nai-spoil baka masanay siya na nabubuhay sa buwis, Fr. Jason said.
“Paminsan minsan turuan ninyo ang pari na magbuwis ng buhay dahil yan ang bokasyon ng isang pari, yan ang bokasyon ng isang pastol,” he added.
Fr. Camacho was born on September 15, 1979, in Tondo, Manila. He was ordained a priest on October 1, 2011, at the Manila Cathedral by Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales.
Before his appointment as rector and parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine Our Lady of Penafrancia, he was the parochial vicar of the National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangel and Minister of the Ministry on Children and Youth Liturgy. (Hazel Boquiren and Jheng Prado/RCAM-AOC | Photo by Maricar Santos/RCAM-AOC | Photogallery)
