The 115-year-old Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSSP) marked a historic milestone with the ordination of its first Filipino priest.
Fr. Marco Cabatuando was ordained during Mass at the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church in Malhacan, a barangay in the city of Meycauayan in Bulacan province, on Oct. 18.
The rite was presided over by Bishop Dennis Villarojo of Malolos, joined by Cabatuando’s confreres, family, and friends.
The new priest, who spent 11 years in formation, described his ordination as “a thanksgiving to the Lord for all the people who have walked with me in faith, hope, and love throughout this journey.”
“My years of formation have ended, but this is just the beginning of new discoveries, new encounters, and new miracles of God’s grace in priestly ministry,” he said. “Please continue to pray for me that I may always serve with a humble heart, a listening spirit, and a joyful soul.”
He added that the gift of priesthood “is only the beginning of a lifelong mission,” and asked the faithful to pray for missionaries to “remain faithful to their vocation and zealous in the missions God has entrusted to them.”
The celebration drew MSSP leaders and members from across the region, including Fr. Martin Galea, the congregation’s superior general, and Fr. Hector Attard, provincial superior of the MSSP Vietnam–Philippines Province.
The ordination also coincided with the MSSP’s 25th year of missionary presence in the Philippines. Two weeks earlier, the congregation also celebrated in Vietnam with the ordination of its first Vietnamese priest.
“And now here, the first Filipino,” Fr. Galea said. “We truly feel very blessed… [Though] we are a small congregation born on a small island, the Lord continues to bless us with young members who bring new life to our community.”
“We look forward for more and more vocations. We look forward for many people who feel inspired, that they feel the courage to say ‘yes’ as well,” he added.
Founded in Malta in 1910 by Msgr. Joseph De Piro, the MSSP began its mission in the Philippines in 1999, initially serving in parishes and campus ministry at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Recognizing the country’s strong potential for religious vocations, the congregation established its International House of Formation in 2007, officially inaugurated in 2009. By 2010, local formation had begun in New Manila—paving the way for the ordination of its first Filipino priest.
