Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom ordained newest priest to the Diocese of Sandakan

by Evelyn Jock

Rev. Fr. Stephen Esguerra

A new priest entered the Diocese of Sandakan as Bishop Julius D. Gitom ordained Stephen Esguerra at the St. Mary’s Cathedral on 13 May 2021 and, is now ready for a new journey with Jesus Christ.

This ordination was supposedly scheduled to be held in the Holy Trinity Church of Tawau, the hometown of Deacon Stephen Esguerra on 25 May of 2020. In a turn of events with Covid 19 infections surging in the State of Sabah and the staggered government imposed lock downs, the ordination of Deacon Stephen was postponed.  It was later decided that the ordination should take place at the St Mary’s Cathedral on 13 May 2021.   Rev. Fr. Stephen is the 5^th priest ordained by Bishop Julius D. Gitom in his 14th years as the Diocese first shepherd. To date, since the establishment of the Diocese of Sandakan in 2007, it has witnessed the ordination of 5 priests and 7 deacons.

Bishop Julius presided at the Ordination Mass.  The concelebrants were all the parish priests from the Diocese of Sandakan. The mass was also made available on live stream so that parishioners from near and far who could not be present can participate.

In the Rites of Election of the Candidate, Parish Priest Rev. Fr. David Garaman called forward the priesthood candidate and he responded with the word ‘present’.  Fr. David then proceeded to declare him worthy of ordination.

Bishop Julius proclaim acceptance of Deacon Stephen to the Order of the Priesthood.

Bishop Julius’ homily, reminded Fr. Stephen to always remember that he was taken from among men and appointed on their behalf for things pertaining to God.  He also advised him to carry out the ministry of Christ the Priest with constant joy and genuine love, attending not to his own concerns and needs but to those of Jesus Christ.

Fr. Stephen prostrated himself as Bishop Julius prays over him.

Laying of Hands and prayer of ordination

Fr. Stephen puts on his stole and chasuble.

Fr. Stephen’s Scripture of Life

Fr. Stephen Esguerra, was born (28 March 1982) and raised in Tawau.  Most of his childhood and adolescence years was spent in Tawau and his rustic home in Kg. Madai, Kunak.  Fr. Stephen comes from a close knit Catholic family of 11, of which, 2 were called to be with the Lord, his father and his elder brother.  He is the sixth child of 9 siblings consisting of 6 boys and 3 girls. 

The thought of becoming a priest had never entered Stephen’s mind.  His Catholic background, involvement with church ministries and vocation retreats were fundamental for his spiritual discernment that prompted and guided him to join the priesthood.

He joined the Seminary at the age of 29 (2011). Young men with aspirations to become a priest are moulded to a life of holiness, human virture and generous services.  This process took Fr. Stephen 9 years to complete.  Fr. Stephen deliberated that seminary life has its ups and downs, and the formation focuses on 4 aspects; academic, spiritual, pastoral and community life.  It was also the process of knowing God, self formation, commitment as well as an in depth discernment to God’s calling.

He was ordained to the Ministry of Deacon on 28 November 2019.  As a deacon, he has to discharge the office of deacon with humility and a charitable heart in order to assist the priestly order and to hold fast to the mystery of faith in word and deed according to the gospel and the church’s tradition and live a way of life just like Christ who came not to be served but to serve others.

 

He stated that to be a priest, a person must strive to imitate Christ in His example of sacrifice, offering himself as a victim to make his incarnation continually present in the world. He should develop his relationship with God through prayer and deeds.  He should share the joy of Jesus to the people of God, serve His people, be a mediator, and help people get nearer to the Lord, especially in their weaknesses, difficulties or hardships. In other words, a priest is to exercise a threefold function; Preaching, Sanctifying and Shepherding.

 

He shared that when his Priestly Ordination was postponed in May 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, it makes him discern more on his relationship with God and with the people. The pandemic has affected a lot of people especially the poor.  He felt sorry for families who have experience death in the family and that the church cannot conduct funeral mass, except prayer at the funeral parlour.  On the positive side, the pandemic has brought families closer.  He lifted up everything to God’s hands and realised that this was a time of reflection for him and to discern what God wants in his life. 

 

He advised all the young men and women who are considering religious life, to search for that inner voice in their prayers and ponder that voice in their hearts.  Should they have doubts in their vocation, to seek the intercession of Mother Mary.  If these youths felt troubled, he encouraged them to seek God and put their trusts in him, for as the scripture says in John 14:1. “Do not let your hearts be troubled, but put your trust in God”

Fr. Stephen described his ordination as a gift from God. He thanked God for all the blessings that He has given him throughout his journey to the priesthood.  He also expressed his gratitude to the people who have been a part of his formation assisting him in one way or another.  By God’s grace his mother and family were able to attend the Holy Mass of his Ordination and be present to witness his becoming as a priest.

 

Congratulations to Fr. Stephen. His long journey from being a layperson, seminarian, deacon and finally being ordained as a priest has concluded, but a new one with Christ in his ministry as a priest has just started.