On March 02, 2021,  was the ordination of two brothers: Deacon Julius Della Peña Socorro, SCJ was ordained, priest and Bro. Reneboy Della Peña Socorro, SCJ was ordained deacon. The ceremony of ordination took place at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Bayugan, Agusan del Norte, their parish of origin, and was presided by the Bishop of Butuan Diocese, Most Rev. Cosme Damian Racine Almedilla, D.D.

Fr. Julius Della Peña Socorro was born in Bayugan city, Agusan del Sur, on October 30, 1988. After he finished his elementary and high school in his hometown he joined the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 2005 at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental. There he studied Philosophy at Xavier University and was admitted to Postulancy in 2011 in the same seminary. In 2013, he proceeded to the novitiate Fr. Dehon in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, and in 2014 he moved to Dehon House Theologate in Quezon City to complete his studies. There he studied at Recollectos School of Theology until 2017. After that, he experienced pastoral work in the SCJ community in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro, and after his diaconate ordination on October 16, 2019, he served as a deacon in the SCJ community in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, and will continue serving in this community as a Parochial Vicar.

Rev. Deacon Reneboy D. P. Socorro was born in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, on April 15,1991. He joined SCJ in 2009  in the same seminary as his brother studying also at Xavier University where he graduated in Philosophy. In 2013 he was admitted to Postulancy and in 2014 he did his novitiate. In 2015 he moved to Theologate in Dehon House, Quezon City where he studied in Recollectos School of Theology until graduated in 2018. After that, he joined the SCJ community in Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur, and in 2020 he served in the Sacred Heart Formation House where he professed his final vows on November 26,  2020. After the ordination, he will serve as a deacon on SCJ Community in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

During the homily, the bishop thanked God for the Church in Bayugan which gave 20 priests with the soon-to-be ordained priest. He reminded that the priest is not a follower of Christ but becomes “Christ himself”, alter Christus. He quoted also Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta asking the priests and bishops: “give us Jesus, only Jesus, always Jesus”. Moreover, all priests are called to have a good standing, “holy and righteous in His sight all the days of our lives” because they share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Fr. Julius thanked all people who helped him and his brother on the way to ordination. Especially he thanked his mother for all support and sacrifice she did for them.

The ceremony of ordination started at 9:30 am and ended with a lunch at noontime.

By: Fr. Sergio Matumoto, SCJ

The entire ceremony of ordination recorded live