The community of San Isidro Labrador Parish in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, was filled with joy and thanksgiving on 24 September 2025, as the faithful witnessed the Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters of Rev. Fr. Agustin Macabinta Indangan, Jr., SCJ. The sacred rite was conferred by His Grace, Most Rev. Ronald Anthony P. Timoner, STL, D.D., Bishop of Pagadian, in the presence of family, friends, priests, religious, and parishioners who gathered to celebrate this moment of grace.

The ordination of Fr. Agustin is not only a personal milestone but also a sign of God’s continuing love for His people. Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, Christ the High Priest shares His priesthood with chosen men, empowering them to act in persona Christi—in the person of Christ—especially in the celebration of the Eucharist and the forgiveness of sins.

In his homily, Bishop Timoner reminded the newly ordained priest that priesthood is a call to serve, not to be served. He emphasized that a priest is called to be “a man of prayer, compassion, and mercy—a bridge between God and His people.” The Bishop encouraged Fr. Agustin to live his priesthood with humility and joy, following the example of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the model of love and reparation cherished by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians).

The ordination liturgy was marked by solemn beauty: the laying on of hands, the prayer of consecration, and the anointing of hands with sacred chrism, signifying the priest’s consecration to offer sacrifice and sanctify God’s people. The congregation, deeply moved, sang hymns of thanksgiving, expressing gratitude to God for the gift of a new priest.

As a member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SCJ), Fr. Agustin now joins his brother Dehonians in living out the spirituality of “Ecce Venio”—“Behold, I come to do Your will, O God.” His ministry will be rooted in love for the Eucharist, devotion to the Sacred Heart, and a commitment to social justice, particularly to the poor and the marginalized.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr. Agustin offered his heartfelt thanksgiving to God, to his parents and family, to his formators and mentors, and to the Dehonian community that nurtured his vocation. With visible emotion, he asked for prayers that he may always remain faithful to his calling as a priest after the Heart of Jesus.

The celebration continued with joyful fellowship, as parishioners and guests congratulated the newly ordained priest. The event was a true manifestation of the Church’s vitality—where faith, hope, and love unite in the service of God and His people.

May the Lord bless Rev. Fr. Agustin Macabinta Indangan, Jr., SCJ, with wisdom, strength, and holiness in his priestly journey. May his life and ministry always reflect the compassionate love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”
(John 15:16)