March 19, 2021, on the Feast Day of St. Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, marked another important day for the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippine Province. It was on this day that Bro. Anthony Le Duc Tho, CMF, a member of the CSQC’s Faith Education and Enrichment Department, was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons together with Bro. Ven John Binarao Porras, CMF and Bro. Joseph Mary Hoang Viet Hung, CMF. Rev. Ronald Armando Ramirez, CMF of the East Asia Delegation was also ordained that day as a priest.

The entire liturgy was celebrated with Most Rev. Honesto Flores Ongtioco, DD, the Bishop of Cubao as presider, homilist and ordaining prelate. In his homily, the Bishop  challenged each  candidate for ordination to live a  life marked with service, fidelity especially to the vows, and obedience to the Church and to their superiors.

Amidst a world that is pained, the ordinandi were further invited to be one with Jesus through a life of prayer. The intercessions of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church and St. Anthony Mary Claret, the Father Founder of the Claretian Missionaries, were invoked by the Bishop for these missionaries to keep the fire of love and commitment as they start a new ministry.

With the limitations due to health protocol, the entire ordination rites were made available online for the virtual participation of the families of the ordained deacons and priest.