MetroVanIndependent.com
June 2015
7
news round-up
Filipino is one of 12 newly-ordained New York priests
"Find a priest who understands
English and doesn't look like
Rasputin."
- Aristotle Onassis
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- We recently had the
privilege to attend the Mass officiated by
a Filipino priest, Fr. Adolfo Novio, at the St.
Patrick's Cathedral here.
Novio was among the 12 newlyordained priests in New York and members
of the Filipino community were very much
excited to welcome him in the Big Apple.
They were ordained by New York
Archbishop, Cardinal Dolan, at the
Cathedral on May 23.
Known as "members of the Class
of 2015 at St. Joseph’s Seminary in
Dunwoodie," Novio's fellow newly-ordained
priests were Fr. James Benavides, Fr.
Sean Connolly, Fr. Jose Cruz, Father
Ricardo Garcis, Fr. Christopher McBride,
Fr. Adolphus Muoghalu, Fr. Matthew
Reiman, Fr. Stephen Ries, Fr. Elvin Rivera,
Father Ignatius Shin, and Fr. Jean-Marie
Uzabakiribo.
Every young striver who has ever come
to New York to make his way has experienced it, the exhilaration of their first
glimpse of that celebrated skyline.
“I arrived in Newark,” Father Adolfo
Novio recalled. “Crossing the George
Washington Bridge looking at the skyline of Manhattan, wow! You know the
excitement!”
According to the Catholic New York,
Novio, 36, did not go to the Big Apple to
try and “make it” in Broadway or to land a
position at a prestigious Wall Street firm.
He sought to make it in a more celestial
sphere. He was hoping to become a New
York priest.
“It was a combination of fear and
amazement,” he was quoted by the
Catholic New York. “This was not my plan.
I was really scared but I thought what the
heck, while I’m here I should enjoy New
York!”
It was a long way from the orphanage he grew up in his native Philippines.
Abandoned before birth by his father, he
was raised in an orphanage operated by
the Daughters of Charity. His mother went
there to have her baby boy and to work as
a cook.
“When you grow up with the Sisters
you are exposed to all religious activities, prayers and especially the Mass,” he
explained. “I was fascinated with the work
of a priest.”
When he was a young teenager his
mother left him with the Sisters to seek
employment in Manila. Deciding it was
'Welcome to New York,
Holy Black Nazarene'
"Love of family through Mary in Jesus Christ the Nazarene."
- THEME of the Holy Mass (St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City
in Celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity)
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Among the devotees
who welcomed The Holy Black Nazarene
(Mahal na Poon Nasareno), th