Silver Jubilee of ordination of Fr. Ignacio Enrique Marín

DANIEL COMBONI SEMINARY
Quezon City, August 27th, 2017
CELEBRATION FOR THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRIESTLY ORDINATION OF
Fr. Marín Artavia Ignacio Enrique from Costa Rica

Fr. Marín Artavia Ignacio Enrique from Costa Rica was ordained priest on the 29th of August 1992, but the celebration of the Anniversary was anticipated to the 27th since Sundays are always better than weekdays for celebrations of this kind. While celebrating, different posters and different messages reminded us of the 150th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute which was like the frame within which everything was done.

I would say that the celebration was beautiful, joyful and effective for Missionary Animation as it was the result of much work by Fr. Pacheco Zamora Mario Alberto, the Seminarians and several friends and collaborators of the Comboni Missionaries.

The solemn Eucharistic Celebration was presided by Fr. Ignacio acting as everybody could notice, with strong emotions and feelings of gratitude to God, to his family, to our Institute, to our community and the many friends and benefactors who have been journeying with him.

Fr. David da Costa Domingues, Delegate Superior of the Delegation of Asia, delivered a lovely homily presenting ordained priesthood as a gift and as a mystery, making references to the life journey of Fr. Ignacio. The Mass was attended by a good number of people: priests, friends, benefactors and close collaborators of our community of Saint Daniel seminary.

After Mass there was lunch prepared by a catering group and after lunch we had a good period of entertainment with the participation of all people present. Our elderly friends gave the impression of having forgotten their age since they performed two beautiful dances rich with fast movements and songs.

One of the main traits of the celebration the way I saw and lived it, can be called positive pride. In fact it had a meaning of contentment, gratitude to God and toward all people present in the compound of Daniel Comboni Seminary. An elderly friend, giving a warm message to Fr. Ignacio said: “We are proud of you. We are really happy for the person you are, for your journey of life, for what you mean and you do for us and for all God’s Kingdom within the context of Mission. Go on with faith and with enthusiasm. The God who has sustained you up to now will sustain you up to the end of your journey”.

We can all be proud for whatever happened in the celebration, remembering the past with gratitude, celebrating the present in the power of God’s merciful Love and entrusting the future to future to his Providence.

In the picture, from left to right: Fr. Taneburgo Giovanni, Fr. Marín Artavia Ignacio Enrique,
and Fr. David da Costa Domingues.