Father Victor Cunanan Parungao reflects on 15 years of his priestly life. “I am so grateful for the gift of my missionary vocation and ask the Lord to always make me a bearer of hope, mercy and compassion to all”.
As a child in a large family of ten siblings, I saw my parents, especially my father, working hard as a farmer and calesa driver, a local means of transport in the Philippines, just to meet our daily needs.
For my part, I was a street vendor (selling corn and bananas in our village), a tricycle driver and a canteen waiter to earn extra money for my studies.
Simplicity and contentment were the essential principles of life that I learned from my family, who always taught me to be grateful. I was an altar server and youth coordinator in our parish, and I was involved in various religious and social activities in our province that nourished my missionary vocation.
I could say that the uncertainties and doubts along the way of my vocation journey have made me more aware of the abundance of God’s grace that has shaped me to be a Comboni Missionary. My years at the University of the Philippines, my work experience, especially in the Department of Social Welfare and Development, my contact with the indigenous people of my province and my commitment in our parish have led me to my missionary vocation.
My plan to be socially and economically successful was not God’s plan. The Lord called me to be a simple and humble servant in his vineyard – to be a Comboni Missionary.
In 1999 I began my journey of discernment with the Comboni Missionaries. After one year, I joined the postulancy formation programme of the St. Daniel Comboni Seminary. The guidance of our formators, the weekly apostolate and the pastoral exposure with the Aetas in Pampanga have shaped me to see things differently in my missionary vocation, which is to go beyond borders.
After two years in the Postulancy, I was admitted to the Novitiate. This stage allowed me to deepen my relationship with the Lord and to dedicate myself to the mission. As a newly professed scholastic, I was sent to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, to continue my formation and pursue my theological studies.
It was during this time of my formation that I appreciated more the internationality and interculturality of our Institute. Theological studies combined with practical ways of living my missionary vocation in an international context made me appreciate more the radicality of God’s call to me. Living my own culture and appreciating the gifts of other cultures has deepened my understanding and embrace of community life.
On February 6, 2010, I was ordained as a Comboni priest in our parish in Pampanga. Shortly after, I was assigned as an assistant formator at St. Daniel Comboni Seminary. After five years in this role, I requested our superiors to assign me outside the Philippines so that I could gain experience in a pastoral setting.
In 2015 I was sent to Central America, especially to Guatemala. This significant moment nourished my missionary life because I had the opportunity to meet and live with other great Comboni Missionaries. My brief missionary service in the parish of San Luis, Peten, Guatemala, made me appreciate the richness and diversity of each culture. It was truly a strong experience that has marked me more and more in my missionary life.
Now I am back in the Philippines, working as the Rector and Formator of our seminary. I feel blessed to minister to and accompany young men who wish to follow the Lord in the charism of St. Daniel Comboni. I pray constantly to remember that every vocation story is a gift, and the underlying truth of all vocation stories is that they are meant to lead us into a relationship with God. My ‘yes’ to God’s call to the missionary life has been such a blessing for 15 years and counting.
I have been able to use my gifts to serve in various ministries and have met wonderful people along the way. I am so grateful for the gift of my missionary vocation and ask the Lord to always make me a bearer of hope, mercy and compassion to all.
