“After this joyful celebration, the good wishes and farewells, what is left is just me, myself at the foot of the cross,” Brother Reynaldo Tano, MGL said to those who attended the simple sharing of food and cutting of celebratory cake after the solemn profession of his final vows to God of poverty, chastity and obedience. The mass was held last 5 August 2013 at St. Benedict Parish in Burwood.
On 13 September 2013, Brother Rey will be ordained as a Deacon for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Next year, he will be ordained as a Priest in the parish of the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL) at St. Benedict’s parish, Don Antonio Heights, Quezon City and be a missionary there after his ordination.
For the seven years of studying in Australia and being with the Filipino community and friends, Brother Rey expressed gratitude to his MGL brothers. He said they are with him from the beginning of his journey. “God uses each one of you to show me that consecrated life is not a waste but joyful and fruitful life. You helped me to realise that I am not a mistake, but a beloved son of the Father. You showed me that to be a real man is to be able to say sorry when you are wrong, to be able to say I forgive you even when you are still hurting and to be able to say that’s okay when your pride is broken for the sake of love.”
Brother Rey recalls there were nine of them who entered the program seven years ago in Canberra. “After some years I saw one by one their leaving the formation program,” shared Bro Rey. He admits though experiencing bouts of loneliness, confusion, doubt, and fear in his seven-year stay in Australia. “Leaving my family and friends behind is painful but I believe it is necessary in order for me to create my own spiritual family, a family that does not depend on blood relations but on Christ. It is a call not just for me but for all of us,” he said.
The celebration was attended by parishioners from St Peter, Sacred Heart and St Benedict, and friends from Disciples of Jesus community, MGL sisters, Youth Mission Team members, Seminarians from Melbourne and Sandhurst Dioceses, the Dominican Friars, Cistercian Monks, Salesian Seminarians, Victorian friends, likewise friends all the way from Sale and Central Coast NSW.
See other photos of the ceremony.
