3843_Fr. Jose Reinoso marks 50th year as a Salesian Priest

By Dcn. Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB

Makati City, Philippines, 20 December 2015 - Fr. Jose Pepe Reinoso, SDB celebrated his 50th year as a priest yesterday in the midst of confreres, friends and young people.

Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB, Provincial Superior of the FIN Province, presided the Mass while Fr. Alex Garces, SDB, rector of Don Bosco Technical Institute and Fr. Alton Fernandez, SDB, spiritual moderator and conessor of our students of theology at the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco led some priest-confreres who came to concelebrate.

In his homily, Fr. Alton Fernandez, SDB highlighted the service Fr. Pepe rendered especially to the young confreres not just in the FIN province but also in the nearby provinces in the EAO region that have been sending their young confreres to the Seminaryo for their theological formation.

He also pointed out that Fr. Pepe has helped fortified the Salesian identity of the young confreres under his care. Fr. Pepe has been the rector of the Seminaryo for a long time until two years ago when he suffered a massive heart attack.

Fr. Jun Lingad, SDB, a good longtime friend of Fr. Pepe gave a moving testimony testimony how on two occasions Fr. Pepe's prayers brought about instantaneous healing. Fr. Jun himself experienced the healing of his diplopia [double vision] just after he asked Fr. Pepe to pray about this.

On another occasion, Sr. Cecilia, a Canossian, who did not personally know Fr. Pepe, was accompanying a co-sister visiting father. At a certain moment Sr. Cecilia just held Fr. Pepe's arm and asked him to pray for relief from severe stomach pains that she feared could prevent her to travel to their General Chapter in Rome. She vouches that Fr. Pepe's prayer was powerfully and instantly answered!

Toward the end of the Mass, the clerics of the Seminaryo presented a video presentation to recall Fr. Pepe's journey as a Salesian priest. One could view it through this link. They also sang "Alma Misionera" and "For Good" for their dear Fr. Pepe.

This year, in the occasion of Don Bosco's 200th birth anniversary, Fr. Pepe also marks his 60th year as a Salesian of Don Bosco