by Fr Mars P Tan SJ and Libby Josephine M Abesamis



Four Jesuit priests of Xavier University celebrate their Jubilee this year, 2012. They are Fr Estanislaus A. Lagutin, 60 years a priest, Fr Rudy V Fernandez, 50 years a priest, Fr Roberto D Dy, 60 years a Jesuit, and Fr Leo C Pabayo, 50 years a Jesuit. Their combined number of years of dedicated service to God and to His Church as priests and as Jesuits is 220 years! In their celebration of thanksgiving, they are joined by all the Jesuits of the Philippine Province, by their families, relatives, friends, and many lay work collaborators. Their many years of enduring service to various groups and communities are clear signs of God’s faithfulness to them and to His people. Our Jubilarians are God’s gifts to the Jesuit Order. They are also His gifts to the Church, to His own people. At the Holy Mass, they offer their thanksgiving to God in union with Jesus Christ and with all of us who celebrate with them. The tribute and festivity prepared for them signify that the celebration is ours too. For our Jubilarians do not belong to themselves neither to the Jesuits alone but to the Church and the community of people they have loved and served so well. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!


60 years a Priest

Fr Estanislao Acaylar Lagutin SJ – (92 years old) born on November 13, 1919 and grew up in Dapitan City. He went to San Jose Seminary (run by the Jesuits) for his secondary and tertiary studies. He entered the Jesuits in 1930, was ordained a priest in 1952 in Woodstock College, Maryland, USA, and pronounced his final vows in Ipil, Sibugay in 1978. He was for many years assigned as parish priest in the Jesuit mission areas in Mindanao. He also took up other assignments and ministries as Rector of San Jose de Mindanao; Spiritual Director of Davao Regional Major Seminary and of St. Mary’s Theologate in Ozamis City, school director in Culion, and as Spiritual Director of the Jesuit Retreat House in Malaybalay City. Presently, Fr Estan lives with the Jesuit Community of Xavier University where he continues to do his mission of praying for the Church and the Society and to witness Christ’s love in his quiet edifying presence to the community.  Fr Estan, to many parishioners, friends, relatives, and to us, Jesuits, is a priest of commendable virtues of humility, obedience, simplicity, and availability. In 2008, Xavier University awarded him the Archbishop Santiago Hayes SJ Award for his long and enduring service to the Church of Mindanao.


50 years a Priest

Fr Rodolfo Venturillo Fernandez SJ (82 years old) was born on September 15, 1929 in Palawan, Culion. Growing up in a Jesuit Mission territory was an influential factor in his joining the Jesuits.  As a young boy, he spent a lot of time with the Jesuit missionaries assigned in his hometown. Such exposure developed in him the desire to be a priest and finally entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1946. He got his AB in Philosophy from Berchmans’ College, Lahug, Cebu City.  He was assigned to teach at the ADMU High School, but after a year, he went to Japan as the first Filipino Jesuit missionary to a foreign country. Japan became a home for him for 44 years (1955-1999).  Aside from being an excellent teacher to high school boys and girls, he was also a competent basketball coach.  He was ordained a priest in 1962 in Taipei, Taiwan and took his final vows in 1964 at Nagasake, Hiroshima, Japan. When he returned to the Philippines in 1999, he was assigned as a spiritual director and community animation coordinator at the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) at the ADMU campus for six years, then appointed as chaplain of the Ateneo High School. In 2010, he came to Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City for pastoral and campus ministry work. At present, he is the chaplain of the Xavier University High School, forming young boys and girls through his great wit and holy presence. With his inspiring homilies and moving spiritual conversations, Fr Rudy never fails to enlighten and encourage his listeners to work for the greater glory of God. His simplicity and friendliness make him much loved by many at XU.


60 years a Jesuit

Fr Roberto Danoy Dy SJ – (81 years old) – born on February 21, 1931 in Bacolod City and grew up in Cagayan de Oro City. His association with the Jesuits began early as a pupil in Ateneo de Cagayan Grade School until his one year in college. He finished his AB and MA Philosophy at Berchmans College, Cebu City, his Bachelor and Licentiate in Theology at Woodstock College, Maryland, USA, was ordained to priesthood at Fordham University, New York, USA, and took his final vows in Malaybalay City in 1975. Fr Bert has MS in Library Science from Columbia University, New York, USA. As a priest, he was assigned in Ateneo de Zamboanga, Ateneo de Davao, Bukidnon Mission District, and presently here at Xavier University in various ministries as high school principal, library director, teacher, spiritual father, and parish priest (for 18 years in Talakag Bukidnon). He also took up several assignments in different Jesuit houses as treasurer, sub-minister, in-charge of workers, house historian, and librarian. Fr Bert believes that effective learning is through tough training and formation, thus discipline is a key factor. His preaching is fiery and repetitive sometimes but it bears a heart that is compassionate for the street children and many poor people. His other passion is to protect and take care of animals. His new interest is to crusade in his own simple ways the protection of our natural environment.


50 years a Jesuit

Fr Leo Crespo Pabayo SJ (73 years old) was born on March 22, 1939 in Cagayan de Oro City as the youngest of five children. Having been brought up in a religious and prayerful family and with his exposure to the Jesuits in Cagayan de Oro, Fr Leo got the earnest desire to be a priest. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1972 at the Cagayan de Oro Cathedral by Abp Patrick H Cronin DD. He had his final vows as a Jesuit in 1987 at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City. Fr Leo was assigned to Our Lady of Peace Parish, Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur as parish priest, school director, and spiritual director to different religious groups. He then taught at the Ateneo de Zamboanga as a Theology and Religion teacher. After his stint at the ADZU, he was assigned as Assistant Parish Priest at the Parokya ng San Jose Manggagawa in Tañong, Marikina, Metro Manila and at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convento, Buug, Zamboanga del Sur. From 1989 to the present, he has been at the Xavier University Grade School, as principal for eight years and chaplain up to the present. Fr Leo is much appreciated by the Grade School kids, the teachers, and the parents  for his fatherly love and for his innovative ways of presenting the Gospel to them, and his remarkable care among the poor. He is truly a Marian priest, with deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He has touched the lives of many people through his works, done with love and deep concern.