By Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News

Hundreds of parishioners from the Trinité parishes of Prud’Homme, Vonda, and St. Denis, as well as from St. Theresa in Asquith, and St. Patrick in Saskatoon, packed Saint-Philippe-de-Néri Catholic Church in Vonda, SK, for Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando’s 50th anniversary of priestly ordination on Sunday, June 29.

Related: Milestone anniversaries celebrated: 60 years of priesthood for Fr. Phaneuf and Msgr. Senger

Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando is the pastor for the Trinité pastoral region, which is composed of St. Philippe Neri Parish  in Vonda, Sts. Donatien and Rogatien Parish in Prud’homme, and la paroisse des St. Denis.

Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando was ordained a priest on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 1975. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

A picnic potluck was held after Sunday Mass, concelebrated by Pavilando, Fr. Kevin McGee, and Fr. Arnold Bolima.

McGee is pastor of St. Mary Parish, Saskatoon, and parochial administrator of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Saskatoon, as well as serving as diocesan Vicar General. Bolima is pastor of St. Therese Parish, Asquith, and serves as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon with pastor Fr. David Tumback.

A young parishioner leads the offertory procession during celebration of Holy Eucharist June 29 at St. Philippe Neri Parish in Vonda, presenting the gifts to Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando, celebrating 50 years of priesthood on that day. (Photo by Jon Perez, Saskatoon News)

Some members of Pavilando’s family from San Diego, California, Hawaii and Winnipeg were also in attendance.

Pavilando, who entered the seminary at the age of 13, thanked everyone who joined him to celebrate his golden anniversary. He recalled the day he was ordained in Vatican City five decades ago, sharing the story of being ordained by then-Pope Paul VI, who was later declared a saint and confessor by the Church.

Pavilando began priestly studies at the St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Tabacco City, in Albay Province, south of Manila, Philippines in 1965, before moving to Rome until his ordination, which coincided with the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, two of the Catholic Church’s most honoured saints. His ordination also took place during the 1975 Jubilee Year.

He added that two of the deacons who were ordained with him later became cardinals, with one even being considered a “papabile” (an unofficial Italian term used to describe a cardinal who is a possible candidate to be elected as the next pope by the College of Cardinals during a conclave).

Pavilando also met St. Pope John Paul II numerous times, including as part of the Philippines delegation of Bicol bishops, in a private audience with Bishop Jose Sorra, and with his parents when he completed his doctorate at the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm (Anselmianum) in Rome.

Pope St. John Paul II led a prayer service that Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando attended as a young priest. (Image from 50th anniversary display)

Pavilando completed his studies at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary after returning to the Philippines. He was in his first year of teaching at the Naga Regional Seminary in 1985 when he was sent to Rome again. At first, he was apprehensive, but later, he surrendered, saying a short prayer: “Lord, not my will, but Thine be done.”

“And yet, it was in Rome that many seeds of grace were first planted. Doing God’s will, God’s plan for me, I continue to reap the bounty promised by our Lord, in having varied experiences and gaining many friends from the Philippines, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, England and Canada,” said Pavilando, who described his role as that of a farmer, planting the seeds of faith.

He explained that the passage from the Gospel of John, 12:24 — Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit — reminds him that the priesthood is like farming, where priests plant the seeds in hope and faith, never certain of the harvest, but always trusting it will come.

He said that he sees the harvest in people who return to the church, in the parishes he’s served, and in the lives touched quietly over the decades. He invoked the names of the Prud’homme parish’s patron saints — Saints Donatio and Rogatio, who intercede for lapsed Catholics — urging that their work, like his, is never finished.

Pavilando concluded by saying that at first, his motivation was fear, but it was not a selfless love for God; and that in the end, it was the love, more than anything, that had carried him through five decades of ministry, always trusting in the bounty God had promised and with the guidance of the Holy Mother Mary.

Photo gallery:

Parishioners from the Trinité pastoral region, from Asquith, and from St. Patrick parishes joined together June 29 to celebrate Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando’s priestly ordination anniversary. (Photo by Jon Perez)

Communion procession during celebration of the Eucharist. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando and Fr. Kevin McGee distribute communion during celebration of the Eucharist June 29. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando thanked everyone who joined him in celebrating the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination on Sunday, June 29, the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul. The Golden Jubilee was celebrated at St. Philppe Neri Parish in Vonda. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

A 50th anniversary cake was made by Doreen Bandola-Canillas. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Some of the parishioners enjoy a light moment with Msgr. Pavilando during the anniversary celebration June 29. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Highlights of Msgr. Don Vito Pavilando’s 50 years of priesthood were on display during a Golden Jubilee celebration held June 29 in Vonda, SK. (Photo by Jon Perez, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Outside the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, or Sant’Anselmo, the pontifical university in Rome. (Image from display board)

Meeting Pope John Paul II. (Image from display board)

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Reporter Jon Perez is a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, Saskatoon.

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News is supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa