Blood Sacrifices in the Year of Clergy and Consecrated Persons

The Catholic Church, in preparation for the five hundred years of evangelization in the
Philippines, celebrates the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. The church is being
called for the new evangelization toward holiness through the guidance of priests, religious,
consecrated persons and the laity.

But as we journey in this path to sacredness, it seems that the land is asking for blood
sacrifices. Since December 2017, four priests had laid their lives in service of the people and of
God.

The first of it was Rev. Fr. Marcelito Paez, a retired priest and a known land reform
activist. He was shot by motorcycle-riding suspects in Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija on
December 2017.

Just a few months after it, Rev. Fr. Aldrin Aganan, a former priest who chose the life of a
layperson in Masbate, was shot by two unidentified gunmen on March this year.

Shortly after that, Rev. Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura was killed by armed men riding a
motorcycle after celebrating Mass in Gattaran, Cagayan on April 29.

And the latest of these brutal killings is Rev. Fr. Richmond Nilo, the parish priest of St.
Vincent Ferrer Parish in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. He was killed by unidentified gunmen as he was
about to celebrate Mass inside the Nuestra Señora de la Nieve Chapel in Brgy. Mayamot in
Zaragoza. Nilo on June 10.

Also, before Fr. Nilo’s murder, Fr. Rey Urmeneta of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in
Calamba City survived an attack by two gunmen.

The Catholic Church had been outspokenly opposing the deadly war on drugs of the
current administrations. Is this the reason for the killings? Does it mean it will not stop with Fr.
Nilo’s death? Will the government continue to purge the land of its shepherds?

As we continue in the passage of this year of clergy and consecrated persons and as we
continue this fight this bloody war on drugs, may we stand strong in our faith and in God.