The Adorno Fathers and the Lorcha family are grateful for the life of their son Father Ronie Lorcha, CRM. His “yes” to the vocation to religious life and the priesthood is truly a testament of God’s grace. After over a year of waiting, during the Covid 19 pandemic, he was ordained a priest on December 10, 2020 at St. Joseph Parish, Lodi, New Jersey.

We read from the Gospel of Matthew 9:37 that “the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few”, reminding us that there is still an urgent call for workers in the kingdom of God. Father Lorcha’s self- donation to the works of God signifies hope. The ordaining Bishop, Most Reverend Michael Saporito, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, emphasized in his homily that the new priest bears that hope, like all the or- dained priests, to be brought and shared with the people he will be ministering.

It seems like yesterday, recall Father Lorcha’s confreres, that a young man joined the Adorno Fathers seminary in Vinzons, Camarines Norte, Philippines in 2009, after hearing good stories about the Adornos from his neighbor who at that time was a CRM seminarian.

It was a mere curiosity that led him to discover, believe and embrace the vocation to the religious and priestly life. Father General Teodoro Kalaw, CRM, in his address to the people, before the final blessing of the Mass of Ordination, truly captures the vocation of Father Ronie. He quoted the words of Thomas Merton in his book “Thoughts of Solitude” that says:

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am fol- lowing your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Hailed from Brgy. Pawa, Legazpi City, in the province of Albay, about seven hours away from the seminary, Father Lorcha began his journey into the religious life and the priesthood in Vinzons.

He finished the novitiate formation in 2014 and continued his theological studies at St Francis De Sales in Lipa, for a little while. He was then transferred to the Adorno formation house in Ram- sey, New Jersey, to continue his theological studies at Seton Hall University.

After his studies, he made his perpetual Profession in 2019 and was ordained a Deacon. Dur- ing his deaconate ministry he was assigned at St. Anne and St. Jude Parish in Sumter, South Caroli- na. When the pandemic broke out in March 2020, he worked diligently despite the challenges of the lockdown situation, but he was not able to fully immerse in the ministry. When he was told that the ordination to the priesthood would be delayed, he was grateful because the safety of everyone is more important than anything else and he said he was not ready yet, but he knew that for an occa- sion like Ordination to the priesthood, no one is really ready.

The time finally came and it was “very special”, Bishop Saporito remarked, as it was some- thing he would never forget. Father Lorcha was ordained during the Covid 19 pandemic and it was the Bishop’s first time to ordain one to the priesthood as a newly ordained bishop. In his homily, the bishop not only mentioned that his priesthood is a sign of hope for others as well as a beautiful gift that Jesus Christ has given the Church. He added that his very life is a gift to the Church, like the Eucharist, to shepherd and feed God’s people, the Church.

Before the final blessing, the Father General addressed Fr. Lorcha with a beautiful and a whole new meaning of the Adorno Fathers’ motto AMRG (Ad Maiorem Resurgentis Gloriam- For the Greater Glory of the Risen One) that would define his priesthood. A – Adoration, M – Meek- ness, R- Religious, G- Gratitude. These four virtues, he added, are very important tools in the life of an Adorno priest.

The event was attended by many parishioners, including guests from South Carolina and neigh- boring parishes. There were twenty-five concelebrant priests and all were wearing face coverings as part of the health protocols during the pandemic. Father Lorcha will begin his work in the parish of St. Joseph, Lodi, New Jersey, effective immediately.

AMRG!