After enduring health complications due to old age, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Elias, O. Poblete, JCD, MEd, PA, first rector of the St. Peter’s College Seminary, finally commended his soul to the Lord in the morning of April 17, 2010, Saturday.

The prelate was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Calamba Medical Center, Calamba City with high blood pressure, adding to his already worsening situation. Most Rev. Leo M. Drona, SDB, DD, bishop of San Pablo, was able to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to the ailing minister before he succumbed to cardiac arrest and respiratory failure at 1:00 a.m. on April 17. News of Monsignor’s demise quickly reached his relatives, friends, and fellow priests in the diocese.

Arrangements for the funeral wake were immediately prepared. Clad in full regalia befitting a monsignor of the highest papal award, protonotary apostolic supernumerary, Msgr. Poblete’s remains were first laid in state at St. John the Baptist Parish, Calamba City, where he served as pastor for almost two decades. His body was brought to the Cathedral Parish of St. Paul the First Hermit, San Pablo City on April 19, 2010 for a funeral Mass attended by the clergy of San Pablo after their monthly assembly. He also served as parish priest of San Pablo and was appointed the first vicar general of the Diocese during the time of Most Rev. Pedro N. Bantigue, DD. On the same day, his remains were transferred to the St. Peter’s College Seminary where a funeral Mass and necrological services were held. Rev. Fr. Jerry E. Gaela, rector and a former student of Msgr. Poblete, shared in his homily two distinctive characteristics of the late rector. First was Monsignor’s emphasis on discipline matched by his strong character. Fr. Jerry recalled how the seminarians would tremble before Monsignor’s presence. But as they would fear Monsignor during their seminary days, they now just laugh at their past mistakes and thank him for instilling in them such discipline which is indispensible for a fruitful priestly ministry. Second was his great thirst for knowledge which he imparted to the seminarians through extensive reading. Fr. Jerry noted Monsignor’s great passion for reading, seen in his collection of books of all sorts of topics.

As Msgr. Poblete’s remains were laid in state in the seminary until April 22, 2010, more insights on his life were revealed. Former students of Monsignor, priests and lay, came to pay their last respects for their great “Disciplinarian” and “Patriarch” which brought smiles and laughter to the bereaved relatives in their times of sorrow.   

Finally, Msgr. Poblete’s remains were taken to his hometown, Mabitac, on April 22, 2010. Friends, former parishioners, and relatives arrived to express their love for the great pastor of the Church through flowers, sharing of experiences, and prayers. A necrological service at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Solemn Mass presided by Most. Rev. Leo M. Drona, SDB, DD, bishop of San Pablo, were held before Monsignor’s remains were finally laid to rest.

In honor of Monsignor’s tireless pastoral zeal, a local museum is being prepared by his relatives and friends which, in its completion, would house the prelate’s personal belongings. It is also planned that the museum would be the final resting place of Monsignor’s remains.  

“I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of God.” In granting him primacy over the apostles, symbolized by the “keys of Heaven”, Jesus appointed St. Peter as the visible head of the Church, His Mystical Body. As a commemoration of this great event in St. Peter’s life and in the history of the Church, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the seminary patron, was celebrated on February 22, 2010. Pari: Gabay ng Kabataan tungo sa Pag-ibig at Pagkakaisa was the theme of this year’s celebration. Rev. Fr. Gomer B. Torres, spiritual director, was the priest-in-charge of the occasion, with the cooperation of selected seminarians who formed the Fiesta Ad Hoc Committee.

The Novena Masses and Activities

          As traditionally done, guest Mass presiders and different parish choirs graced the Novena Masses from February 13 to 21. But this year’s celebration saw not only the seminary community and usual Mass goers attending the Novena Masses. In line with the fiesta theme, high school students and Church-based youth ministries were also invited: St. Michael’s College from Biñan City; Academia de San Ignacio de Loyola and MSC, San Pablo City; the Liceos of the Diocesan School System; Canossa Schools from Calamba City and San Pablo City; Lingkod ng Dambana; Parish Youth Commission; and Parish Vocation Commission. Before the 5:30 p.m. Novena Mass, the young guests were toured around the seminary, followed by a short Vocation Awareness Program in the auditorium, focusing on the priestly and religious vocation.

       A day of fun and relaxation after many days of tiring preparation was set for the seminarians. On Saturday, February 20, 2010, the traditional Palaro ng Lahi prepared by the Socio-Cultural Ministry was held in which the seminarians were grouped into five: Pepeng, Reming, Santi, Tino, and Ondoy. The whole morning was filled with excitement as teams played “Mary Went to Market”, “Amazing Race Food Relay”, and “Catching the Water”. Tino, Santi, and Reming got the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd places, respectively.

The Grand Finale: Fiesta!

          The feast day began with the Solemn Lauds in honor of the Chair of St. Peter presided by Rev. Fr. Marcelino Ramos, Human Formation Director. In the afternoon, the seminary community with Mass goers and sponsors held a procession around Villa Lozada, San Pablo City. Upon returning, the people were welcomed by the amazing banduria band of Paaralan ng Pag-ibig at Pag-asa (PPP), a school for the physically and mentally handicapped, which is one of the apostolate areas of the seminarians. Rev. Fr. Jerry E. Gaela, PhD presided at the 5:30 p.m. Solemn Mass with the seminary formators. The following priests of the Missionaries of Faith also concelebrated: Fr. Boyet Asesor, rector and oeconomous; Fr. Jesus Emmanuel Obias, spiritual director; Fr. Dante Almiñana, chaplain of San Pablo Colleges; and Fr. Iñego Adona,

In his homily, Fr. Jerry explained that the Chair of St. Peter is a sign of power, greatness, and unity of the Church that Jesus established upon Peter. “Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:15-17), the Resurrected Lord’s summons to Peter by the lake, clearly shows how Jesus gave not only the visible primacy to Peter and his successor, the Pope, but the important responsibility of keeping the flock of Christ in unity, symbolized by the Cathedra (bishop’s chair) of the Pope in St. John Lateran Basilica, Vatican City. The Catholic Church remains united because of the apostolic succession of the Pope, down to Benedict XVI, the 265^th successor of St. Peter.

Fr. Jerry also expounded on the infallibility of the Pope with regards to teachings on Faith and morals, which is not the same with impeccability, i.e. inclination to personal sin. The Pope’s infallibility, solemnly proclaimed by the 1^st Vatican Council, has always been a part of the Church’s Sacred Tradition and rooted in Scriptures. It is God’s assurance of His abiding Spirit so that no erroneous teachings may arise. Even immoral popes throughout Church history never did pronounce any doctrine contrary to the Faith – a clear proof of the Pope’s infallibility.  

To conclude, Fr. Jerry encouraged the faithful to pray always for the Pope who is given an overwhelming responsibility over the Universal Church. Since the Chair of St. Peter symbolizes the unity of the whole Church, Fr. Jerry also moved everyone to intercede for the unity of all Christians, the respect for the right to religious expression, and for all Catholics to submit themselves with filial trust and love to the admonitions of the Pope, Christ’s Vicar on earth.

       After the Mass, Fr. Gomer expressed his deep gratitude to all the sponsors, priests, guests, and other people who extended their help and generosity for the success of the celebration. He said, “Ang Fiesta ay hindi lamang dapat mabongga kundi mabunga.” (The Fiesta should not only be extravagant but also fruitful.) It is his belief that the whole affair, from the Novena Masses to the Fiesta day, was truly a fruitful celebration of love and unity. Fr. Gomer would not accept the title Hermano Mayor because for him, it stands for those who in their God-given ways spiritually and financially supported the success of the celebration.

       With great thanksgiving, the community prepared a short dinner program at the Padre Quirino Glorioso Auditorium emceed by Sems. Urayjan Borlaza and Joseph Dorado. During dinner, the students from PPP presented another special banduria number. Rev. Fr. Niño Formeloza and Ms. Leilanie Aninao, a student from Canossa San Pablo, serenaded the visitors with their heartwarming voices. The seminary band, Crushed Bizkits, also entertained the guests with contemporary songs.

It was a great event for the St. Peter’s College Seminary community that tirelessly worked for the success of the feast. In their simple contributions of talents and resources, the seminarians mirrored the unity of the whole Church under St. Peter which Jesus earnestly prayed for.

Special Thanks to the Following:

Guest Novena Mass Presiders (in chronological order): Rev. Fr. Rico Villareal, parochial vicar of St. Paul the First Hermit Cathedral, San Pablo City; Rev Msgr. Melchor Barcenas, VG, rector of St. Paul the First Hermit Cathedral; Rev Frs. Tootsie Flores, SSP; Clifford Miras, parochial vicar of Sto. Sepulcro Parish, Brgy. Landayan, San Pedro; Jayson Caballes, parochial vicar, San Isidro Labrador, Calauan; Emil Urriquia, parish priest, San Vicente Ferrer, Biñan City; Reine Eriga, parish priest, St. John the Baptist, Calamba City; Mauricio Llarena, parish priest, Immaculate Conception, San Pablo City; and Most. Rev. Leo M. Drona, SDB, DD, bishop of San Pablo.

Guest Parish Choirs (in chronological order):  Seraphim Choir, San Roque Parish; Sta. Isabel Choir, Immaculate Conception Parish, San Pablo City; Canossian Youth Choir, Canossa School; Grand Choir and Sancti Joannes Choir, St Paul the First Hermit Cathedral; Ave Maria  Chorale, Sto. Rosario Parish, Pacita Complex; and Balibago Youth Choir, Chair of St, Peter Parish, Sta. Rosa City.