By Cl. Paulo Miguel Calderon, SDB
Photo By Cl. James Aro, SDB
Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna, the Philippines, 17 August 2020 --The Salesian Philippine North Province (FIN) celebrated the gift of life to the fullest of one of its confreres in the person of Fr Richard Varela, SDB.
At 2:00 PM, a number of Salesian Priests headed by the Provincial Superior, Fr. Gerardo N. Martin, SDB celebrated the Funeral Mass. A restricted number of representatives from the Salesian Family and the biological family of Fr Richard attended. Fr Richard’s remains reached Canlubang shortly after lunch after passing by St. John Bosco Parish in Sta. Rosa for the Parish Mass where he stayed for nine years.
Fr. Richard Varela, SDB was born on 27 August 1949. He professed as a Salesian on 29 June 1967, and was ordained a priest on 8 December 1975. After 45 years of Salesian Priestly life, Fr Richard succumbed to Community-Acquired Pneumonia on the eve of the solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, 14 August.
Fr. Ernie Cruz, SDB, his novitiate batchmate gave the homily. He spoke about Fr Richard’s impact of kindness towards all the people where he was assigned to. “He was not remembered about the positions he held but for his kindness,” Fr Ernie said in his homily.
After the interment, the Salesians were invited for some refreshments at the Refectory of the Prenovitiate Community.
