Yako, Papua New Guinea, PNG, 22 October 2017 -- Fr. Gilbert Pano sdb was ordained a priest for the Society of St. Francis de Sales on the 21st October, 2017 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Waromo, by His Excellency Bp Cesare Bonivento PIME, Bishop of Vanimo, together with Fr. Solomon Kulo, ordained for the Diocese of Vanimo. On the 22nd October, Fr. Gilbert celebrated his Thanksgiving Eucharist at St. Christopher’s church, Yako. The entire village gathered to thank God for the gift of the new priest to the church.
An emotional Gilbert, recalling his years of growing up, thanked the Pano and Embonkru family and his relatives from Waromo and the other villages. He said that his vocation story began in primary school, as he was fascinated by the solemnity of the liturgy and the vestments. While at Don Bosco Vanimo, he joined the vocation group. He felt called to be a Salesian, to be close to young people, to teach them in the style of Don Bosco and give them a better life. “It is a joy for me to be a Salesian and to be of service to the youth, especially young people”, said Fr. Gilbert Pano sdb.
He recalled the presence of Our Lady in the life of Don Bosco, promised to him from the age of 9 right up to his end. He implored her powerful aid as he commences his ministry as a Salesian priest. He also requested the help of his confreres to remain a credible and creative sign and bearer of God’s love to the poor and neglected youth of Papua New Guinea. (C2).
He thanked the ordaining bishop, Bp Bonivento; his superiors, Fr Alfred Maravilla sdb, Provincial Superior of the PGS Vice-province; priests of the Diocese of Vanimo, and all who had a share in the preparations for the celebrations and the ‘bung kaikai’ after the Ordination. He also made special mention of Fr. Henery Bonetti sdb, and all the formators at the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, Paranaque who accompanied him during his preparation for presbyteral ordination.
He then invited young men and women to generously walk in the footsteps of Our Lord in the Diocese of Vanimo. He made a special appeal for young men to serve the Lord following the footsteps of Don Bosco as Salesians.
