Deacon Erl took his oath of permanent membership in the Missionary Society of St Columban on Saturday 29. As a deacon, he will serve in Our Lady of Remedies Parish, Malate, Manila, and after his ordination to the priesthood, which is usually six months after ordination to diaconate, he will be assigned to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Barra, a sub-parish of Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Opol, Misamis Oriental, in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, for some time before going overseas. He has already spent two years in Peru on First Mission Assignment and has written a number of times about his experiences there for MISYONonline.com our bimonthly online magazine.
Barra is staffed by Columban Frs Paul Finlayson (New Zealand), Fr Enrique Escobar (Peru), Columban Lay Missionaries Ana Belma Flores (Peru), Liliani Losi Ma’afu and Haiti Müller (both from Tonga), and Vasemaca Ratu (Fiji).
L to R: Earlick John (Erl’s younger brother), Rhea Joyce Mae (older sister) Grace (mother), Deacon Erl Dylan J. Tabaco, Bishop Ongtioco, Eriberto (Father) and Eric Glenn (older brother).
At the back: Fr Felisiano Fatu, Vice-Rector (from Tonga), Fr Finbar Maxwell, formation staff, Fr Paul Glynn, Regional Director, and Fr Raymond Husband, Rector, the latter three from Ireland.
The Tabaco Family are from Holy Rosary Parish, Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City, in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.