Fr. Leonard E Dollentas
Many brothers in an ordinary family experience occasional competitiveness and squabbles while growing up. But for whatever reason, God chose to call three brothers to live forever in unity in the ordained ministry of the priesthood. There are many paths the three young men could have chosen for their lives, but ultimately, on September 8, 2021, they arrived at the same place— lying prostrate before the altar, giving their lives over in service to God and the Catholic Church.
The Avenido siblings – Rev. Jestonie, Rev. Jessie James, and Rev. Jerson Rey – were ordained by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan at the San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City, in the Philippines.
In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration, Cabantan said many were amazed that three brothers will be ordained to the priesthood and that it even caught the attention of the media. “I think it has caught the attention of some media outlets. It’s their first time to hear that there are three brothers who will receive the sacred ordination to the presbyterate,” he said. “In fact, this is also my first time to ordain three brothers to the priesthood,” added Cabantan.
Now that they’re ordained, the Avenido Fathers said their parents are constantly bombarded with the question: “What did you do to have your three sons enter the seminary and join the priesthood?” For the brothers, there were two key factors in their upbringing that helped them and their siblings grow up as committed Filipino Catholics.
First, they said, they and their siblings attended Catholic schools – schools with a strong faith identity. But there was something within the Avenido’s family life that, for the brothers, was even more important: that of praying together and going to church together.
When the brothers told their parents that they were entering the seminary, their parents were extremely supportive, even if the brothers suspected their mother might be sad that she would likely end up having fewer grandchildren.
The Avenido brothers are all from the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of our Lord Jesus Christ. Among the three, Fr. Jessie James (30 years old) was the first to enter the seminary in 2008, followed by Fr. Jestonie (29 years old) in 2009, then Fr. Jerson Rey (28 years old) in 2010.
An article from a blog in Cagayan de Oro revealed that they had different ambitions in life, and priesthood was not their “first love.”
Fr. Jessie James initially wanted to become a police officer or an electrical engineer. He even enrolled at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Eventually, he ended up as a “Soldier of Christ.”
Fr. Jestonie wanted to become a teacher. Instead, he became a “teacher of the Lord’s teachings.”
Meanwhile, Fr. Jerson Rey dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, God had other plans for him as he became a “healer of spiritual needs.” The brothers said they are extremely grateful that their parents always supported their vocations.
(Photo courtesy of Fr Armin Ante.)
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