Story and Photos By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga, with Photos By Rachel Mae De Gracia
“After 50 years of ministry, dedication and service to the people of God, the question remains the same: How [are we] to respond to so many gifts received?”
The Father General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, Rev. Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez Dominguez, OAR wrote in a letter dedicated to Rev. Fr. Federico S. Gregorio, OAR and Rev. Fr. Lauro V. Larlar, OAR, who celebrated the Golden Anniversary of their Priesthood last July 11, 2026.
The two golden priests came home to Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos last July 18, 2026 for a Thanksgiving Mass and fellowship with family, friends, Thomasians and San Carloseños who, in one way or another, walked with them in their five-decade vocation journey.
The Presence of the Dear Bishop
Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D., Bishop of San Carlos together with 13 other OAR and diocesan priests joined in celebrating the Mass. Bishop Alminaza, it turned out, was once a student of Fr. Gregorio at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos in Bacolod City.
During his brief speech before the Final Blessing, His Excellency recognized the role of the Augustinian Recollects in the Diocese, citing that the OAR “has been here even before the Diocese was born” and that the presence of the religious here helped in turning the Diocese into a seedbed of many vocations. Bishop Alminaza also challenged the young people in attendance to “follow the example” of the golden jubilarians.
“Servants of God”
During his part in the homily, that the two celebrants split between them, Fr. Larlar emphasized that they are only “Servants of God.” He related with the two values of “gratitude and humility” that Fr. Hernandez mentioned in his letter.
Fr. Larlar, a member of Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos Batch 1967, more so emphasized that their celebration was a “response to the call of our father St. Augustine to proclaim Christ… with the way we live, the way we speak and the way we do things.”
After the Thanksgiving Mass, the entire community of priests, religious and lay faithful, joined by Bishop Alminaza, gathered for the dinner and short program that featured four different speakers from varied sectors—education apostolate represented by Rev. Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR (CST-R President) and the lay collaborators represented by Mrs. Herminia R. Villanueva (Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity), Mr. Richard P. Burgos (Former Seminarians of the OAR) and Mr. Aaron Lim (Recollect Augustinian Youth)
All speakers focused on discussing how they could invite more lay collaborators in the mission of proclaiming Christ.
Gratitude
Fr. Gregorio, during his brief speech before the Holy Mass ended, said that his thanksgiving was rooted in the fact that their 50-year priesthood was both a mystery and a miracle. He thanked Bishop Alminaza, in particular, whom he first encountered in UNO-R, during a 10-year tenure there.
Both golden jubilarians are now working as formators at the Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary in Baguio City. They renewed their priestly vows in the Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Mira-Nila, Quezon City last July 11, 2026. They also celebrated with their local community in Baguio City last July 25, 2026.
