CICM priest celebrates 20th sacerdotal anniversary
L-R: Fr. Tom Delicana, Fr. Bert Susaya,
Fr. Roy Panes, Fr. Boy Panes,
Fr. Boy Celis, Archbishop Angel N.
Lagdameo D.D., Fr. Rex Salvilla,
Fr. Benueza CICM, Fr. Orlando Guzman,
SVD, and Fr. Ramon Masculino, with
Atty and Mrs. Rex Salvilla (parents).
Like a true servant of God, Fr. Rex Celis Salvilla, of the Congregation Immaculada Cordis Maria (CICM) celebrated his 20th sacerdotal anniversary last December 29, 2005 with a mass at the St. Anne Parish in Molo.
Fr. Rex, eldest son of Atty. Rex and Prisca Salvilla was ordained to priesthood by the late Archbishop Alberto J. Piamonte on December 21, 1985 a the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in the town of San Miguel. He joined the seminary after he graduated his high school at the Iloilo City High School now Iloilo City National High School where his mother works as a teacher.
With member of Quota International of
Iloilo, Mrs. Salvilla and Mrs. Capilayan.
Fr. Rex's sacerdotal anniversary was attended by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, several priests, family members, different church organizations and friends and even classmates in the elementary. His sister Marilyn and brothers Jessie and Tomas also tendered a dinner at the Villa Regata after the mass.
In October 1986, Fr. Rex was sent to Hongkong. While, in the former British colony, he served the Chinese people for 14 long years. He also worked in three parishes and also attended the needs of his fellow Filipinos particularly those who are distressed in the foreign land and ignored by the Philippine government.
With members of Mother Butler's Guild
and Mr. and Mrs. Role and Teling Romero.
In 2000, Fr. Rex was recalled back to the Philippines and became the CICM Philippine Province Provincial Treasurer up to the present. His works center on the budgeting or money matters in the CICM.
According to Fr. Rex, his significant work in Hongkong is the organization of the basic Christian Community. The basic Christian Community was established among the villages or estate. Each estate is composed of 30 to 40 families. The basic Christian Community is similar to the Basic Ecclesiastical Community (BEC).
Fr. Salvilla with Lectors of St. Anne Parish
Fr. Rex added their missionary work does not only center in one place just like having an assignment at the diocesan. A diocesan is headed by a archbishop but in their set-up, they have the administrative unit and is govern by a CICM Philippine Province. There is no geographical boundary in the CICM.
There are only some 1,000 CICM's priest in the entire world. The number is not so significant compared with the other orders of priesthood or missionary congregation. Most of them came from Holland and Belgium. Aside from Fr. Rex, another Ilonggo in the name of Fr. Jun Segura also joined the CICM.