Praise for first Fil-Am pastor of premier San Francisco church

Cherie M Querol Moreno

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Praise for first Fil-Am pastor of premier San Francisco church
'In a fair playing field, Filipinos can show we are as good as anyone'


SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Popular priest Father Arturo Albano will celebrate his first Mass August 8 as Pastor and Rector of the Cathedral of St Mary of the Assumption, the principal church of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. (READ: Fil-Am priest is St Mary’s Cathedral pastor, rector in SF)

The Ilocos Norte native is the first Filipino American head of what locals call St Mary’s Cathedral.  His appointment in the spring by Archbishop Joseph Cordileone received widespread praise from Filipino Americans throughout the region.

Fellow clergy and lay people alike expressed elation over the success of one of their own.

“I am so proud he was chosen as the first FilAm Rector of St Mary’s Cathedral, an appointment that honors all us Filipinos,” Millbrae, California, and Manila resident Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara told Rappler. “In all the years I’ve known Father Art, he has always represented my ideal of a pastoral minister. He touches us all with an unwavering sense hopefulness and spiritualness, qualities that make him stand out as a priest, a person and most of all a friend. He is truly a joy to be around.”

‘Strong faith’ 

“I have known him for almost two decades and I admire his devotion and strong faith most of all,” offered Deacon Tony Paulino, who serves at St. Anthony in San Francisco and St. Andrew in Daly City, California.  

He underscored the significance of the appointment in the church hierarchy:

“In a fair playing field, Filipinos can show we are as good as anyone.”

“Fr. Art’s latest assignment is an honor and places the Filipino community on a pedestal in the Catholic world,” concurred Goya Navarrete, who recently feted Albano with a congratulatory dinner in her South San Francisco residence “He is an exceptional priest.  He speaks several languages and Philippine dialects in which he gives thoughtful homilies. Parishioners love him.”

Albano said he was humbled by the confidence shown by the archbishop, his colleagues and friends.

“Pray for me so that I will always be strengthened in God’s love, inspired by His wisdom and guided by our Blessed Mother Mary,” he responded to well wishers. 

Albano already distinguished himself in his immediate past tenure as pastor of Mission San Francisco de Asis or more commonly known as Mission Dolores, site of the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco.  There he ministered to the community, reaching out in English, Tagalog, Ilocano and Spanish.  He displayed command of the area’s second most spoken language after English as he presided at the Spanish liturgy including the homily.

Albano was concluding his eighth year and second term at the historic church and thought he was heading toward retirement.

A happy twist changed his plans.

“It was a divine surprise,” Albano told intimates about getting a phone call from the archbishop informing him of his reassignment.  “And I said:  ‘Oh God, you never cease to surprise me.’  I am so humbled by this august ministry to serve God and His people in this capacity.  At first, I was baffled and dumbstruck but I finally ended up taking recourse to my vow of obedience.”

Least surprised was Rev. Father Mark Reburiano, who sits on the Priest Personnel Board that advises the archbishop on clergy assignments.

“I can say that I am united with the archbishop in thanking Father Art for accepting the job, which I can say is a challenging task,” Reburiano, himself a rising star in the archdiocese, told Rappler.

Reburiano, pastor of St. Isabella Catholic Church in Novato, pointed to the work ahead for his fellow pastor.  He noted the “uniqueness of the cathedral parish: big beautiful building, center of Catholic worship in the Archdiocese, tourist attraction” as well as the fact that “there are a few parishioners, most of them in transit, visiting San Francisco.”

Reburiano sees Albano replicating his success in his previous parish.

Continuing service

“The growing number of Spanish-speaking people in the cathedral parish would welcome Father Art who speaks Spanish fluently,” he said.  “Father Art can minister well as understands well their culture and traditions having been originally a priest-missionary of the Society of Divine Word in Argentina.  He is also very caring to his parishioners and to his brother priests.”

Albano’s rise to his current post caps a 40-year devotion.

St. Mary’s Cathedral, a modernist sanctuary lording Gough Street, first opened its doors in 1971, as Albano was completing studies at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

Albano was born in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, to parents he describes as “church oriented and God-fearing persons.”

He was ordained in 1974, one of five priests in the family – three still active.

In 1979 he came north to the United States from a four-year mission in Argentina. He has made friends and won admirers while serving up and down the Peninsula, from St. Cecilia in San Francisco, St. Leo and St. Patrick in San Jose, St. Luke in Foster City, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Daly City, Mater Dolorosa in South San Francisco, and Holy Angels in Colma. He was pastor at St Timothy in the city of San Mateo before being appointed pastor at Mission Dolores in San Francisco. 

“Every priestly ministry that I have fulfilled is a different spiritual experience whether it is celebrating the Eucharist or confessions or visiting the sick or praying with my fellow priests,” Albano told Catholic San Francisco. “But I should say that I have been deeply moved when a penitent comes to confession with a troubled look and leaves with a smile in the face reassured that God still loves that person.”

Albano said he would devote the first six months as premier pastor “simply to get to know the people, listen… hope and pray with them, familiarize myself with their vision, walk with them and reassure them that God will always be there for us.”

His first month now history, he will mark the milestone with his first Mass at 5:30 pm, Saturday, August 8, followed by a community reception. – Rappler.com 

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