Two Augustinian Recollect priests, Fr. Federico S. Gregorio, OAR, and Fr. Lauro V. Larlar, OAR, returned to Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos (STV-R) to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their priestly ordination. Their thanksgiving celebration brought together bishops, priests, religious, family members, friends, alumni and lay collaborators to give thanks for fifty years of faithful ministry and service to the Church.
A celebration of gratitude for fifty years of priesthood
“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?”
These were the words of the Prior General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández Domínguez, OAR, in a letter dedicated to Fr. Federico S. Gregorio, OAR, and Fr. Lauro V. Larlar, OAR, who celebrated the Golden Anniversary of their priestly ordination on July 11, 2026.
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On July 18, the two jubilarians returned to Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos for a Thanksgiving Mass and fellowship with family, friends, Thomasians and members of the San Carlos community who had accompanied them throughout their five decades of priestly life.
Bishop Alminaza highlights the Recollect legacy
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D., Bishop of San Carlos, together with thirteen Augustinian Recollect and diocesan priests.
Bishop Alminaza revealed that he had once been a student of Fr. Gregorio at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) in Bacolod City.
Before imparting the final blessing, the bishop acknowledged the long-standing presence of the Augustinian Recollects in the Diocese of San Carlos, noting that the Order “has been here even before the Diocese was born.” He emphasized that their missionary presence has helped make the Diocese a fertile ground for priestly and religious vocations.
Addressing the young people present, Bishop Alminaza encouraged them to “follow the example” of the two Golden Jubilarians and remain open to God’s call.
“We are only servants of God”
During the homily, shared by the two jubilarians, Fr. Lauro Larlar reminded the faithful that they are simply “servants of God.” Reflecting on the Prior General’s letter, he highlighted gratitude and humility as the two essential attitudes that have sustained their priestly vocation throughout the years.
A member of Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos Batch 1967, Fr. Larlar stressed that the jubilee celebration was ultimately “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.”
Lay collaborators renew their commitment to the mission
Following the Thanksgiving Mass, priests, religious and lay faithful gathered for dinner and a short commemorative program attended by Bishop Alminaza.
Representatives from different sectors of the Augustinian Recollect Family shared their reflections, including:
- Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR, President of CST-R, representing the educational apostolate.
- Mrs. Herminia R. Villanueva, representing the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity.
- Mr. Richard P. Burgos, representing former OAR seminarians.
- Mr. Aaron Lim, representing the Recollect Augustinian Youth.
Despite their diverse backgrounds, all speakers emphasized the shared mission of inviting more lay people to participate actively in proclaiming Christ alongside the Augustinian Recollects.
“A mystery and a miracle”
Before the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Federico Gregorio expressed his gratitude, describing fifty years of priesthood as both “a mystery and a miracle.”
He offered special thanks to Bishop Alminaza, recalling that their friendship began during his ten years of ministry at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.
Today, both Golden Jubilarians serve as formators at Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary in Baguio City. They renewed their priestly promises at Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Mira-Nila, Quezon City, on July 11, and concluded their jubilee celebrations with their local community in Baguio City on July 25, 2026.
