By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Catholic Church ordained a 29-year-old deacon on July 31, 2018 in his home-parish of Saint Gabriel in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte.
The first mass of Rev. Metchell Valdepeña was at 3:pm after his presbyterial ordination in the morning.
For the Diocese of Laoag led by Bishop Renato Mayugba, parishioners said they are “excited and thankful for the rare privilege granted” by the Vatican to a deacon. This refers to a special plenary indulgence, the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary granted to whoever attends his first mass.
The decree was signed on June 28, 2018, in the name and authority of Pope Francis, by His Eminence, Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, the Major Penitentiary.
The decree mandates that whoever attends the first mass of Fr. Valdepeña shall receive a special plenary indulgence.
For a devout Catholic like Rommel Sagucio, he said “A plenary indulgence is believed to remove all the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven.”
This is a special privilege the Apostolic Penitentiary accords to deacons who request for such privilege.
For his part, Fr. Valdepeña said he is grateful for receiving the privilege. He likewise expressed gratitude to Bishop Mayugba “for his full support and fatherly concern to him and his fellow members of the Clergy.”