Meet CTK’s New Guest Priests
Fr. Rowan Rebustillo
Walking the Talk in Mission
During his first Mass in CTK, Fr. Rowan Lopez Rebustillo shared that he still marvels at how he ended up in the parish since no one in his early life thought he would become a priest. But God had plans for the youngest son of Dr. Runy and Fely Rebustillo, both medical professionals, and it was geared more toward healing souls than the body. While three (Runnel, Ruel and Maria Elsa) of his four siblings are all in the medical field, and one (Runy Jr.) is in the shipping industry, the bunso of the family, Rowan, heard another call.
Fr. Rowan finished his seminary formation at the American College of the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Leuven, Belgium. He obtained his STB, MA in Philosophy, MA and Advanced MA in Theology, STL, PhD and SThD at the Katholieke Universiteit in Belgium. The “abridged” version of his CV reveals a solid academic background.
He became a deacon on December 10, 2004 and was ordained on August 15, 2006 in the Diocese of Sorsogon.
Fr. Rowan is a professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Loyola School of Theology and St. Vincent School of Theology. He has helmed several Catholic education institutions including the Association of Catechetical Centers and Colleges with Religious Education, Diocesan Commission on Education, Diocesan Catechetical Ministry of Sorsogon. Fr. Rowan was the Dean of the Philosophy Department of Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary and school director of other institutions in Bicol. He obtained his AB Pre-Divinity at the Ateneo de Manila University. Fr. Rowan was also a member of the Presybyteral Council of the Sorsogon Diocese.
But there is more to the new guest priest beyond his litany of academic pursuits and immersion in Catholic institutions. Fr. Rowan is also media savvy having hosted “Good News to Go,” an online show featuring reflections of the Sunday Gospels and even an online cooking program, “Shaping The Word Thru A Chopping Board” that showcased the culinary exploits of the clergy while sharing God’s Word! Fr. Rowan hosts, writes and directs programs to widen the reach of his evangelization.
Before he came in as guest priest, CTK’s EMHC already had a taste of Fr. Rowan’s deep theological background when he gave a formation talk on Missio ad Gentes, Lay Leadership in the Church. CTK will surely benefit from Fr. Rowan’s extensive knowledge in theology, his media savvy, particularly in formation.
In one of his homilies, Fr. Rowan talked about mission and how we, as missionary disciples must be courageous enough to “go out” of our comfort zones. We thank Fr. Rowan for walking the talk, answering the call to be “sent out” away from his comfort zone and ancestral hometown, and answer the call to journey with the community of Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows.
FR. REG TIONGSON
Going Where God Sends Him
Fr. Regalado “Reg” Ventura Tiongson heard his call, not as a young boy like the shepherd David, but during one of the pivotal times in Philippine history. The youngest of eight children of Arturo and Pacita, both deceased, was born in Orani, Bataan on November 10, 1965. Fr. Reg had already graduated from Fine Arts Major in Visual Communications and had been working for three years in the advertising industry, when he realized that serving the Church is what he wanted to do for life. He expresses his faith and tries to teach theology through drawings such as cartooning and comics.
He wouldn’t really call his priesthood a late vocation though. “There is really no such thing as a late vocation. God’s call has always been there. He is always calling us. It is our response to that call that may be a bit delayed,” he muses. Even then, his call was not like a “burning bush” or “struck by lightning” kind of moment. It was more of a gradual transition and realization that the Church was relevant not only within the confines of majestic structures but also out there in the peripheries, immersing oneself and as Pope Francis would term it, “smelling like the sheep.” When he finally decided to say yes to God’s call, he realized that he didn’t know the first thing to do as he was unfamiliar with the processes and terms of the Church on priesthood.
His formation in San Jose Seminary gave him so much, especially the Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year. The Jesuit formators were so supportive of talent-based ministry that he was asked to use it for the Greater Glory of God. “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.” He belongs to Batch 1994 and their class is called “Supling.” CTK’s parish priest Fr. Steve Zabala and Fr. Reg both belong to the Seminary’s BEC known as “Sapiang Pukpok.”
Fr. Reg became deacon together with his batch on March 5, 1994 at Loyola School Theology Chapel and was finally ordained priest on the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila, October 15, 1994 at St. James Parish in Subic, Zambales for the Diocese of Iba. His mom was the only parent who witnessed his ordination as his father had already died in 1982.
Fr. Reg followed his family to Canada in 2002 where he stayed for 15 years. He returned to the Philippines in 2018.
On his assignment as guest priest in Christ the King Parish, Fr. Reg has this to say: “I hope I can be your good companion in our journey as the Church.”
Yes, even after 27 years in the priesthood, Fr. Reg is content to simply follow where the winds of vocation bring him. He knows that unlike his visual works, he cannot draw the lines or command the designs of his vocation, because as he says in faith, “Only God knows why I became a priest.”
We are glad that God designed you to be with the CTK community, Fr. Reg! Welcome!
