Cagayan de Oro City — In an unprecedented and spiritually profound moment, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), through the Diocese of Cagayan de Oro, solemnly ordained a Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) to the Diaconate within the confines of the Cagayan de Oro City Jail – Male Dormitory (CDOCJ-MD). This historic event marks a pivotal chapter in the Church’s mission of radical inclusion and transformative ministry.
With the full support and cooperation of jail officials led by JSUPT MARLON J YMBALLA, DSC, the ordination ceremony was held with dignity, reverence, and communal participation. It reflects the IFI’s unwavering commitment to proclaim the Gospel of liberation, justice, reconciliation, and compassion—particularly to those on the margins of society.
The sacred rite was presided over by the RT. REV’D FELIXBERTO L. CALANG, Diocesan Bishop of the IFI Cagayan de Oro Diocese. A moving homily was delivered by the RT. REV’D DINDO RANOJO, General Secretary of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, who offered words of encouragement, emphasizing that divine calling and spiritual renewal are possible even behind bars.
This momentous occasion also drew ecumenical solidarity from religious leaders across different Christian traditions. Present to extend their support were ARCHBISHOP JOSÉ ARANETA CABANTAN of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the REV’D REY ALEJANDRO LAZARO of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). Their presence highlighted the shared vision among churches for a ministry that upholds human dignity, redemption, and inclusive love.
Witnessed by members of the clergy, laypersons, and representatives of ecumenical communities, the ordination resonated as a profound act of hope and spiritual empowerment. It affirmed that the call to serve transcends physical confinement and that the Church stands as a beacon of God’s boundless grace.
This landmark ordination of a PDL into the diaconate of the IFI stands as a bold testament to the Church’s prophetic mission—a radical embrace of God’s transforming love that recognizes no walls, no bars, and no boundaries.
