WelCom October 2024
Ronald Salazar
Members of the Wellington Archdiocese’s Filipino Catholic Community bid farewell to Fr Marlon Tebelin at Sunday noon Mass, at Ss Peter and Paul Church, Lower Hutt, on 1 September.
Fr Marlon has returned to the Archdiocese of Caceres in Naga City, Philippines, after completing his mission in New Zealand. He was the community’s chaplain for four years and served as assistant parish priest in Tawa and Tītahi Bay, before recently serving as parish priest of Holy Family Parish, Nelson-Stoke.
Filipino Chaplaincy Pastoral Council chair Ria de Leon welcomed everyone and thanked Fr Marlon for celebrating his final Mass in Wellington. Fr Raymond Soriano, parish priest of Our Lady of Kāpiti Parish – and himself chaplain in the early years of the Filipino Chaplaincy – was co-celebrant. Rachel Calvelo and Rey Alabastro initiated a combined choir of vocalists and musicians to reunite for Fr Marlon’s farewell and provide music for the Eucharistic celebration. They last sang and played at the commemoration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines at Bishop Viard College, in 2021.
In his homily, Fr Marlon said he has learned how everything revolves around relationships, be it with family, parish, church or community. ‘It is through the Gospel that God gives us a guide and we need God’s laws because these will foster our relationships.’
He highlighted three moments of his time in New Zealand, all involving relationships. First was the Mass to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, in Wellington, in 2021, and he reminded us how privileged we are to have received our faith from the Spanish missionaries 500 years ago and now share this faith with everyone.
His second highlight recalled being assigned as parish priest in Nelson, establishing new relationships, his joyful memories of the re-established parish picnic, the increased attendance within the parish, and faith foundation courses for parishioners.
The third was his own personal growth and being surrounded by caring, supportive people.
Fr Marlon thanked all the barangays (parish areas), Catholic and civic communities, his mentors, Fr Raymond, fellow priests, the entire community, and the Filipino Chaplaincy-Pastoral Council members – urging us all to continue to support the Chaplaincy and our respective parishes.
His parting words, to much applause, were with the Archdiocese of Caceres needing his services back home in the Philippines, ‘the archdiocese can take me out of New Zealand but they cannot take New Zealand out of me’.
At the end of Mass, a photo montage of memories with Fr Marlon was shown, as well as a video of farewell messages from his parishioners in Nelson, and a message from Archbishop Paul.
The celebration ended with Fr Marlon blessing September birthday celebrants and all the fathers on Father’s Day. Fr Raymond invited the community to join him in prayer, giving his blessing to Fr Marlon. The congregation burst into song with Irish Blessing to wish him well.
Fellowship followed at the hall, with everyone saying how grateful they were to Fr Marlon and how we will miss our Filipino chaplain.
Farewell, Fr Marlon, ‘maraming salamat, Dios Mabalos’ – ‘thank you very much, God will reciprocate – for all you have done’.