17 August 2020, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna, the Philippines–The Salesian Philippine North Province (FIN) celebrated the gift of life to the fullest of one of its confreres in the person of Fr Richard Varela, SDB.
At 2:00 PM, a number of Salesian Priests headed by the Provincial Superior, Fr. Gerardo N. Martin, SDB celebrated the Funeral Mass. A restricted number of representatives from the Salesian Family and the biological family of Fr Richard attended. Fr. Richard’s remains reached Canlubang shortly after lunch after passing by St. John Bosco Parish in Sta. Rosa for the Parish Mass where he stayed for nine years.
Fr. Richard Varela, SDB was born on August 27, 1949. He professed as a Salesian on June 29, 1967 and was ordained a priest on December 8, 1975. After 45 years of Salesian Priestly life, Fr Richard succumbed to Community-Acquired Pneumonia on the eve of the solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, August 14.
Fr Ernie Cruz, SDB, his novitiate batchmate gave the homily. He spoke about Fr Richard’s impact of kindness towards all the people where he was assigned to. “He was not remembered about the positions he held but for his kindness,” Fr. Ernie said in his homily.
After the inurnment, the Salesians were invited for some refreshments at the Prenovitiate Refectory.
Article by Cl. Paulo Miguel Calderon, SDB
Video by Br. Jomar Castillo, SDB
Screenshots from https://www.facebook.com/MHCShrineCan