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BISHOP ORDAINS REV. RONAN SARMIENTO AS PRIEST
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June 6, 2024On June 5, 2024, Most Reverend Jerome Feudjio, Bishop of St Thomas in the Virgin Islands, ordained Rev. Ronan Nee Sarmiento to the Sacred Priesthood. The event took place in Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral.The Event
It was a colorful ceremony, using the typical rite of ordination of the Roman Rite. In attendance were the clergy of the Diocese, to witness, participate, and welcome their new brother in the order.
The singing was led by a joint choir of the Elderly choir and the Philippine choir. In fact, the event saw a special presence of the Philippine community in the Virgin Islands. Fr Sarmiento had left the Philippines many years before to live in the Bahamas, before eventually moving to the Virgin Islands.
Bishop Feudjio urged the newly-ordained to be faithful to his ministry and always rely on the power of God in his life. He likewise encouraged the faithful to pray for and support their priests, especially the newly ordained Fr Sarmiento.The New Priest
Born 1985 in the Philippines, Fr Ronan Sarmiento did his education there until after his philosophical studies. He discontinued formation towards the priesthood and was a tutor of Music and Religion for almost 10 years in the Bahamas.
A hurricane destroyed everything he owned there, and he moved to the US Virgin Islands to restart life. It was while the Virgin Islands, still as a tutor, that his desire to go back to the seminary became stronger.
He followed this pull from the Lord, and eventually went to Florida to pursue his studies in Sacred Theology. He has been ordained following the completion of his studies.
Before the close of the Mass, the Chancellor of the Diocese, Fr Marcel Gham, announced that Bishop Feudjio had appointed Fr Ronan as the Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral Parish. He would work as the Assistant of Fr Joseph Toko, the Rector of the Cathedral, while also serving as the Vice Principal of Sts Peter and Paul Catholic School in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas.
