“Jack of All Trade, Master
of None”
Bro. Anthony Apostol
My first quarter (July to
September) assignment at Pila was not only a stay like any other but also an
opportunity to meet others. And lo and behold, I met a Pileno priest with a
name “Cornelio” - but already in a casket laid in state at the Shrine of San
Antonio in mid-August after having succumbed to Cardiac Arrest on August 13.
For days, relatives, friends, and fellow priests visited his remains to pay
their respects for this one-of-a-kind presbyter of the Catholic Church serving
the Imus Diocese. The overflowing sympathies and unmatched manifestation of
sorrow during the funeral mass before interment made me ask the question, “How
did this man live his life as a priest?” And this is his story...
Fr. Cornelio “Nel”
Matanguihan was eighth/ninth among 14 siblings. He studied at Pila Elementary
School and later transferred to St. Anthony Academy (now Liceo de Pila) for his
high school learning. At this point, he also became member of two religious
organizations in the parish: the Knights of the Altar and the Legion of
Mary.
His vocation to the priesthood, which
might have been God’s response to his love
for and being active in the Church, started early as he stepped onto the minor
seminary in his fourth year. After a certain Msgr. Almario visited and
campaigned for vocations in the academy
when he was in third year, he set an appointment with this priest to
express his intention to become a priest. With the encouragement, support, and
assurance of Msgr. Almario, his parents agreed that Nel enter the Our Lady of
Mt. Carmel Minor Seminary in Lipa, Batangas.
After graduating highschool, he initially
entered San Carlos Seminary in Makati taking up Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.
But changing times made him finish the degree in Adamson University in Metro
Manila. Although outside the priestly program, he continued to be pastorally—inclined
as he accompanied a certain Mr. Vega in his apostolate at Sapang Palay during
weekends. He was also privileged to take up Cooperative Training in the said
university which he later applied in his priestly ministry.
God was indeed calling Nel. He was able to
continue priestly formation after a classmate introduced him to the Rector of
the Theological Seminary in Cavite. As a student of theology in Divine Word
Seminary, he and other Caviteno seminarians housed at St. Augustine Major
Seminary and later transferred to Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol. He was also
blessed to have been “adopted”
by the Olais Family of Noveleta where he went during home visits.
He was ordained priest on September 6,
1975 by the late Bishop Perez. His ministry for about 40 years was indeed
a fruitful and fulfilling one. He was
assigned as Parochial Vicar at Mendez for less than a year. He then became
Parish Priest of the parishes in the following towns: Bailen (7 years), Indang
(13 years), and Silang (8 years). He also became Chaplain at the Our Lady of
Guadalupe Chapel, Gateway Business Park in Cavite. He was also a guest priest
at Rosario, Cavite. His current and last assignment before his death was at the
Our Lady of Solitude Parish in Kawit, Cavite. He was at the same time Director
of the Ministry on Ecology of the Diocese of Imus.
Interview with his siblings revealed three
traits that described him as a priest: a Church-Builder, a Lover of the Poor,
and a Nature—Lover. As Church—Builder, he did
not only spearheaded Church renovations in the parishes where he was assigned
but also formed parishioners as the Church themselves—”the
people of God”. He restored the traditional style of Churches giving them a
Spanish look.
As a lover of the poor, he initiated
cooperatives in his parishes. He also sponsored, during his lifetime,
scholarships for poor students. He used his knowledge to generate jobs for the
underprivileged and supported many through livelihood projects.
As a nature—Lover,
he helped in launching the Season of Creation in Imus. He supported and
advocated Waste Segregation in the Diocese.
He was also, according to his relatives, a water diviner.
With all these, he truly was a “Jack
of all Trade, Master of None.”
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