Transitions are part of life. We move from one chapter to another, sometimes with weight, sometimes quietly. Even the country is in transition—grappling with political uncertainty, shifting leadership styles, and the noise of debates that often feel more chaotic than constructive. And so too is our parish of St. John Bosco in Makati, which has been busy with its own changes. Rev. Fr. Fernando “Ronnie” Urbano, SDB, is concluding his six‑year term as parish priest, a journey that began in July 2020, right at the height of the COVID‑19 lockdown.
I still remember attending his online masses during those months when the world felt small and uncertain. The liturgy was the only rhythm that held steady. I would log in, listen, pray, and somehow feel less alone. When restrictions eased and the church finally opened its doors again, I found myself back in the pews. The shift from screen to sunlight was like stepping out after a long stretch indoors.
Fr. Ronnie became one of my “pandemic priests,” a term I use with affection and gratitude. Alongside him were fellow Salesians Fr. Armand Robleza, Fr. Sal Putzu+, Fr. Pat Villasanta, and Fr. Dave Buenaventura. They didn’t know it, but they were part of my daily routine, my quiet anchors when everything else felt fragile. Their presence reminded me that even in isolation, faith could still be shared.
If there was one blessing the COVID years gave me, it was the renewal of my faith. It just happened slowly, almost shyly, through the habit of hearing mass every day. First online, then onsite. What began as a way to cope with fear became a devotion that stayed with me long after the world reopened. Even now, in the rush of this “new normal,” the Holy Mass remains my anchor. It is where the noise fades, where I can breathe, where I remember what matters.
Beyond the personal, Fr. Ronnie also left a legacy that has enabled the parish to become what it is today. He helped us transition from the pandemic era to the New Normal. He also institutionalized projects such as Boscostep, which gave parishioners with busy schedules a way to pledge monthly support even if they couldn’t commit personal time. Meanwhile, Boscocina, the parish feeding program, has been reaching out to poor families and street dwellers, reminding us that service is not bound by circumstance but by compassion.
These initiatives made it possible for me and many others to live out our faith in concrete ways. Big shoes now await the incoming parish priest, who will carry forward these gains and add his own thread to the parish story.
The inspiring homilies of my pandemic priests, their gentle reminders to let Jesus lead, helped form the spiritual muscle memory I carry today. You don’t always realize who is shaping you until you look back and see the thread they’ve woven into your life.
After six years, Fr. Ronnie moves on to a new assignment as the Provincial Economer of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Philippines North Province. This Sunday (June 21) will be his last mass as parish priest as well as the introduction of Fr. Jake Adrian Lopez as his successor. I will be there, of course, to witness this parish milestone. Thank you, Fr. Ronnie and welcome to Makati, Fr. Jake!
Sa Don Bosco Masaya, Sama-sama!
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