SAN DIEGO — Father Brian Victor M. de Castro was 12 years old when he entered the high school seminary in his home Diocese of Sorsogon in the Philippines.
But that doesn’t mean that he intended to become a priest.
Father de Castro, now 30, explained that the seminary was essentially an all-boys Catholic high school, and two of his brothers also were students there.
He hadn’t planned to advance to the seminary college, but rather to attend a university where he could study medicine. However, during his senior year, the bishop instituted a policy that made it impossible for him to take the necessary college entrance exams.
Father de Castro decided to “try the college seminary for just a year,” all the while intending to transfer to another university after that.
“But, during that first year … almost everything changed,” he said, recalling how opportunities to visit many parishes and chapels across the diocese changed his perspective on the priesthood.
Contrary to his original plans, he stayed at the seminary. During his third and fourth years, he became certain that priesthood was “the path that the Lord asked of me.”
“Discernment is a process,” said Father de Castro, who was ordained to the priesthood on July 31, 2021. “That’s what the seminary is for, to just help you discern if it’s for you or not.”
These days, he is a formator and professor at the Sorsogon Diocese’s college seminary.
Father de Castro said that forming future priests and caring for retired ones are among the biggest challenges facing the Diocese of Sorsogon, which was founded in 1951 and is located in the northern part of the Philippine archipelago.
Referring to the most recent census, he said that there are about 830,000 people living within the geographical boundaries of the diocese. Of that number, he said, about 790,000 are baptized Catholics.
Father de Castro said that farming, particularly rice and coconuts, and fishing represent the most common livelihoods in the area.
“The majority are Catholic,” he said. “And, thanks be to God, there are plenty of churchgoers.”
He said that there are about 77 priests still in active ministry, serving 30 parishes, each of which covers a large area that might include 15 chapels or more, where Masses are celebrated at least once a month. So, there is still a need for priests.
The diocese has three seminaries – high school, college and theology.
Father de Castro said that the diocese currently has 111 seminarians, the majority in the high school seminary.
The Diocese of Sorsogon also needs funding to support aging and sick priests.
Father de Castro said that there are 22 retired priests. Eight live at an assisted living facility, where they receive 24/7 care. He said that the retired priests range in age from about 70 to 87.
While making mission appeals last summer in the Imperial Valley, Father de Castro expressed gratitude for the generosity of U.S. Catholics, thanking them for “giving us a big help in the Philippines, not only financially, but also spiritually.”
