WHO IS FRAY GREGORIO HONTOMIN, OP?
BRO. GREGORIO HONTOMIN, OP (1909-1982)
On March 19, 1936, Bro. Gregorio Hontomin, OP, a native of Sabtang Batanes, was admitted to the Order of Preachers as a cooperator brother. Although Fr. Benito Vargas, OP was the first Filipino to profess as Dominican, Fray Hontomin holds the distinction as the very first Filipino Dominican to be admitted to the Dominican Order in the 20th century.
He was assigned to the University of Santo Tomás where he worked as the head of the General Services of the University Hospital, where he practically spent the entire second-half of his Dominican life. The ingenuity of Fray Hontomin blended with a deep spirit of service was clearly seen in his work there. He was not only good at repairing broken hospital apparatus but also in inventing various kinds of equipment for the benefit of the patients and the rest of the healthcare workers.
Despite the respect and admiration he was enjoying, Fray Hontomin still remained humble and charitable. He extended whatever help he could give to the needy patients. Sometimes, in the afternoon, he would visit the poor families around the University and distributed bread, especially to street children. His extraordinary life and service did not go unrecognized. On May 9, 1977, he was conferred with a pontifical award for outstanding service to the Church, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
On July 6, 1982, Gregorio was found leaning on his table. He has collapsed while fixing things. He was rushed to the hospital but before six in the evening, he had returned to his Creator.
As of the moment, the Dominican Philippine Province is now exploring all possibilities to advance the recognition of Fray Hontomin’s sanctity.
PANALANGIN PARA SA BEATIPIKASYON NI FRA GREGORIO HONTOMIN, OP
Dakila Ka, Amang makapangyarihan sa lahat, sapagkat nang dahil sa ‘Yong
kabutihan ay isinugo Mo ang Iyong Anak na Siyang pinakamahalagang
tanda ng iyong pagmamahal, na tumubos sa amin sa tanang
kasalanan. Sa kabutihang loob Mo ay minarapat Mong mabuhay si
Fray Gregorio Hontomin upang maging kasangkapan ng Iyong kababaang
loob sa pamamagitan ng kanyang paglilingkod sa pamilyang Dominiko
at sa ibang tao. Dakila Ka, Ama, sa pagkakaloob mo sa kanya ng mga
kakayahang kanyang ginamit upang mapaglingkuran ang Inang Simbahan.
Siya na modelo ng mababang kalooban ay aming idinadalangin sa
Iyo. Nawa’y ang mga halimbawa ng kanyang buhay ay maging
karapat-dapat sa Iyong harapan upang siya’y tanghalin sa talaan ng mga
banal. Sa abang panalanging ito ay aming isinasamo na lalong maihayag
ang kadakilaan Mo sa pamamagitan ng buhay at ehemplo ni Fra Gregorio.
AMEN.
(Ad Usum Privatum)
Our Father in Heaven, we praise you and thank you for Bro. Gregorio Hontomin of the Order of Preachers, whom you gave to us a model of holiness and charity, by whose ever generous and humble readiness to serve, he preached worldlessly Your Word by his actions as a true son of St. Dominic and faithful servant of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
He offered his whole life to You, Heavenly Father, so that he may serve others more perfectly. And You blessed him with holy simplicity and inspired creativity in finding ways of helping others by the work of his hands. And as faithful disciple of Your crucified Son, Bro. Gregorio bore his sufferings in joyful humility and silence in total acceptance of Your will.
Through, his intercession we pray for…. (State your petitions, grace, favor, miraculous healing of..)
Grant us the petition so that, as You have called him in his lifetime to be a servant of Your Son, now that you have called him home to You, We Your Church may place him among your saints and blessed.
Most of all, grant that our lives be inspired by the same selfless love that inspire Bro. Gregorio a love that is a gift of Your Holy Spirit, that make us totally comformable to Your will in all things.
These we ask for Your greater glory, in the name of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Pray: Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
References:
-Fr. Ronaldo Berber Manabat
-Carlo Rey Canto
-Paolo Fernandez
-Dominican Province of the Philippines
~Deo Iuvante~
San Lázaro de Betania 