Rev. Fr. Jhun Joel L. Templa, SVD, the new university chaplain of DMMMSU, officiated the first virtual Mass at DOUS on September 3, 2020. 

                The mass was held to kick off the launching of the “eOpenU iScool” program of DOUS which was developed for flexible delivery of student services.  Since multi-faith service is one of the components of the said program, the virtual Mass was aired over Facebook Live through the DOUS Facebook page where DOUS students, tutors, and other viewers participated in. (Please see www.facebook.com/DMMMSUopenuniversity/videos/2819877808240405).

Fr. Templa is a 29-year old priest from Digos, Davao del Sur who was recently assigned in Abra.  He succeeded Rev. Fr. Dominador O. Ramos, the former university chaplain who is now assigned in Mary Consolatrix convent in Angin, Naguilian.

                In Fr. Templa’s homily, he exhorted the viewers to practice the virtue of humility in their day to day living especially among peers, family members, friends, and colleagues. Fr. Templa said that sometimes, too much knowledge leads to pride.  “We become arrogant and think that we are better than others or superior to others because of that,” he continued. 

                He cited Peter in the Gospel of Luke in Chapter 5: 1-11 where after a long, tiring night of trying to catch fish, Jesus instructed him to lay down the nets for a catch.  Though Jesus was a carpenter and not a fisherman, Peter did what he said and to his astonishment, he and his companions were able to catch so much fish that their nets were breaking.

                In light of the Gospel message, Fr. Templa encouraged the viewers to follow what Peter did, humbly following the advice of ‘someone who is less knowledgeable and less experienced’ than he and experience miracle in the process.