Fr. Arlon M. Vergara Installed as Nevada State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
A Priest from the Philippines who can Hold Mass in Four Languages.
Fr. Vergara is Chaplain of the Year in Nevada.
Rev. Fr. Arlon Mortega Vergara, ordained in 1990, is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, Province of Santo Niño de Cebu, Philippines. Fr. Vergara completed Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Bachelor of Sacred Theology (Cum Laude) at the Royal and Pontifical University of Sto. Tomas Ecclesiastical Faculty, Manila. He Received a Master’s Degree in Theology in the same university.
From 1993-2004, he was engaged in Missionary apostolate in South Korea where he served as parish priest and later Superior of the Augustinian mission. Upon return to the Philippines, he was assigned as professor at St. Thomas Villanova Institute, San Agustin Center of Studies in Quezon City, Philippines. He was also appointed to pioneer the establishment of a parish and Gubat, Sorsogon, which the diocese has entrusted to the administration of the Augustinian Order.
He published the “Manual for Augustinian Vocations and Recruitment” in 1990 when he was the National Director of Vocations. He has been active in giving retreats to lay people and directing vocational discernment to young people. Aside from writing, he also composed several religious and pop songs. His most recent song composition (2016) is the “Hymn of the Society of the Divine Mercy” which has been sung by the Divine Mercy group in Vienna, Austria.
Father Vergara has gone on to serve on other missions in the United States. He was initially stationed in Richmond, Virginia where in his time there, he served as a Pastor of the Church of Transfiguration in Fincastle, St. John the Evangelist in Newcastle, the Parish of St. Bede in Williamsburg, St. Matthew Parish in Virginia Beach and of Sacred Heart Parish in Covington, and was then transferred to the Diocese of Sacramento, California. He served also as Parochial Administrator of Holy Family Parish, Portola, CA and as Pastor of St. Isidore Parish in Yuba City, CA. Currently, Fr. Arlon [has served] in St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Amador County, California.
A Brief Encounter with Fr. Arlon Vergara, OSA
By Rosina from Virginia.
The year 2010 began with great hopes for Sacred Heart and St. Joseph Parishes in Alleghany County in the Western part of Virginia. Joint parish council meetings had been going on for a year or more as the council members struggled with the possibilities of combining the parisnes, closing one of them, and how to serve the parishioners with Sunday services in the absence of a priest. he statistics showing the priest shortages, the combining and shutting down of parishes frightened us as we struggled to keep our parishes and churches open. The news finally came that we would be getting one priest to serve both parishes.
I was hired as an administrative assistant to the current priest at the time – specifically to ease the parishes’ transition which was quickly coming upon us. was also aware that if another priest was assigned to us, I was prepared to offer my resignation but he surprised me by saying he wanted me to stay on serving his needs as he united the parishes more closely. He was a jolly man of God, full of energy and ideas with a burning desire to help everyone get along and work together. He wasted no time talking to parishioners in both parishes. Although he told me he wouldn’t change anything for six months, it was obvious that daily life in our parishes was going to change.
Our previous priest didn’t really have an official office in our adjacent parish halls. Fr. Aron told us his wishes to have an office and a schedule that could accommodate most parishioners. We rapidly went about preparing an office in each parish, taking unused furniture and setting it up in a new location. In one parish, walls were painted, rugs obtained and a desk set up. In the other parish, a desk and multiple chairs were found to facilitate discussions in his new office space. We worked on getting computers and printers set up and software installed and updated to accommodate diocesan regulations. Wi-fi was installed at both parishes and we had a parish cell phone for the first time. This was to open up more efficient and better communications between parishioners and their parishes and priest. Fr. Arlon insisted that the secretary at St. Joseph and retain our office space separate from his. This would give each of us the privacy to do the work we were assigned.
Fr. Arlon quickly set about getting parishioners involved in various parish responsibilities. He had a way of asking for specific duties to De handled that few parishioners could refuse. Fr. Arlon was always upbeat eminding us that we are all part of Christ’s body and together Jesus could *ecomplish much. He had great faith in God, and that each parishioner Tholld contribute in their own unique ways. As he got to know specific individual, he would often say that he thought a certain person would be great doing whatever job he was thinking of, and ask me what I thought. He had one parishioner at Sacred Heart give a speech after Mass one day, on the importance of Religious Education something he never thought he could do. If arguments or disagreements came up, Fr. Arlon quickly had them come to his office or he would go to them and talk things out.
It was very easy to talk with Fr. Arlon. He has an energetic personality and was an uplifting spirit among us. We needed that shot-in-the-arm. At a joint parish picnic, he brought along a Karaoke machine and sang his heart out! Oh, he loved music as well as food! He was one-of-us as he encouraged others to get up and sing, too, he being the example. Our Filipina parishioners would cook lots of food for him — not only at our picnic but each Friday at Sacred Heart after our noon Mass. He was personable to everyone, encouraging mutual conversation in every assembly we organized.
We certainly appreciated his dynamic speaking – one that was more Orthodox in teaching doctrine. Our parishioners could have learned a lot more had he been able to stay longer. He was always in touch with past parishioners, which got him so popular. Once a friend, always a friend with Fr. Arlon, even to this day!
Message of Eucharistic Minister from St. Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg, Virginia
My name is Nancy and my husband, Walter, and I belong to St. Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. I am a Eucharistic Minister at the 5:30pm Saturday Mass and have been the coordinator for our Young at Heart Ministry for the past twelve years. Our Young at Heart Ministry is made up of people ages 55 years and older. We have monthly luncheons and support various ministries in our parish and our community. My husband is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has been an usher at the 5:30pm Saturday Mass for six years.
How do I write about a wonderful person that has entered my life? How do I say to everyone that you can tell he has the Holy Spirit guiding him? There was a mutual feeling when we first met for a lasting and blessed friendship. We both knew it at the same time. This wonderful man is Father Arlon Vergara, OSA.
When Father Arlon came to St. Bede he was assigned to be the Spiritual Advisor for Young at Heart. The older people took to him immediately. They saw what I saw in him…a kind, dedicated, concerned and caring priest. They loved him and he made himself available to each and every one of them. He would stop at each table, during our meetings, and ask how everyone was doing. He made a point of knowing their names and making them feel special.
Soon Father Arlon was assigned to St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My husband and I decided fo visit him, along with our good friends, to see his new church St. Matthews also has a school. When we arrived Father Aron showed us around his parish and then took us to the cafeteria where the students were having lunch. Every one of the students silting at the end of the tables gave him a “High Five” What a joy fo see. They could not wait for him to acknowledge them and were eager to run over to give him a hug. Children do know who they can trust. Our visit went well and again my heart was filled with joy just being with him. You could feel the Holy Spirit surrounding him…there was no question about that. When I am with him, I also have that feeling.
Once again, Father Aron, was transferred to another parish near Covington, Virginia. My husband and I went to visit him there. You could see now attached his parishioners had become to him. In a short period of time, he had won the hearts of his new parish members. My heart was filled with such admiration for this priest.
Things happen in peoples’ lives and no one knows why. Perhaps this was his cross to carry. I do not want to elaborate on anything that has happened in the past. Father Arlon needed us and we prayed for him. It is so very sad to see how hurt one can be when you know you are doing your best for God and not doing anything wrong.
Father Aron soon moved to California and we continue to correspond with him. He is so much more than a priest. My husband and I feel extremely blessed to know him. To us, Father Arion is family. We have tremendous respect for him and love him for the wonderful priest that he is.