EVANGELIZING THROUGH BASKETBALL

MALASIQUI—A 60-year old priest, the most senior basketball player in the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese who combines playing basketball with evangelization, will be ordained bishop on May 24 at the St. John The Evangelist Cathedral here.

In fact, Rev. Fr. Enrique Macaraeg, currently parish priest of Saint Ildefonso Parish of this town and vicar-general of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese, told The PUNCH in jest that he is actually known to his parishioners more as a basketball player than a priest.

“I still join tournaments here even at my age,” he said.

Playing-Bishop ‘Fr. Ric’ holds his last trophy the day his “No.9” jersey was retired to honor him by his fellow playing priests.

Known in the parish as “Fr. Ric,” he plays forward, has been a big basketball enthusiast since he was in elementary and went on to become varsity player when he entered the seminary since high school.

He recalled that what attracted him initially to enter the seminary was the basketball court in the compound. He wasn’t sure about his vocation but he knew he would be playing a lot once inside the Mary Help of Christians Minor Seminary in Binmaley.

He takes pride in being an active “outstanding player” even at this age particularly among fellow priests.

When priests of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese learned about his appointment as bishop-elect of Tarlac, they held a farewell game in his honor vs. the Alaminos Diocese clergy last April 26.

As he and the others predicted, he scored the highest, 31 points and happily returned to his quarters with a trophy. In his honor, the playing priests retired his jersey number 9.

Being popular for his playing skills, he said it helped him evangelize young people through basketball. “They behave and those who seldom went to Mass started to attend more frequently,” Fr. Ric said.

“They become closer to God,” he added.

He was member of Malasiqui Basketball Team and the Pangasinan Third District Team during summer vacation tournaments in his student days. Romulo Mamaril, a PBA cager, was among his teammates.

During his prime, Macaraeg said he was a big fan of cager Samboy Lim. Today, he tries not to miss the Golden State Warriors games.

To this day, he sees to it he plays thrice a week, each game lasts two hours.

Fr. Rey Romero, parish priest of San Fabian town told The PUNCH,” But I’m sure he will unite his priests in Tarlac thru sports and he will keep on playing.”

Aware of his limitations, Fr. Ric admitted his appointment makes him nervous, “but with God’s grace and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I pray I could do it”.

“No, I didn’t aspire it… I was even looking forward to my retirement at age 65. I’m now 60, so I thought I could retire in five years,” he said smiling but acknowledged that when God chose him for this responsibility, “He knows I have something to share for the diocese.” As bishop, Fr. Ric will not be able to retire until he is 75.

He is now the sixth Pangasinense to become bishop. Those that preceded him were Bishop Rene Mayugba (Rosales), Bishops Federico Limon and Jesus Cabrera (both from Mangaldan), Marlo Peralta (San Carlos City) and Jesus Sison (Bautista).

Fr. Ric will be the first priest from this town who will be ordained bishop. He has been with the priesthood for 37 years.  He will replace retired Bishop Florentino Cinense.

The official announcement from the Vatican about his appointment as bishop came on March 31 at 6:00 p.m.

As bishop, foremost in his mind is pure service and sacrifice. “This is a more difficult job. You die when Jesus says, “Come, follow me “,” Macaraeg said. It means, “Come, die with me. It’s really sacrifice,” he added.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas will ordain him as bishop. Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto and more than 30 other bishops across the country are expected to attend Macaraeg’s holy ordination.

“This is a tough job. Please pray for me,” Bishop ‘Fr. Ric’ said. (Eva Visperas)

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