WHEN Father William Antillon arrived to the US, he brought more than just God’s words with him.
As parochial vicar at the St. Catherine of Siena parish in West Dundee, Illinois in 2000, Father Antillon made a mark in the community when he introduced Simbang Gabi to the congregation.
“Every time a new family moves into our community, we are all made richer by the knowledge and experiences that its members bring. This is especially true if they bring some of their customs that they can share with all of us,” wrote Barbara Ferguson of the Daily Herald in 2002.
“About 2 1/2 years ago, St. Catherine of Siena parish was assigned the Rev. William Antillon, who was newly-arrived from the Philippines. Now, he has brought us the opportunity to take part in some of the Filipino Christmas customs.”
Ferguson went to write Father Antillon taught the parish the “different Filipino virtue or gift” for each day.
“Father Antillon said these virtues are respect for elders: remembering the dead; hope in God’s providence; compassion for the small and weak; family unity; communal solidarity; gratitude; forgiving and asking for forgiveness; and, finally, hospitality.”
What started at that church soon spread to the other parishes in the Rockford Diocese and continues to this day.
Antillon is currently the pastor at St. Mary Parish in Morrison, Illinois.
Born in 1954 in Burauen, Leyte, Philippines, Antillon attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Palo Leyte and Seminario Mayor De San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines.
According to his bio, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Julio Card R. Rosales on June 1, 1979, in Cebu City, Philippines and he was incardinated into the Diocese of Rockford on Aug. 1, 2003.
From 2000 to 2003, he served as parochial vicar at St. Catherine Parish in Dundee and St. Mary Parish in Gilberts. He then went on to serve as parochial administrator at St. Joseph Parish in Lena.
Prior to becoming a pastor at St. Mary in 2008, he served as parochial administrator.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
