3 brothers now priests

The Avenido Brothers are now the Avenido Fathers! On a very rare occasion, three brothers were ordained as new Catholic priests at St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City, in the Philippines, on September 8, 2021. Archbishop Jose Cabantan led the successful ordination of REV. FR. JERSON REY OLAYVAR AVENIDO, CSS, REV. FR. JESSIE JAMES OLAYVAR AVENIDO, CSS and REV. FR. JESTONIE OLAYVAR AVENIDO, CSS, all from the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of our Lord Jesus Christ. The three are relatively young with Rev. Fr. Jessie James (30 yrs old), Rev. Fr. Jestonie (29) and Rev. Fr. Jerson Rey (28). Of the three, Rev. Fr. Jessie James was the first to enter the seminary in 2008, followed by Rev. Fr. Jestonie in 2009 and finally Rev. Fr. Jerson Rey in 2010. Rev. Fr. Jessie James initially wanted to become a police officer or an electrical engineer. He even enrolled at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). He eventually ended as a “Soldier of Christ”. Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Jestonie wanted to become a teacher but he became a teacher of the Lord’s teachings. Rev. Fr. Jerson Rey wanted to become a doctor. But God had other plans for him as he became a healer of spiritual needs. They have 4 other siblings. Their father Gallardo is a farmer and security guard while their mother Barbara is a babysitter.