The life of Jeremias “Jerry” Ras Rebanal (b. February 5, 1930 – d. January 24, 2026) whose ordination to the priesthood is being commemorated this week, reads like a long, generous arc of service—rooted in Bicol, stretched across continents, and always returning to the people whose lives he touched. His story resonates as one of those rare Bikolano journeys where scholarship, leadership, and deep pastoral care moved in harmony.
He carried with him the unmistakable imprint of Bikolano faith—steady, resilient, and quietly courageous. His 71 years of priesthood were marked by an energy that never seemed to wane, whether he was serving a 17th century church in Albay or a multicultural parish in New Jersey.
A Priest Formed in Bicol, Sent Forth to the World
Preparation and Formation
As a young aspirant to the clergy, Jeremias R. Rebanal undertook long years of immersion in Classical Studies, Philosophy, Theology, Scripture, Canon Law at the Holy Rosary Archdiocesan Seminary in Naga City, from 1944 to 1955.
His preparation and formation for ministry culminated in his ordination to the priesthood on March 26, 1955, at the Cathedral of St. Gregory in Legazpi City. As a priest, he celebrated his ordination date as his birthday.
He earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Education and completed graduate studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila and worked as an instructor there from 1955 to 1957.
His first diocesan assignments were in the Diocese of Legazpi as Parochial Vicar for the Cathedral of St. Gregory (1955-1963) and Vice Chancellor and Financial Secretary (1959-1963). At the same time, he also did parochial work at the Narra Chapel in Tondo/NDC, Manila (1956-1958) and Immaculate Conception Parish, Virac, Catanduanes (1957).
From 1963 to 1965, he worked as an Assistant Professor at St. Gregory the Great in Tabaco, Albay, where he also served as formator and spiritual director of the diocesan seminary.
Further Studies in Europe and USA
Fr. Jerry was granted a scholarship to attend Universidad Compultense de Madrid where he earned a Ph.D. in Sociology with “sobresaliente nemine discrepante,” meaning outstanding by unanimous vote, a top academic honor accorded in Spanish and Latin American universities. Afterwards from 1968 to 1969, he was invited to teach in the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 1969, he was a visiting scholar at Columbia University in New York City, concurrently serving as a parochial vicar in Madonna Parish, Fort Lee, New Jersey (1969-1972).
Educator
When Martial Law was declared in the Philippines, Bishop Teotimo Pacis of Legazpi felt the need for a priest to work in the local State University where many students were actively demonstrating against the Marcos dictator ship. Fr. Jerry was recalled by his bishop in 1972 to establish initially the Campus Ministry at the Bicol University in Legazpi City.
In recognition of this expertise as educator, the University President, Dr. Ricardo Arcilla, assigned the task of organizing the first doctoral program in the Bicol Region. School principals, supervisors and deans of other institutions were some of his first students. He was elected president of the Philippine Association for Graduate Education, Region V.
Fr. Jerry served at Bicol State University, Legazpi City, as Chair of the doctoral program and assistant professor from 1973 to 1976, and in Bicol College, Daraga City, from 1976 to 1980 as Dean and Campus Ministry Professor.
Parish Pastor and University Dean
In January 1979, he was asked by the bishop to leave the academe and was installed as pastor of St. John Parish in Tabaco City (1979-1985). There, he repaired and restored the historical 150-year-old 17th century church, revived and renewed the parish life through extensive catechism in schools, intense devotion to the Eucharist through Adoracion Nocturna, trained ministers of the Eucharist, introduced a vibrant liturgy and intensive training of lay ministers. From 1980 to 1985, he also served as Dean of the Graduate School of Aquinas University. At this time, he was also Episcopal Vicar, Dean of the First Vicariate, Judge/Advocate for matrimonial cases and member of the Board of Consulters of the Diocese. In 1984, Fr. Jerry helped organize the relief operations to assist victims of the Mayon Volcano eruption.
Master of Ceremonies during the Papal Visit in Bikol
Pope John Paul’s visit to Legazpi City on February 21, 1981, brought Fr. Jerry to work with Archbishop Noe as master of ceremonies for the liturgy. The encounter earned Fr. Jerry a sabbatical in 1985 to go to Rome for further studies in Canon Law and Jurisprudence. There, he had the opportunity to concelebrate a mass with the Pope in October 1985. In Rome, he met Bishop John Sherlock who invited him to serve as judge in the marriage tribunal of London, Ontario, Canada, where he worked from 1986 to 1987.
Professor of Pastoral Theology
Eager to serve his people in the Philippines, Fr. Jerry accepted an invitation to teach Pastoral Theology and Canon Law at St. Vincent’s School of Theology, Adamson University, Manila, in 1988. His former students are now priests holding responsible positions in the Church.
Builder of Communities, Bridge Between Cultures
In November 1987, while on vacation in Madonna Parish, Fort Lee, New Jersey, Fr. Jerry was sent to help the Spanish Apostolate in St. Mary’s Parish, Elizabeth City where Fr. Paul Bootkoski (now Bishop of Metuchen) was the pastor. He would serve St. Mary’s Parish as Parochial Vicar from 1988 to 1995.
Fr. Jerry was also asked to organize the growing number of Filipino medical professionals in the three hospitals in the city. He did it for the entire Union County, laying the foundation for the Filipino apostolate in the archdiocese. Fr. Paul observed Fr. Jerry’s pastoral abilities in Spanish and Filipino, and his organizational skills in encouraging Filipinos and Hispanics to become actively involved in the parish.
Fr. Paul asked Archbishop Theodore McCarrick in 1990 to request the Bishop of Legazpi to release Fr. Jerry for ministry in the Archdiocese of Newark. In December 1990, Fr. Jerry was appointed by the Archbishop as Coordinator of the Filipino apostolate and in October 1991, he was officially incardinated into the Archdiocese of Newark. He also served as Judge for the Archdiocesan Tribunal from 1994 to 1998.
Fr. Jerry mentored young Filipino priests who found their way in the US, created spaces where heritage and faith could flourish together, and became a steady presence for migrants navigating new lives in unfamiliar places. He did not simply administer; he built, nurtured, and sustained.
Pastor of St. Aedan Parish
The changing demographics in the Archdiocese of Newark, particularly in Jersey City was a pastoral concern of Archbishop McCarrick. In 1995, having reached the age of 65, Fr. Jerry wrote to the archbishop expressing his desire to retire from active ministry. The archbishop responded by appointing him as Pastor of St. Aedan Parish and installing him on July 7, 1996, as the first Filipino pastor in Jersey City.
Prelate in Honor – Monsignor
What a surprise it was when the “Catholic Advocate” issue of February 23, 2000, published that Fr. Jerry Rebanal had been honored with the rank of “Monsignor,” the first Filipino priest in the US to be awarded the title of Prelate on Honor by Pope John Paul II.
Our Lady of Penafrancia Devotees Association
Monsignor Jerry served as the beloved spiritual adviser of Our Lady of Peñafrancia Devotees Association (Tri-State), Inc., since its inception in 1990, alongside fellow Bicolano Fr. Jose Saltarin. He graced many of its annual festivities in honor of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, the Patroness of Bicol, and presided over the devotional masses and novenas through the years. The replica image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is enshrined at the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Jersey City. Msgr. Jerry provided guidance and inspiration to the Marian devotees, many of whom are Bicolanos, from the states of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
In response to requests for an updated novena to Our Lady of Peñafrancia and in keeping with directives on Marian devotions, particularly “Lumen Gentium” which provides the dogmatic foundation for Mary in the Church and “Marialis Cultus,” which acts as a pastoral directive for the devotion. The new novena prayers were scriptural, trinitarian, Christo-centric and ecclesial. Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, Archbishop of Caceres, commended the Filipino Apostolate in the Archdiocese of Newark, with Msgr. Rebanal as coordinator. Three editions of the new novenas have since been printed – 1995, 2007 and 2024, through the Ministries Development Initiatives, Inc. which he led.
Family Roots in Oas
Monsignor Jerry was born in Oas, Albay, the eldest of seven children who distinguished themselves in their vocations and careers. His parents were Sotero Rebanal and Vicente Ras. His sisters are Elisa Flor (Sister Agnes Therese, OCD, Order of Discalced Carmelites), Araceli, an accountant. His brothers are Levi, a lawyer and retired Philippine Airlines executive, Monsignor Antonio, former Rector, Archdiocesan Major Seminary in Naga City, Raphael, a retired surgeon in Schenectady, New York, and Uriel, a lawyer.
What endeared him to so many—to fellow Bicolanos and especially his immediate family—was his gift for storytelling. He could recount with vivid detail: his childhood during the Japanese occupation, his years of study in Spain, Rome, and Canada, and the Marian pilgrimages he led to the Holy Land, Lourdes, Guadalupe, and beyond. His memory was legendary.
A Life of Presence and Accompaniment
What defined Monsignor Jerry most was not his titles, degrees, or positions. It was his way of being deeply present. He listened. He remembered. He showed up. He carried people with him—never leading alone, always forming, always building community.
For Bicolanos everywhere, his life is a reminder that faith is lived not only in grand gestures but in the daily, steady work of service.
The header shows Jeremias R. Rebanal’s ordination to the priesthood on March 26, 1995 in Legazpi City, left to right: Fr. Z. Vasquez, Fr. T. Robrigado, Bishop Flaviano Ariola, Fr. J. Rebanal, Fr. A. Rabadam, and Fr. V. Bea (photo contributed).
We thank Ms. Erlinda Requejo Arellano for providing us with the biographical materials published during the Golden Jubilee celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Msgr. Rebanal’s ordination to the priesthood (March 1955 – 2005) by Our Lady of Peñafrancia Devotees Association (Tri-State) Inc., the basis for this article contributed by Jojo De Jesus.