Ordained as a priest in October 2016, Marc began serving his called home parish, Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu as an altar server at an early age in life.
Early Life and Education
Rev. Fr. Marc Anthony Ramos was born in Manila City, on November 20, 1982. He grew up in a neighborhood where residents had a good relationship with each other. As a child, Marc enjoyed to go to neighbors’ houses to eat and play with other children. Most of the time, he was taken good care of his grandmothers who taught him to pray in Spanish prayers and would get to recite it every night together with his family.
Later on, he participated actively in religious activities on their community like block rosary crusades which was led before by Sr. Elsa Ciriaco who served as one of the instruments for him to begin religious vocation.During the time when he started to join Knights of the Altar in the parish, one of his unforgettable experiences was when he came and saw the life of the priests and caught an attraction to the elegant vestments they wear.
Until then, after he served from church and returned to home, he would get to play “misa-misahan” or a flattery imitation of mass with some of his friends. He would use his blanket as his vestment and stole together with Marie biscuits and Sunny orange juice brought from a store as he would celebrate his own way of masses.
He completed his studies in BS Microbiology in University of Santo Tomas and began training at San Carlos Seminary with units in Philosophy and Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry.
Entering Priesthood
It was during college years when Marc received a sense of calling from God to priesthood. He was already on his way to become a doctor as he took premedical studies while his childhood dream to become a priest was almost disregarded. One time, he was invited by an old altar server friend to engage in serving the parish community again. Despite the fact he was uncertain at first, but since his friend persistently encourage him to do so, he decided to be back as an alter server.
At some point from the following months, he thought of entering priesthood once more. He found extraordinary joy in doing church activities. He never felt preparing to be a doctor. He came to trust God who was calling him not to be a doctor in the field of medicine but as a doctor for souls.
When Marc was finally in senior year in his first course, he tried to file an application to the seminary but was told it was already due. Thus, it was a bitter pill for him to take in consideration continuing his premedical studies since he had no longer interest to it. “Mahal na Ina, kung loloobin po talaga ninyo na maging pari ako, matatapos ko po ngayong taon ang kurso ko. Pero kung hindi po, baka hindi po talaga ako sa pagpapari.”, he told the image of the Blessed Mother as he passed by a chapel.
This was a moment that he was seemed asking God for a sign. After some time, his prayers were answered as he graduated and was finally accepted to start anew training life in the seminary.
Uncompromising spiritual leader
Marc has said that initially, his being part of an alter server was an instrument for him to experience the first calling to be a priest. Although, the calling may be a simple as being able to wear vestments someday, the Lord transformed those promptings and purified them. He also said that God really moves and calls people in mysterious ways.
Since becoming priest, he has continued to put his concern to work in social services and to help the poor and the needy. In a special way, he was also challenged to take part in the call for social transformation and community building.
He has put together that it was a BIG YES, after everything happened in his journey, from childhood days as an altar server, to studying premedical course, and finally in the years of seminary formation, he believes that he found happiness and fulfillment being a priest.
In priesthood, for him it is not the be all and end all of his life, but it is his own way of saying “YES” to the call to follow Jesus Christ.
He is currently assigned as a priest in Diocese of Antipolo and for him there is no higher fulfillment than being a servant of god and of the Church. He founds peace. He founds love. He have felt and experienced through time.
