Fr. Eli Canete: God’s unending grace of love, compassion, and fidelity in my priesthood

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 89:1)

These words from Psalm 89 continue to echo in my heart, mind, and soul as I remember and celebrate my 25 years in the priesthood of Christ. Ordained in the year 2000 on May 29 at St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral in Masbate, Philippines, I give glory, praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of the priesthood.
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In this Jubilee Year of 2025, a time of grace, renewal and deepening of faith, my heart is full of joy for the gift of hope. St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, said, “may the God of hope fill you with all  joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”(Romans 15:13)

Yesterday, today, and forever… The goodness of the Lord never ceases to amaze me as His love and mercy work very powerfully in my ministry as His priest: unworthy yet chosen by the Lord; unworthy but graced by a new life in Christ in the priestly service; unworthy, however, called to serve our community.

My vocation began in our family. My father was a civil engineer, Elias Canete, who died when I was 5 years old, and my mother, Fidela Canete, was a registered nurse. I am the third of four siblings. My mother died in March 2021 during the peak of COVID when I moved to St. James, Calgary, from Taber. My parents were deeply involved in their communities and the people they worked with.

I saw love and passion in their hearts, finding meaning and purpose in their noble service and humble works. Attending regular Sunday Masses in the Church, praying the rosary, and helping parishioners in need became the family’s regular routine and tasks.

So, when I took the exam and passed the entrance exam to St. Anthony High School Seminary, my Mom was so happy. I was 12 years old when I started my seminary years. It was through my mother’s encouragement, daily prayers, and support that helped me sustain my vocation.
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Moreover, with my grandmother’s constant guidance and influence through prayers and love for the Sacraments, I pursued my vocation. With the grace of God and the support of friends, close families, and prayer warriors, I did finish my studies.  However, it is through the maternal intercession of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, that my love for the priesthood has been sustained. Now, I look back with gratitude to the three great women who influenced and continue to impact my priestly vows and commitment: my mother, grandmother, and Mary, my spiritual mother.

In the church of St. Mary’s, Brooks,  we have a beautiful icon of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, holding the hand of her Son, Jesus. The serenity of Mary’s face reflects not only maternal love but a depth of peace in the midst of knowing. Mary holds both joy and sorrow in her arms just as Jesus invites His disciples, and me, to do.

25 years of service… I see and live the best and worst of my life. I encounter the highs and lows of my journey. I walk with people who were wounded but healed. In a day of my life as a priest, I celebrate the joy of baptism and later on administer the anointing of the sick and pray for the dying. At the end of the day, I find comfort and consolation in the words of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “Everything is grace in the eyes of our God,” with family, friends, and fellowship nourishing the gift of my service in the Lord.

I would like to share with you a beautiful letter I received in our priests’ retreat this year 2025 from the Triumph Retreat Team. It begins saying:  

Dear Fr. Eli, I love you. I have called you by name. You are mine. Before I formed you, I knew you. And before you were born, I consecrated you. You did not choose me. I chose you. (John 15:6)  Because you are precious in my eyes, I love you. I have loved you with an everlasting love so I continue to show you my constant love. How can I abandon you when my love for you is so strong? (Jeremiah 31:3)

Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Yet even if she should forget, I will never forget you. See I have engraved you in the palm of my hand. For I, the Lord your God am holding you by my right hand. Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in me now.
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Eternally loving you, Your Dad, God Almighty."

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Written by Fr. Eli Canete