It all began when he was 8 years old and Sister Soledad Orioste, MCST, a friend of his mother’s, talked him into becoming an altar server at St. Louis Bishop Parish in his hometown of Lucban, Quezon, located in the Philippines.

It continued to be encouraged by family, friends and priests throughout his young life and into adulthood.

“It” is the vocation to priesthood; and the faithful in the Diocese of Beaumont will benefit from the seeds planted by many in the life of Deacon Rodel Villaverde Faller when he is ordained to the priesthood. Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, will ordain Deacon Faller at 10 a.m. Jan. 5 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson in Beaumont.

“Being an altar server gave me a good foundation with my values and with my faith,” Deacon Faller said. “I was an altar server until I decided to enter the seminary in high school.”

In 1988 Deacon Faller was 12 years old when his father, Rosauro Faller, who was a blacksmith, died of a heart attack.

“My father would always take me with him to his shop and give me a good example of hard work,” Faller said. “I realized afterward how it contributed a lot to my attitude toward my experiences and responsibilities. I am so grateful to my father for doing so, and his examples will always be remembered.”

Faller’s mother, Filomena, is a grade school teacher and has been the guiding force in the family since his father’s death. He shared that she is a very pleasant lady and a hardworking mom.

At age 13, after completing grade school, Faller entered high school seminary at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Sariaya, a neighboring town. Upon completion of high school, he went on to college, majoring in philosophy at St. Francis de Sales Regional Seminary in Lipa City.

“My third year in college was not very good. I felt I wasn’t growing as a person discerning a vocation to the priesthood,” said Faller. After much prayer and consulting with his spiritual advisor, Father Jojo Mendoza, Faller decided to leave the seminary for a while.

While away from seminary Faller worked at McDonald’s where he says he developed management and administrative skills. He lived in the rectory of St. Ferdinand Cathedral, Lucena City.

“It was Msgr. Atilano Oracion, my former parish priest, who asked me to help him serving Masses and teaching catechesis at St. Ferdinand,” Faller said. “It was a great advantage for me because I was able to continue my discernment to the priesthood, giving time to my spiritual life and getting in touch with church activities.”

In 1996 a priest friend from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Father Robert Cruz, went home for a visit and encouraged Faller to continue his studies in the priesthood for one of the dioceses in the United States.

“I thought it was a great opportunity. I made my discernment about it and consulted the concerned people of my diocese,” Faller said. He decided to take the offer and made a commitment to the Diocese of Beaumont.

It has not been and easy road from that point, but it has been interesting, according to Faller.

He experienced many challenges, having to adjust to a different language, culture and food. He was the only Filipino in the seminary.

“I got so homesick and bored and I felt I was so alone. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it,” Faller shared.

He eventually managed to overcome those struggles and said he is very grateful to his family and friends who have been so supportive, especially the Benedictines of St. Joseph Abbey who guided him through the transition.

“During my summers off I worked in three different parishes and I realized how great it was to work with people of cultures different than my own,” Faller said. “I enjoyed my summer ministry in a parish, and I got to do some real jobs by experiencing ‘painting ministry’ – painting a fence and garage door. I think this task endowed my perseverance to go through with my vocation!”

Faller spent five consecutive summers working in four different parishes: St. Joseph, Beaumont; St. Henry, Bridge City; St. Jude Thaddeus, Beaumont; and St. Charles Borromeo, Nederland, learning how to interact with people and handling a variety of responsibilities and different situations. He is currently at St. Pius X Parish in Beaumont.

“It was a very good experience being immersed in the religious setting and culture of the people. I was able to understand better the kind of life here in the United States,” says Faller.

“The people have loved and appreciated me very much, and I in return have done the same thing, establishing a good relationship with four different pastors and the parish staff. I had found a small family here in Beaumont, Texas.”