On living a life of serving others, Mahatma Gandhi opines, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

Fr. Arnold Aurillo has walked in love in the service of others through roads meandering in byways and diverging in countless thruways.

Originally from Leyte, one of the 7,600 islands in the Philippines, Fr. Arnold grew up with six siblings and his parents, Antonio Aurillo and Edoviges Mandreza, in Dagami, Leyte. Early on, young Arnold heard the call to priestly vocation, so his decision after high school was inevitable.

In 1986, Fr. Arnold sought his road to the Lord in Palo, Leyte Sacred Heart Seminary for college studies, where he navigated Theological studies, pastoral activities and priestly formation at St. John the Evangelist School of Theology. He earned a Bachelor of Philosophy (Classic) and with graduated Theology with highest honors. On July 12, 1996, Fr. Arnold was ordained a priest by His Grace, Archbishop Pedro R. Dean, D.D., the Archbishop then of Palo, Leyte.

After ordination, Fr. Arnold answered God's call to priestly ministry. He was assigned the task of Western District Biblical Director and St. Peter's College Chaplain.

In 2003, Fr. Arnold became the youngest priest to be assigned as the pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish Ipil, Ormoc. In 2005, he became the chaplain of the Leyte Industrial and Development Estate. In 2008, he became Pastor of the St. Isidore Parish, Macarthur, Leyte. And in 2011, Administrator of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Marasbaras Tacloban.

In October 2011, he moved to Globe-Miami, Arizona, US and became their Associate Pastor. He thought he would only stay for a year as a transitional priest, but Bishop Kicanas made him an Administrator of Holy Angels Parish in Globe in 2013. It was a challenging assignment, but Fr. Arnold worked on healing and eventually brought unity to the parish community. On October 4, 2015, Bishop Kicanas, installed him as Pastor of Holy Angels. Fr. Arnold worked happily with the people. He was fortunate to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the parish in 2018 and renovated the old rectory which had been condemned for 16 years.

In 2019, he received a call from Bishop Weisenburger to succeed Msgr. Tom Cahalane here at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish. It is with great excitement that he embraces the opportunity to be a servant leader in such a vibrant faith community.

I believe in "putting our gifts at the service of one another!" And I share with St. Padre Pio's belief "to recognize God in all things and to desire above all things to do the will of God." I did not dream to come to United States to work as priest. There must be reasons why the Lord brought me here. I am just happy and grateful to share the gift of priesthood that God gave me, unworthy I am for the gift. I hope we will embark together to accomplish God's mission to build a kingdom of love here on earth where unity and peace are within our reach.