SURIGAO DIOCESE PURSUES CLERGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM,
CLERGY AND ORDINANDS UNDERGO 2009 CPE SESSION
The Revd Mervin Jose G. Elimanco*
[Surigao City, August 31, 2009] For two days, from August 7 to 8, 2009, twenty-nine
clergy and two ordinands of the Diocese of Surigao, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, gathered together at the Cathedral Church,
Surigao City, to attend the first session of the 2009 Continuing Professional Education [CPE] facilitated by Revd Larry J.
Herrera, dean of St. Paul’s Theological Seminary.
The session was part of the diocesan activities adopted
by the Convention of the Diocese of Surigao held earlier this year. In 1997, Surigao Diocese incorporated CPE as among the
principal components of its Clergy Development Program [CPD], a major program area of its Diocesan Program SMART [Surigao
Mission Activities for Renewal and Transformation], which was aimed at enhancing the ministerial capability of the individual
clergy, updating their theological proficiency on various areas, and equipping them with basic pastoral skills to become more
responsive to various human situation and missionary demands.
In the convocatory letter issued to formally summon
the said gathering, Right Revd Rhee M. Timbang, diocesan bishop, reminded the clergy of the convention-adopted Annual Calendar
of Activities that included the 2009 CPE Session to take place as scheduled. “This activity will pursue our consistent
desire to continue to grow and develop as ministers of this local Church in order to become effective in our ministry and
relevant with our people,” the bishop wrote.
The CDP called for the conduct of CPE Sessions for the clergy
– including pastoral workers and ordinands - to undergo intensive studies on various areas and disciplines in pastoral
ministry and theology through co-opted resource persons and facilitators.
In 2008, the married clergy of the diocese
took up Marriage Enrichment Seminar with their spouses at Cebu City facilitated by IRC staff, while the unmarried clergy undertook
Development Seminar with VIMROD staff and visited community-based development project in Tabuelan, Cebu.
In earlier
years, the CPE Sessions were focused on Pastoral Ministry with Dr. Everett Mendoza [Siliman University], on Homiletics with
Prof. Tomas Maddela [St. Andrew’s Seminary, AILM and Maryhill School of Theology], on Community Organizing with Revd
Dionito Cabillas [NPO] and on Church Management with Mr. Rey Natividad [Central Office].
For this year, the CPE
Session was plan to cover research work and studies on modern and contemporary theologies, spread out to four meetings throughout
the period, using the school year as framework of timetable. Nineteen clergy would take the sessions as part of the requirement
to upgrade their LTh degree earlier earned from SATS, ACTS or SPTS. For the remaining twelve clergy and ordinands, the CPE
Session served as refresher course since they had already obtained their BTh degree.
The next session was scheduled
on October 2009 and expected to take place at Tagbirayan Beach Resort in Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands Province, with the Parish
of Cagdianao and Dinagat Islands Deanery as host. The clergy had determined to rotate the quarterly session around the four
deaneries of the diocese to make the educational activity more leisurely and away from the daily routine of parish work.
The Revd Larry Herrera, during the first session, explained the methodology of the course for the whole year, refreshed
the knowledge of the clergy on research work and paper writing, and facilitated workshop sessions to equip the clergy the
skills to determine what appropriate and relevant areas in church life to focus their research and paper later on. Revd Larry
Herrera used the individual membership of the clergy in various diocesan standing committees as both context and reference
in designing research problem. He said: “Your research work should benefit the local church and its ministry; it is
senseless therefore to pursue research outside the realm of your daily work because the ultimate beneficiaries in this particular
academic exercise are our churches and congregations and our corporate exercise of mission.”
The August 2009
CPE Session took place in the context of Eucharistic worship, bible studies and fellowship among the clergy. The cathedral
council and congregation graciously hosted the activity.
Bishop Rhee Timbang commended the clergy for coming in
full force and participated in the whole exercise with so much zealousness and enthusiasm. “Your remarkable display
of interest to continue to learn and to grow in the ministry is an indication that there is no place, to borrow a phrase from
the late Bp. Emerson Bonoan, of mediocrity in IFI’s ministry,” he said. “We really have to grow in order
to live up to the expectations of our people, whose standards have now risen up because of our persistent educational efforts,
he continued.” ###
------------------
*Revd Mervin Jose G. Elimanco is the Secretary of the Council
of the Diocese. He is the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Ecumenical Relations and Inter-faith Dialogue.
SURIGAO DIOCESE CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING DAY
By The Revd Mervin Jose G. Elimanco*
[Surigao City –
August 7, 2009] Consistent to the action of the 1997 Diocesan Convention setting every August 6 as the
Diocesan Thanksgiving Day, the representative delegations from the thirty parishes and missions of the Diocese of Surigao,
Iglesia Filipina Independiente, congregated at the Cathedral Church in Surigao City yesterday, August 6, 2009, for the Solemn
High Mass at 8AM presided over by the diocesan bishop, Right Revd Rhee M. Timbang, assisted by his thirty-one clergy and pastoral
workers.
As approved by the 1997 Diocesan Convention, the Diocesan Thanksgiving Day was an opportunity for the whole diocese to
gather together for worship to give thanks to God for calling the IFI in this part of the globe to be involved in his mission.
It was set on August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, to highlight its vocation as being
a local Church in the IFI that pursues a clear and renewed sense of mission.
“Through this worship, we offer our thanksgiving
to God that through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, we are given the opportunity to participate in his salvific work in the
world,” the bishop remarked to open the Eucharistic service. “We are here again gathered as members of this local
Church to renew our commitment to pursue God’s mission, which in our baptism we received and vowed to seek fulfilment
in our time and context using our individual and corporate gifts and talents,” continued the bishop.
The congregations
started to arrive as early as 6AM from the parishes in the mainland. Delegations from the islands came
a little later because of the weather condition. The Diocese has four deaneries following natural boundaries, two of which,
namely, Siargao and Dinagat, are in the islands, while the other two – Surigao West and Surigao South - are in the mainland.
At offertory time, the Cathedral Church, dedicated to the Feast of the Transfiguration, was already bursting with the heavy
turn-out of worshippers, limiting the movements and left many standing on the veranda portion and side ground.
The Eucharistic
worship served as the highlight of the long celebration that started on July 27, 2009 through various build-up activities
that included the conduct of Nine-day Preparatory Eucharistic Services through-out the diocese using common prayers, lectionary
and homiletical themes and exposition; the Blood Letting Activity; the Health Forum on Influenza A [H1N1] and on Mosquito-Born
Diseases; the Prison Pastoral Visits; and the Diocesan Choral Festival.
For this year, the Eucharistic celebration was
covered live on air by a local radio station to enable church members who failed to come to the Cathedral Church listened
and followed through the service. The same service was replayed in another radio station later in the day
to further reach out congregations in the islands and far-flung barrios in the mainland.
Serving as other ministers in this celebration
were Engr. Yvonne Bune, the CSO President, who read the first lesson, while Mr. Carlos Espina from the Cathedral Church read
the second lesson. Ms. Krislyn Casera from Malimono Parish sung the Psalm of the day. Revd Julius Senados,
who served as deacon, sung the Gospel. The four-clergy members of the Committee on Liturgy and Music, Revd Roberto Moreno,
Revd Elgen Escobal. Revd Paul Esparrago and Revd Rhea Loquias, meanwhile, sung the Great Litany as part of the liturgical
preparation within the celebration.
The Cathedral Youth served as the choir under the baton of Mrs. Gemma Chato, with Mr.
Elvis Patulin as organist.
In his sermon, the bishop told the congregation the need for every believer to experience transfiguration
in their lives, in same manner that our Lord did, “in our continuing efforts to become like Jesus.” “The
transfiguration event confirms Jesus’ sonship – a birthright that requires fidelity to God’s will and purpose,”
the bishop added.
He said: “In this age that we are seemed obsess with maintaining our ‘figures’ and hate to be ‘disfigured,’
the transfiguration event offers for us an imperative life-experience in order to become a more spiritual person, in the midst
of a highly materialistic and secular society, who seeks deeper meaning and lasting truth to our existence - and that is to
become like Christ, God’s favourite because we please him with our acts of justice, mercy, righteousness and holiness.”
At the end of the
Holy Eucharist, the bishop, clergy and congregations took part in the sumptuous fellowship lunch offered by the Cathedral
Council in celebration of the feast and thanksgiving day.###
---------------------------------
* The Revd Mervin Jose G. Elimanco is the
Secretary of the Council of the Diocese and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Ecumenical Relations and Inter-faith
Dialogue. He is serving as the Rector of the Parish of Loreto since May 1, 2009, the effectivity of the recent reshuffling
and clergy movement of the Diocese of Surigao.
Surigao Clergy Passed Resolutions
Opposing Charter Change
and Constituent Assembly
By Mervin
Elimanco
[Surigao City, July
2, 2009] By unanimous vote, the Clergy of the Diocese of Surigao, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, passed two resolutions
during their regular meeting at Malimono Parish Church on June 8-11, 2009.
Drafted by the Clergy’s Resolution’s Committee, the Clergy of this Diocese approved
Resolution 05:2009 opposing the plan for Charter Change and condemning the highly suspicious move of the administration lawmakers
in approving HR 1109 to convene the Constituent Assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
In said resolution the clergy said: “[We] are
apprehensive of the recent unfolding of events at the House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress where the administration
lawmakers forced the approval of HR 1109 convening the Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution of the Republic
of the Philippines without the prominent participation of the Senate, the other House of the Philippine Congress.” “[We]
believe that the speedy approval of HR 1109 is strongly questionable and the motive of the administration to insist amending
the Constitution is highly suspicious.”
“[We]
are in agreement with the other sectors of the Philippine society that the bottom line of such act to amend the Constitution
of the Republic at this time is to perpetuate Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in power to avoid persecution after she steps down as
president in 2010,” the resolution continued.
In
said resolution, the clergy expressed their position “that the proper mode to amend the Philippine Constitution is through
Constitutional Convention where people’s representative are directly elected by the people themselves to draft amendments
and the proper time is after 2010 under a new national leadership.”
The Clergy of this Diocese also approved Resolution 06:2009 calling the IFI faithful of the Diocese
of Surigao to join and support people’s movement opposing the Charter Change and the convening of the Constituent Assembly
to undertake such amendment.
“[We] support
the continuing calls of the national leadership of the IFI and of various sectors in this country [such as the religious,
civil society, people’s organizations, and others] and of the general public that Charter change is untimely at the
moment and cannot solve the prevailing crisis besetting the country,” the resolution said.
The clergy “recognize that there is really a need for people in this country to
unite and oppose such move of the administration lawmakers to amend our present Constitution through Constituent Assembly,”
and so they are one in resolved “to call the IFI congregation in this Diocese, and all people of good will, to join
and support people’s movement opposing Charter change and Constituent Assembly.”
In the said resolution, the clergy ask their church members and all Filipinos concerned
“to attend to and participate in all fora, mass actions and educational activities to further deepen discernment and
understanding on the issue and its harsh effect,
to ask the congressmen of the two congressional districts and officials of the various local government units in this province
to listen to the voice of the people; to pray for those who are pushing the convention of the Constituents Assembly to set
aside their own selfish interest in favour of the well-being of the whole nation in these times that the country is facing
severe economic and political crisis.”
The
Bishop of Surigao, Right Revd Rhee Timbang, said that the unanimous approval of these two resolutions bespeaks
of the seriousness and sincerity of the clergy to immerse themselves with the struggles of the Filipino people and to live
out the ethos of IFI’s mission in concrete terms.
The two resolutions are expected to be read by the clergy at the pulpit in their respective parish during Sunday
worship within July, part of the build up activity to organize a mass action on July 27 on the occasion of GMA’s delivery
of the State of the Nation Address.####
--------------------------------------------
The Revd
Mervin G. Elimanco is the rector of the Parish of Loreto in the Diocese of Surigao. He is also the chairperson of the Diocesan
Standing Committee on Ecumenical Relations and Inter-faith Dialogue and secretary of the Diocesan Standing Committee on Ministry.
MINDANAO CLERGY HOLD FIRST ASSEMBLY,
ELECT OFFICERS FOR NPO MINDANAO
By The Revd Noel Lorente*
[Surigao
City, November 21, 2008] Following the official action of the May 2008 General Convention of the National Priest Organization
[NPO] of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente [IFI] that restructured the two NPO regions in Mindanao to become one, the Mindanao
clergy held their first NPO Assembly on November 12-13, 2008 at Bulua Parish in the Diocese of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon
and Camiguin [MOBUCA].
Forty-four clergy delegates, representing the seven dioceses
and coming from the then
two NPO Regions in Mindanao, Region 9 and 10, attended and successfully
elected the first set of NPO officers for the all-Mindanao region. The Revd Virgilio Amihan II, then NPO Region 10 Governor, was mandated by the 2008 NPO General Convention to convene
and preside over the historic assembly. He was later on elected as the first NPO Regional Governor for
all Mindanao.
The first NPO Mindanao Assembly also elected the following to sit in the Mindanao NPO
Board: Revd Redeemer Yanez [Secretary] as Deputy Governor for the Diocese of Libertad; Revd Manuel Cruz, Jr. [Auditor] as
Deputy Governor for the Diocese
of Agusans and Surigao Sur; Revd Paulo Esparrago [Auditor] as Deputy Governor for the Diocese of Surigao;
Revd Mario Ellarina as Deputy Governor for the Diocese of MOBUCA; Revd Jualito Arana as Deputy Governor for the Diocese of
Pagadian; Revd Victom Batoy as Deputy Governor for the Diocese of Western Mindanao; and Revd Giomari Neri as Deputy Governor
for the Diocese of Southern Mindanao.
The NPO Mindanao officers took their oath of office before the President of the Mindanao
Bishops Conference during the Eucharistic Service in the second day of the 2008 Mindanao Plenary Assembly held on November
13-15, 2008 at Opol Parish, Diocese of Libertad.
Aside from the election of the first set of officers,
the NPO Mindanao Assembly adopted the structural formation of NPO Mindanao, approved the workshop reports and plan of activities,
acted on the reports of the NPO diocesan organizations and passed several resolutions for consideration of the Mindanao Bishops
Conference and of the 2008 Mindanao Plenary Assembly.
The NPO Mindanao Assembly was enriched
with the appropriate input of Mr. Aldeem Yanez, a Mindanao Youth leader, on “The Context of the IFI Mission and
Ministry in Mindanao,” pointing out the worsening effect
of the national economic crisis to the lives of the people and communities in Mindanao, the continuing development aggression,
militarization in the country sides and human rights violation, and the collapse of
the peace talks between the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Mindanao Islamic Liberation Front, and between the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
At the
Opening Liturgy on November 12, 2008, the Bishop of MOBUCA, Right Revd Felixberto Calang, welcomed all the clergy delegates
to the Diocese, enjoined them “to take the assembly as
a valuable opportunity to further strengthen the organization and enhance the work of the NPO to
become consistent to its founding objectives.”
The NPO was formed
in 1978 as an organization of all priests of the IFI, providing the clergy various programs for continuing theological education,
pastoral formation and clergy empowerment. Since then the NPO operates its programs through the eleven
[11] regional units. The 2008 NPO General Convention restructured its regions to suit with the structure
of the regional bishops’ conference institutionalized by the Church, plus one region to comprise the IFI clergy serving
in the Diocese of USA and Canada.
After
the Closing Liturgy on November 13, 2008, all the clergy delegates of the NPO Mindanao Assembly proceeded to Opol Parish to
take part in the 2008 Mindanao Plenary Assembly which they were expected as official clergy delegates of their respective
diocese.
The Revd Antonio Ablon, the Rector of Bulua Parish and the then NPO Region 9 Governor,
expressed optimism and confidence that the new NPO structure would fast-track the implementation of NPO programs, and enable
the Mindanao clergy to respond meaningfully to various pastoral situations and missiological imperatives in Mindanao. Said
he: “The all-Mindanao region will hasten the consolidation of the clergy, and bring closer working
relations with the seven dioceses in Mindanao in these times where IFI ministry is being challenged to become more responsive and relevant to our people and communities.
I am confident that the newly elected set of officers will do their best to fulfil the task entrusted to them.”
###
-----------------------------------------------------
*The Revd Noel Lorente is a member of the clergy delegation from the Diocese of Surigao attending
the first NPO Mindanao Assembly. He is the Chairperson of the Diocesan Standing Committee on Social Concerns and Development
Initiatives. He is the incumbent Rector of the Parish of Sta. Cruz, Surigao West Deanery, Diocese of Surigao, and served as
NPO Region 10 Governor for one-term from 1999-2002.
November 12, 2008
Mindanao Dioceses Start Travel Today
For the 2008 Mindanao Plenary Assembly
The
Revd Mervin Jose G. Elimanco*
(Surigao City) – All roads in Mindanao lead to Opol Parish today as delegates of the seven
dioceses of the IFI in Mindanao start their travel to attend to and participate in the 2008 Mindanao Plenary Assembly [MPA]
which is expected to begin tomorrow, November 13, Thursday.
As established in 1999, the Mindanao Plenary Assembly
serves as the highest deliberative assembly among the canonical organs under the Mindanao Bishops Conference. It meets
every year to serve as venue for the sharing of episcopal ministries among the bishops in the region, for the reception of
various reports of the different ministries under the oversight of the MINBISCON, and for planning of common program of activities
in Mindanao to push the mission of the Church and the corporate program of the IFI. Under the presidency of the MINBISCON,
the MPA is composed of clergy and lay representatives from all the dioceses in Mindanao, plus the regional presidents of the
sectoral organizations of the clergy, women, men, youth and clergy spouses in Mindanao.
The MINBISCON planned the
2008 MPA to be inputted with the Summit on Lay Ministry. The national presidents of the women, youth and men were invited
to present the vision and programs of their individual organizations. Together with the Address of the Obispo Maximo,
the Most Revd Godofredo David, and the input of the MINBISCON President, Right Revd Rhee Timbang, these sectoral presentations
would become part of the reference materials for workshop sessions and planning. As long practiced by MINBISCON, these
workshop outputs are incorporated to the whole activities for Mindanao derived from the reports of the bishops, regional leaders
of the sectors of the clergy, women, youth, men and clergy spouses. All these would serve as the priorities for next year’s
implementation in Mindanao level, alongside with the established and on-going programs supervised by the MINBISCON.
Since 1999,
the MPA serves as communal expression of the episcopal leadership of the MINBISCON as collegial body of bishops which exercise
oversight on the whole life, faith and witness of Mindanao churches.
Earlier, through an official action of the Supreme
Council of Bishops, the regional bishops conferences were institutionalized to serve as administrative mechanism of the SCB
and to provide a venue for sharing among the bishops, for their continuing fellowship and study to enhance their episcopal
leadership and for common planning and implementation of the corporate program of the Church as they collectively exercise
spiritual leadership for and pastoral oversight on the dioceses place under their charge within the region. The MINBISCON
is among the four regional bishops conferences of the IFI.
In his convocatory letter, the MINBISCON President requested the Mindanao bishops and
regional officers of the clergy, women, youth, men and clergy spouses to prepare and submit reports to the MPA to account
the ministries of leadership entrusted to them.. He wrote: “Through these reports, we can somehow recognize that
indeed we are a group of churches here in Mindanao which are related with each other but connected with the whole whole IFI
which pursue a common mission in mutual responsibility and interdependent ecclesial life, within our diverse but particular
and unique jurisdictions.”
The bishops and their diocesan delegates are expected to arrive at Opol Parish tonight, in order
to start the MPA sessions on time tomorrow.
In fact the clergy delegates from the seven dioceses have already converged in Bulua
Parish starting this morning to hold their first all-Mindanao NPO Convention in order to effect the restructuring of the organization.
The NPO General Convention acted in May 2008 to fuse the two NPO regions in Mindanao to become one.
The youth delegates are also
expected to arrive one-day ahead at Cagayan de Oro City for the meeting of the Mindanao Area Advisory Council.
The 2008 MPA
is expected to adjourn on the morning of November 15, 2008, Saturday, where the bishops and delegates start their journey
to return back to their respective diocese.
-----------------------------------
* The Revd Mervin Jose G. Elimanco is the
Bishop’s Canon at the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration, Diocese of Surigao, and Chairperson of the Diocesan Standing
Committee on Ecumenical Relations and Inter-faith Dialogue.
November
3, 2008
IFI Fourth
South Cenral Luzon Convocation
One hundred thirty bishops, priests and deacons of the Iglesia
Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan Church) will hold the 4th South Central Luzon Clergy Convocation on November 4-7 at Ciudad
Cristia Resort in San Mateo, Rizal.
The activities will be led by the Most Reverend Godofredo J. David, IFI Supreme Bishop,
supported by the clergy of South Central Luzon Conference, composed of 8 dioceses (Bataan and Bulacan, Cavite, Greater Manila;
Laguna; Marinduque, Quezon, Batangas and Camarines; National Cathedral; Romblon and Mindoro; and Rizal and Pampanga). Also
expected to attend are Aglipayan priests serving as chaplains in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to be led by the newly-appointed
AFP Chief Chaplain Fr. Rosalindo Acacio Jr.
The purpose of the convocation is to celebrate the special ministry of the IFI
through worship and prayer, fellowship, study and dialogue. The activity pursues the aspirations and resolutions of past convocations
of the IFI.
The gathering will be guided by the triennial theme of the church, “HOLD FAST TO WHAT WE HAVE ATTAINED. (Phillipians
3:16), and by the call to “Patatagin ang Pambansang Pamunuan, Palakasin ang mga Lokal na Simbahan, Pasiglahin ang Kalakhang
Kasapian.”
For the whole 106 years of her life, the IFI passionately strives to realize her mission to be a church
that is “Pro Deo et Patria”, Simbahang “Para sa Dios at para sa Bayan”!
October 11, 2008
Surigao WOPIC Celebrates Laity Month,
Holds Deanery Level Women Formation Course
As in the past years, the Women of the Philippine
Independent Church [WOPIC] of the Diocese of Surigao celebrated the Laity Month by pursuing its organizational
activities, among which was the holding of the Women Formation Course [WFC] for the church women in Siargao Islands Deanery
on October 11-12, 2008 at Dapa Parish Church.
The
WFC was facilitated by the Diocesan WOPIC officers led by Mrs. Marujah Doverte, Mrs. Princesa Echin and
Mrs. Rosal Beberino. The rector and WOPIC of Dapa Parish graciously hosted the event as one-hundred ten [110] women delegates
trooped to the venue to attend and participate in the deanery-level activity.
Siargao Islands Deanery was comprised of the following parishes and their ministers: Parishes of Burgos [Revd Johnone
Escobal], Consolacion [Revd Rowel Platil], Dapa [Revd Elgen Escobal], Rizal [Revd Joaquin Estoconing] and Socorro [Revd Allan
Bune], and of the Missions of Roxas [Revd Romar Fermillan] and Nueva Estrella [Revd Basilio Liray, Jr]. Revd Joaquin Estoconing
served as the dean.
The WFC was among the on-going educational activity
of the Diocesan WOPIC and aimed at forming church women in the in the Diocese to become conscious in their calling and vocation,
and in their place and role in equipping the Church for mission and in nation-building. The WFC followed a particular curriculum
designed by the Diocese. In the morning session of the first day, October 11, Saturday, Mrs. Rosal Beberino lectured on “Women
in the Bible;” Mrs. Marujah Doverte presented the “Women Situationer.” In the afternoon session, Mrs. Princesa
Echin lectured on the “Role and Status of Women in the Pre-Colonial and Colonial Period” while Mrs. Rosal Beberino
presented the lecture on “Women and Christian Leadership.”
During at the evening session, Mrs. Marujah Doverte facilitated the Workshop and Role Playing on Women’s Values.
The second day, October 12, Sunday, the WFC participants joined with Dapa congregation
in taking part of the Eucharistic Service celebrated by Revd Elgen Escobal. Being the hosting rector, he also led the Opening
Worship in the first day and welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Bishop and whole Clergy of Siargao Islands Deanery.
Since 1997 the Diocese of Surigao has started to observe the Laity Month every October
after the whole Church through the Executive Commission declared it in 1996. Every year, the Diocese through its Convention,
upon recommendation of the clergy and sectoral organizations, designed a common activity for implementation at all parishes
and missions, and these included the sectoral mobilization, commitment education, stewardship campaign and community civic
action.
September
18, 2008
MINBISCON LAUNCHES BILF, HOLDS STUDY CONFERENCE
Responding
to the need to provide the bishops and clergy of Mindanao the opportunity for continuing empowerment and for developing second-line
of episcopal leadership, the Mindanao Bishops Conference [MINBISCON] launches the Bishops’ Institute and Leadership
Formation [BILF] Program by holding a two-day study conference on September 11-12, 2008 at Oroquieta City. Thirty-four clergy
participants from the seven dioceses in Mindanao attended led no less by their respective diocesan bishops. The MINBISCON
invited the Revd Tomas S. Maddela, a faculty member of St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary, Asian Institute of Liturgy
and Music and Maryhill School of Theology, to serve as the principal resource person, giving a five-series lecture on the
topic “Renewing the Eucharist and Liturgical Formation.”
At the Opening Worship,
the Right Revd Pablito Jarantilla, Bishop of Western Mindanao, the host diocese, welcomed the bishops and clergy participants
and expressed his joy that finally the MINBISCON has implemented BILF as among its major programs. The
Mayor of Oroquieta City, Hon. Jorge T. Almonte, graced the opening and joined with the host-bishop in welcoming the participants
to his peaceful and progressive city. “I feel honoured to welcome you all to Oroquieta City both as a city mayor and
a church member” he said.
The MINBISCON President, Right Revd Rhee Timbang, Bishop of Surigao, expressed his gratitude
to the host-diocese and the rector and council of Oroquita Parish, and the city mayor as well for the warm reception, and
thanked all the participants for their attendance despite travelling one-day
early, especially those who came from the Dioceses of Southern Mindanao and of Surigao. He said that “BILF is an integral
part of the MINBISCON Program intended to provide an opportunity for the bishops and clergy to refresh or update themselves
on various areas of studies and disciplines in theology, scriptures, history, liturgy and ministry, geared towards the further
enhancement and upgrading of the ministries of bishops and towards the formation and development of selected clergy as potential
episcopal leaders in Mindanao dioceses in the future.”
In his homily at the Opening Worship,
Right Revd Delfin Callao, Jr., Bishop of Southern Mindanao, said that “the launching of the BILF jibes well with our
projections to create thirteen dioceses in Mindanao in 2012, and the start of equipping and developing future bishops in these
new dioceses must start early as now and we have BILF for that.”
The Right Revd Deny Dapitan
presided over and preached at the Eucharistic Service on the second day, while Revd Robert Kiunisala from the Diocese of Libertad
gave the BTR. The Right Revd Felixberto Calang, Bishop of Misamis
Oriental, Bukidnon and Camiguin and of Libertad led the Closing Worship where certificates of attendance
and of appreciation were distributed. The activity was capped with a sumptuous dinner hosted by the city
mayor and his spouse, followed with ball room dancing. The vacation house of Dr. Jimmy and Mayette Cebedo,
church members who now reside in the States, served as the venue, facilitated through the efforts of Madam Bebie Castillo,
Revd Jesus Manaay and Revd Manny Marasigan.
August 8, 2008
SURIGAO CELEBRATES DIOCESAN THANKSGIVING DAY
Through a solemn high mass presided
over by the bishop and all his clergy, the Diocese of Surigao, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, celebrated the other
day, August 6, its Diocesan Thanksgiving Day, and over three hundred church members congregated at the Cathedral Church of
the Transfiguration in Surigao City to take part in the yearly gathering.
The Eucharistic service
marked as the highlight and culminating activity of the 10-day period celebration that started in July 27, 2008.
Activities included the diocesan-wide novena masses, bloodletting activity, forum on health, and series of special
radio program.
The 1997 Convention of the Diocese mandated the yearly celebration of the Diocesan Thanksgiving
Day every August 6, being the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, at the Cathedral Church which was aptly named after
and dedicated to the feast. The occasion would serve as gathering for worship in thanksgiving to God for
the formation of the diocese and for the privilege in taking part of the mission of God in Christ.
Congregations
largely coming from the mainland parishes started to arrive in jeep loads at the Cathedral Church as early as seven in the
morning. Exactly at eight, the Eucharistic service started, with the bishop and the clergy and other ministers made their
way to the altar in procession dressed in white liturgical vestments. Bishop Rhee Timbang opened the service
with the introductory words: “We have come together today to praise and give thanks to God for the calling and formation
of this Diocese, and as we rejoice in thanksgiving, may the spirit of this celebration, taking place in the Feast of the Transfiguration
of our Lord, continues to renew and transform us towards faithfulness to God’s mission, according to the standard of
the transfigured Christ.”
The Revd. Noel Lorente, Revd Carlo Morales, Revd Paul Esparrago and Revd Rhea Loquias
led the singing of the Great Litany. Church leaders like Mrs. Rosal Beberino of Dinagat Parish and Mr. Carlos Espina of Cathedral
Parish read the Old and New Testament lessons, respectively, while Mrs. Gemma Chato of Socorro Parish chanted the designated
psalm. Revd Romar Fermillan sung the gospel, the Lukan version of the transfiguration story. The choir
groups of the Cathedral Church and Placer took turns in leading the congregation to sing, with Dr. Elvis Patulin at the organ.
Both choir groups were among the products of the regular and continuing choir workshops of the diocese.
Bishop
Timbang told the congregation in his sermon that “the story of the transfiguration of our Lord is also our story as
we continue to journey towards faithfulness in God’s mission.” “The transfiguration event showed us Jesus’
firm commitment to pursue his mission in Jerusalem even as death awaits him there, armed with divine recognition of his calling
as God’s Son.” He said: “We are recognized as God’s children in baptism; it is therefore our calling
to proceed to our own Jerusalem in doing mission!”
