SAN
ANTONIO MISSION:
The 2ND Batch of
DRMT Missions in SIQUIJOR Island
The
Dumaguete Redemptorist Mission Team (DRMT) started a new mission at Siquijor
town. This mission can be referred to as the SanCanTeb and IbaLamPan MISSION,
which stands for San Antonio, Cantabon, Tebjong and Ibabao, Lambojon Panlautan
– all names of Barangay Mission areas. But since, the center of this mission
is Bgy. San Antonio, we commonly call this as San Antonio Mission. This
new mission is the 2nd batch of DRMT missions in the Island
Province of Siquijor. After the Po-o Mission of the St. Isidore Parish
of the Lazi town, the mission has moved to the Parish of St. Francis of
Assisi, Siquijor, Siquijor under the guidance of the Parish Priest: Fr.
Casiano Salac.
The
objective of the mission is to help identify and initially form the leaders
of those areas to prepare them, in case it will be found out that areas
are ready to form as a "Chaplaincy". Part of it is to have contact persons
in those areas as the link of the area people to the parish priests. Since
the parish priest, Fr. Salac is still newly assigned to the area; he will
not be starting from scratch in implementing parish programs.
The
Mission was introduced to the area by different liturgical celebrations.
Initially, Bishop John F. Du of the Diocese of Dumaguete introduced the
mission during the Confirmation Mass at San Antonio. Officially, the mission
started with an opening mass held last June 23, 2002 at San Antonio Chapel.
The mass was attended by the people from different areas, presided by Fr.
Galen Cortes and concelebrated by other Redemptorists: Frs. Mario Masangcay,
Gerry Griffith and Martin Ryan together with Fr. Casiano Salac- the Parish
Priest. The entry of the mission to an area was through the 3-day Festival
of Faith, though it was indeed an introduction, it also served as the initial
evangelization in the area. The Festivals of Faith were held in each of
the area barangays and were facilitated by the whole mission team, including
the postulants.
The
DRMT is composed CSSRs, Lay Missioners and Postulants. Two CSSR Students
from SAT in Davao joined the DRMT. Bro. Nico Perez, CSSR and Bro. Erwin
Padilla, CSSR joined the team as part of the 3rd year theology
Mission Immersion Year Program. The DRMT then, went back to the area with
two sub-teams. The Dream Team 1 was composed of CSSRs: Fr. Galen Cortes,
Bro. Erwin Padilla; Lay Missioners: Danny Libot, Gen-Gen Jaictin, Vivian
Cogay; Postulants: Dax Abad, Henry Colubong, Jonas de la Torre; while the
Dream Team 2 was composed of CSSRs: Fr. Mario Masangcay, Bro. Nico Perez;
Lay Missioners: Liezel Daarol, Ryan "Pink" Parantar, Argi Decano, Ian Ray
Lopez, Roger Labañero. Fr. Mario is the coordinator of the whole
team & Dream Team 2 (IbaLamPan area), while Fr. Galen coordinates the
Dream Team 1 (SanCanTeb area).
Then,
the Mission proper leads its way. Liturgical Celebrations, Novena Reflections,
Fiesta Preparations, Creative Dramatics, Evangelization and Training Seminars,
Inputs, Recollections (Teachers, Tatay, Youth) were facilitated in the
local areas as well as to the whole area as a group. Bible sharing groups
were established so as to facilitate the identification of potential leaders
in the area. Novena, Family Prayers, Rosary groups were also promoted in
addition to the regular "Kasaulogan sa Pulong" which the areas celebrated
every Sunday. All of those were preparations for the Leadership Seminars.
The DRMT facilitated various programs to the area as a whole. The Leadership
Seminars I (Aug. 31st) & II (Sept. 28th); the
Mission Youth Camp; the Students’ Recollection were a joint effort of the
whole team in coordination with the San Antonio leaders and youth. The
team also helps in bringing back the catechism of the students both in
the elementary and high school. Eventually, volunteer came out to continue
the task.
The
team facilitated marriages and baptisms as part of its program. However,
those areas which don’t have marriages celebrated, initiated renewals of
marriage vows instead. The sacraments of Baptisms and Confirmation were
also given to those who have not received it yet. The team also helps facilitate
the preparation of their papers.
The
closing masses in the area followed after the marriages. On Sept. 29th,
San
Antonio (am) and Lambojon (pm) was the first batch of the Closing masses.
Oct. 1st then, was the turn of Tebjong (am) and Cantabon (pm).
The next day, the last batch of 2 areas: Panlautan (am) and Ibabao (pm)
was celebrated. After those days of closing masses, the team had a break
at the same time joining the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in their patronal
fiesta (Oct. 3-4)
The
next morning was the Mission Culmination Celebration (Oct 5) held at the
center (San Antonio). The Bishop of Dumaguete, Msgr. John F. Du; the CSsR
General Consultors from Rome: (Frs. Noel Londoño & Frank Jones),
together with the Parish Priest; Fr. Brendan Kelly (Redemptorist Provincial-Visayas
& Mindanao); Fr. Martin Ryan (Superior: CSsR Dumaguete) went up the
mission area to celebrate with the people. The occasion started with a
"Panaw" from the different areas and meeting the visitors with a street
dancing. The mass started at 10 am and included in the liturgy is the ceremonial
turn-over of the cross by the DRMT to the representative leaders from each
area.
It
was an immense crowd. In fact, there was a shortage of consecrated hosts
due to the unexpectedly large crowd. Fr. Mario had to say private mass
after the mass for those who have not received communion. After the mass,
everyone gathered at the basketball court for the "Agape" and a program.
It was an enjoyable and at the same time sentimental program.
Right
after the program, all the Redemptorists and the visitors left the mission
area. While the postulants and the lay missioners followed the next day.
By:
Erwin Padilla, CSSR
October
10, 2002
Dumaguete
City
