Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - “A new mission has been opened ! This is a moment of grace: children and adults wear their best clothes to be baptised and confirmed. Excited and little anxious they listen to the Word of God. For many years the Sacraments had not been celebrated here, now they are one Body thanks to the Most Holy Eucharist ”. Why did Bishop Angelito R. Lampon, OMI, Vicar Apostolic of Jolo, open a new mission six months ago on 12 December 2006 in Tawl-Tawl, in the Philippines were there are very few Christians?
We read on OMIworld web site of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate it all began in the Summer of 2005 when couples reached the parish of Bongao, after 8 hours on a wooden boat from coming from Sitio Ungusan, Kualabaro, Languyan, Tawl-Tawl to get married. They said there were Christians in various provinces of Zamboanga south and north in Davao and Sibugay, from the cities of Dumaguete and Pagadian, one family came from M’lang, Cotabato.
Father Rito Daquipil, parish priest of Holy Rosary Parish in Bongao, informed of this presence of Catholics, asked Sr Betty Simabjon, head of the office for Basic Ecclesial Communities to investigate the situation. A visit to the area confirmed the presence of 72 Catholic families some grow cassava and rice, other are fishermen. Informed of the presence of these families Bishop Lampon, gave permission for more information to be collected. Sr Betty and her staff went back and forth to Sitio Ungusan to teach catechism, instruct and organise the families invite people to receive the Sacraments.
On 8th December 2005 the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Fr Rito Daquipil celebrated the first Eucharist and the families chose Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception as their patroness. On 14 February 2006 the priest celebrated Mass during which he blessed the marriage of a number of couples. Immediately work began to build a small mission house and a chapel. On 12 December 2006 Bishop Angelito R. Lampon celebrated Mass to inaugurate the new mission station. (K.P.) (Agenzia Fides 18/6/2007; righe 27, parole 366)
