History of the Establishment of the Ascension Parish

GSIS Matina, Davao City

The Ascension of the Lord Parish started as a small chapel in the garage of the GSIS building. It all started from the support of few people having great strength and deep faith. These people requested to have a mass in the garage chapel every Sunday but the request was not granted because of the policy of “No mass outside the Cathedral on Sunday”. However, due to the increasing demand and needs of the people especially on the Holy Eucharist, their request was granted. Attached to it was a condition which was to find an appropriate place for the mass. These people found the right place for the chapel which is where the Ascension of the Lord Parish is currently located.

A large number of mass goers attended mass every Sunday on the said chapel because of its accessibility. With that, the chapel became one of the GKK of San Pedro Cathedral on July 11, 1975. The talented, supportive and committed members of the chapel were the instruments of God in order to support the structural development of the chapel. Moreover, they also focused on their spiritual growth as individuals and as a community to ensure a holistic growth. The chapel was named Ascension Chapel by Father Rogelio Antalan which was also the assigned priest due to its location. By that time, the Archbishop found the strength of the GKK in Gravahan, Matina Pangi, Balusong and Bangkal. Due to the increasing population, the Cathedral can no longer sustain the needs of the people. Because of this, the Archbishop planned to make a new parish for the people in Gravahan, GSIS Heights, Matina Pangi, Balusong up to Bangkal area.

Twenty-seven years have passed, the Ascension of the Lord Parish became one of the official parishes in Archdiocese of Davao together with the installation of the first parish priest, Most Reverend Julius Tonel, who is now the current Archbishop in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

From 2006 until now, the second parish priest of Ascension is Reverend Father Leonardo Dublan Jr.

With God’s grace and parishioners’ support, the Ascension of the Lord Parish has five masses every Sunday: 7am, 9am, 12nn, 4pm and 5:30pm. Added to that is the 5am mass conducted in Matina Pangi and Gravahan during Sundays. Together with the thirty-one (31) GKKs, the Ascension of the Lord Parish is continually developing and progressing.