PAGPANGANDAM. Sa Eyukaristiya anaa ang kadasig ug panaghiusa sama na lamang niining mga kaabag sa bag-ong iinstalar nga parokya sa Baguio, Calinan. RICKY JIMENEZ
One more parish in Calinan
PAGPANGANDAM. Sa Eyukaristiya anaa ang kadasig ug panaghiusa sama na lamang niining mga kaabag sa bag-ong iinstalar nga parokya sa Baguio, Calinan. (Ricky Jimenez)
After 17 long years of waiting, the dream of finally having a parish church of their own will become a reality for this hilly and rich agricultural community of Catholic devotees.
Located 37 kilometers from the San Pedro Cathedral, the center of worship is a GKK chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in Baguio poblacion, in the Western part of Calinan Parish. Originally established in 1948, the chapel has been relocated three times and had nurtured the spiritual growth of Baguio residents especially from six far-flung barangays.
In his homily last November 29, Parish Priest Fr. Ricky T. Flores said that the whole church awaits the joyful arrival of the Savior Jesus Christ. Similarly, the Baguio Catholic community from 19 GKKs awaits the fulfillment of having a parish church of their own, in a bigger land area. He added that his emphasis is formation which he described as the basic element of spiritual development among the church-goers. “As such, the church can independently conduct activities of its own, although somehow attached to the mother parish church of Calinan,” Fr. Flores remarked.
Today the second Sunday of Advent, Davao Abp. Romulo G. Valles presides the 9:00am mass and formally establishes the San Pedro Calungsod Quasi Parish.
The faithful are so happy to know that the one-hectare lot at Purok Dahlia, Baguio District was donated by the heirs of the late City Mayor Elias B. Lopez through a Deed of Donation prepared by former Congressman Ruy Elias Lopez. For a Choir and Formation Ministry member Violeta Gahito “the elevation of the GKK chapel to a quasi parish church is a good development.” She feels happy for naming the parish after San Pedro Calungsod, a Cebuano martyr from Visayan ancestry who lived with Indigenous Peoples (Lumads).
Actually and canonically, the quasi parish is the same as to that of a parish. However, due to particular circumstances as may be prudently judge by the archbishop, it may not be made as a parish, yet eventually will become one in the future. (Ricky Jimenez | HFP SoCCom)
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