A Mature Church

Mature not only in age but also in faith.

When a community has produced a priest among them, the community becomes mature in faith. Since the local church of Davao produced not only one but three bishops, this confirms of her becoming a mature Church not only in the number of years but also in faith.

The appointment of the third bishop from Davao has added to the reasons why the Archdiocese of Davao has grown into maturity in faith as a local church, being one of her clergy reaching the fullness of the priesthood as successor of the apostles.

Bishop-elect Abel C. Apigo is the third Davaoeño who joins the college of bishops along with Bishop of Digos Guillermo V. Afable and Bishop of Ipil Julius S. Tonel who once served as priests from the Archdiocese of Davao.

“Indeed, this is a cause of rejoicing, thanking God for this gift. It is also our source of pride and honor for he comes from the Archdiocese of Davao. His appointment is also a cause of honor, encouragement and inspiration to us in Davao, that is, having one of us being called to serve the Church as a bishop,” said Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles in his circular letter, February 11.

The announcement of the appointment of Msgr. Apigo, rector of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao (REMASE) in Catalunan Grande was made February 10 during the Friends of REMASE gathering.

Tracing the history of the Archdiocese of Davao, the seed of faith were planted here by the missionaries starting with the Augustinians, Jesuits and also the PME Fathers who have preached the Gospel, baptized many and slowly started building the faithful and the local clergy.

Davao became a Prelature Nullius on December 17, 1949 with the Archdiocese of Cebu as Metropolitan seat. The PME Fathers at that time slowly started the building of the local church and the building of the local clergy by building the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary (XACOSE) and REMASE.

After 17 years, Davao was then elevated into a Diocese on July 11, 1966 and then as an Archdiocese on June 29, 1970 with St. Peter the Apostle as titular patron saint and whose feast day is celebrated every June 29.

FIRST FILIPINO BISHOP

According to Bishop Guillermo Afable, the maturity of the Archdiocese of Davao began when the first Filipino bishop headed the local church of Davao in 1971.

Bishop Afable was referring to Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas who succeeded Archbishop Clovis Thibault, PME from Canada, who was chosen to head the local church of Davao, who in some way have shown the Universal Church that Davao has grown into maturity, many years after the missionaries have set their foot in this part of Mindanao.

Archbishop Mabutas was the one who ordained Msgr. Apigo 24 years ago. He was also the one who ordained Bp. Afable and Bp. Tonel to the priesthood.

From then on, the Church has grown in population with more priests ordained and serving the archdiocese and two priests then ordained to the episcopacy.

Bishop. Afable was ordained to the episcopacy last July 12, 2001 at San Pedro Cathedral while Bp. Tonel was ordained on August 20, 2007 in the same cathedral.

MATURITY AS SEMINARY RECTOR AND FORMATOR

Though Msgr. Apigo did not have the experience as a parish priest, his pastoral experience in various assignments in the parish as parochial vicar and his years of being a companion to would-be priests have prepared him to become a shepherd of Mati.

According to Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla, archbishop emeritus of Davao, the appointment of a priest to the episcopacy can be due to his maturity as a priest in his apostolate.

“His appointment is mostly due to his maturity as seminary rector and formator,” said former archbishop of Davao, Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla about Msgr. Apigo, rector of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao (REMASE) in a text message to DCHerald.

Former Editor-in-Chief of DCHerald and Pre-Theology Year Coordinator of REMASE, Fr. Marbendear L. Morallas said that it’s always a joy not only for the REMASE community but also the whole Universal Church to have a priest sent to lead the flock in another diocese.

“Having a bishop from among the priests of a local church is a sign of maturity for the diocese,” Fr. Morallas added.

“We pray fervently then for the new Bishop-Elect Abel C. Apigo in this difficult new ministry,” Abp. Valles said.

Bishop-elect Abel Apigo will have his Episcopal ordination on April 24 also at San Pedro Cathedral through the anointing of oil and laying on of hands of three ordaining prelates.

He will be installed April 25, at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral in Mati City.