The Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao Gathering

The Spaniards left the Philippines after Magellan’s death on April 27, 1521. Returning 40 years later, Spain focused all their colonization and evangelization in Visayas and Luzon. Mission work in Mindanao began only in the middle part of the 16th century when the Jesuits landed in Zamboanga but 20 years later, Spain abandoned all their posts forcing the Jesuits also to leave.

The Jesuits returned to evangelize Mindanao in the last part of the 16th century. Unfortunately, the Jesuits were suppressed in the middle of the 17th century forcing them again to leave Mindanao.

The Recoletos replaced the Jesuits but they were smaller in number. When the Jesuit Order was reinstated in the last part of the 17th century, it redoubled its efforts in Mindanao but these were very few priests. Mindanao is a big island and 70% of the island was either uninhabited or had hostile people. In the middle of the 16th century, U.S.T. opened the first seminary in our nation but only the Luzon and Visayan Churches benefitted.

It was only in 1956 that the first Mindanao seminary was opened through the super human efforts of Archbishop Clovis Thibault, Msgr. Maurice Michaud and the all-out support of the P.M.E Fathers that the Mindanao Diocesan Clergy began to evolve.

Though less than 100 years in existence, the Mindanao seminaries have produced hardworking, humble, competent and extraordinary diocesan clergy. Compared to Luzon and Visayas, the Mindanao churches, convents, and schools are newer and modern in design and style. The parishioners are youthful, more supportive and willing to endure all trials.

We thank the Heavens for Mindanao’s very good bishops and archbishops, for the Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) and a diocesan clergy whose efforts are not only incredible but super colossal. Mabuhay ang Mindanao Diocesan Clergy.