Our Lady of the Assumption Parish: A Caring Eucharistic Community

Nothing is more exciting and fulfilling than writing an article for one’s home parish. As far as I can remember, I have been involved in my parish since high school as a member of the Legion of Mary.

The Our Lady of Assumption Parish along Florentino Torres Street, Davao City has a rich and colorful history. It was established in August 15, 1959 with Fr. Jean Bernard Bazinet, PME as its first parish priest. In 1968, it was turned over to the Diocese of Davao with Fr. Edgar Rodriguez, DCD as parish priest.

In July 2, 1972, the first batch of Blessed Sacrament Fathers and Brothers came to Davao City to administer the parish. The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS) is a Catholic religious congregation of priests and brothers whose mission is to share the riches of God’s love manifested in the Eucharist.

Since 1972, the following Sacramentinos served as parish priest: Fr. Joseph Roy, SSS (1972-1977), Fr. Robert Chabot, SSS (1977-1978), Fr. Roger L. Pageot, SSS (1979-1986), Fr. Mandy Tipones, SSS (1986-1988), Fr. Jerry Habunal, SSS (1989 – on acting capacity), Fr. Conrad Goulet, SSS (1990-1996), Fr. Willy Vallar, SSS (1996-2002), Fr. Frankie delos Reyes, SSS (2002-2007), Fr. Felix Elverio, SSS (2007-2015) and Fr. Hermie Garcia (2015 to present).

In December, 1985, the first batch of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS) sisters arrived in Davao City to take part in the various parish ministries and apostolates. The parish is also home for one year to postulants of the congregation during their initial stage of formation.

The parish continues with its mission, namely: to promote Eucharistic and integral evangelization; to participate actively in the Eucharistic celebration and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, to get involved in the programs of the basic ecclesial communities (GKK) and sustain social transformation even in the midst of the pandemic.

In an interview with its present parish priest, Fr. Hermie shared the parish’ program in answer to the archdiocese pastoral plan in the aspects of worship, formation and social action. Worth mentioning are the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament twice a day, close monitoring of the Pangulo sa Katilingban (PSK) in the GKK so that prayer continues in the homes, social action program to 700 indigent families in the parish, Sagop Kinabuhi for drug dependents who wish to undergo rehabilitation, the Disaster Action Response Team (DART) and livelihood programs like vegetable planting and hollow block making. Over the years, through the Assumption Parish Socio-Economic Development (APSED), the parish was instrumental in providing shelter through social housing and land acquisition.

He also stressed on the ongoing formation program, bible sharing and updates in the ministry thru the online platform. Despite the pandemic, the parish carries on with its Eucharistic evangelization talks, first Saturday parish recollection and adoration, daily adoration, recitation of the holy rosary and divine mercy – all in the Facebook page of the Our Lady of the Assumption – Davao.

The Gospel Heart, a catechetical program which aims to have children and parents share in the gospel through story-telling and art using the digital platform is also an answer to the spiritual hunger in this trying times.

The parish is at present conducting a raffle for a cause project to fund in order to continue its medical-dental, wellness and social action programs. Raffle drew will be on August 15, 2021.

It is indeed a joy to walk down memory lane and see people, including myself grow in spirituality over the years by revisiting my home parish. Assumption Parish have been a wonderful part of many people’s lives. Many of its parishioners have served in many apostolates and have learned to embrace the gift of self to God and others.

As we face the present global crisis brought about by the Covid19 pandemic, the parish remains faithful in “seeking to understand all human reality in the light of the Eucharist, source and summit of the life of the church” (SSS Rule of Life 34).