50th Golden Jubilee Celebration – OMPH Parish Davao

Parishioners were filled with smiles on their faces because they were so inspired by the music they heard and seen during the “Konsierto Halad Kang Maria, mga awit sa Redemptorist Mission on June 17, 2022, at 7:30PM in our parish. It was a gathering of musical talents from solo performers, Rev. Fr. Froilem Bonn Barreto, CsSR, Mr. Simon Lawrence Yuson, and Ms. Jean Lloyd Beto with the angelic voices of St. Hildegard choir, St. Cecilia/LOMAS choir, St. Blaise choir, St. Catherine choir. For the musicians and dancers the Kaliwat Theatre Collective and their back-up and main back-up musicians which with the help of Tribes’ sounds and lights it appeared festive. It was indeed a night of songs telling the stories of the parish, the joys, the sorrows, and enlightening moments of the journey.

On the dawn of June 19, 2022 the words, “Wake up! Wake up! It’s time to get ready for our dawn procession!” were heard as the parade of GKK saints, CSsR saints, and, of course, the star of the celebration the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help began which started at 4:00 AM traversing the route where boundaries of the thirty-three (33) GKKs can be covered.

It was such a memorable day being the jubilee fiesta celebration 50 years as a parish. 50 years of receiving all the graces and blessings from the intercession of our blessed patron saints.

The Pontifical Mass was at 10:00 AM with Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles as the presider. Bishop Emeritus Emmanuel Cabajar of the Diocese of Pagadian had given the homily, several CSsR priests were also present at that time. The blessing of the new altar of the parish was done during the mass. It was a sponsored project from the new group of the parish “Mother Butler Guild-OMPH Bajada unit.

One of the events for this Jubilee celebration was “Pista sa Nayon” where twenty-Five (25) representatives from each GKK together with the LOMAS and invited sponsors and guests gathered in the SATMI gym. The gym was flooded with golden colors of T-shirts bearing the theme and parish logo of our jubilee celebration. The different costumes of festival dancers provided the needed contrast that night.

There were nine (9) participants in the “Festival Dance” competition. Zone 3 chose Kadayawan Festival, Zone 2-Sinulog Festival, LOMAS-Kadayawan Festival, Zone 4-Panagbenga Festival, EXECOM and church group, Zone 6-Pintados, Zone 1-Maskara Festival, Zone 7- Sinulog Festival, and Zone 5-the Ati-atihan Festival.

It was indeed a colorful festival of dances, we were awed by the various props and costumes presented before us and Fr. Cris (parish priest) said in his message “I am happy with the overflowing of talents, unequaled energy, which no amount of prize can compensate for all the efforts, and to me all of you are winners. Surely our patroness is very happy with what we have done today. Thank you, everyone!”.

The top 3 winners of the festival dance competitions were Zone 7- 1st place, Zone 6-2nd place, and Zone 3-3rd place. Non-winners received consolation prizes as well.

Indeed the theme of “Pagpaambit sa bulawanong Gasa sa Inahan sa Kanunay’ng Panabang” became a reality on the occasion of so many other big-time celebrations like “Father’s Day, Inauguration of our Vice-President-elect Inday Sara Duterte, and the “Feast of Corpus Christi”.

Thank you, Mama Mary, for all the graces and blessings you have showered upon us all through your loving intercessions. Happy 50th Jubilee celebration! (Marieta V. Comighud | Parish SoCCom Coordinator)