Pasasalamat sa 70-taong biyaya

“70 Years of Blessings”

“Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa biyayang tinatanggap.
Muli’t-muli nagpapasalamat sa iyo, Inang Maria.”

These are excerpts from the lyrics of the concluding song led by the Immaculate Concepcion Parish Youth Apostolate Choir (ICPYA Choir) during the Episcopal Eucharistic Celebration for the 70th Parochial Fiesta of the Immaculate Concepcion Parish (ICP) of Peñaplata, presided by Most Reverend Romulo Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, last 08 December 2022. Not being able to contain his joy, Archbishop Valles approached and personally congratulated the choir after the Episcopal Celebration, and advised them to record and adopt the song as official alternative to the traditional Gozos for Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Guided by the theme “Sa Pagbangon sa Pandemya, Birhen Maria, Giya Diha sa Panaw sa Sinodong Simbahan”, the Fiesta Masses were followed by Baptismal Rites for a throng of infants and young kids, traditional salu-salo at the Parish Rectory, and a simple awarding of winners for the pre-fiesta activities, like the Quiz Bee, the Poster-Making Contest, and the Marian Cosplay. Simple, yet meaningful celebrations.

But, what is there to celebrate?

The feast of the Immaculate Concepcion has always been one of the most important feasts of the Catholic Church, for it celebrates the purity of Mary, chosen among women to be the eventual Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Since her conception in the womb of Anne, her mother, Mary has been kept free from all sins by the grace of God. Acknowledging the profound significance of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, then-President Rodrigo Duterte, through Republic Act No. 10966, declared 08 December as one of the non-working special holidays in the country “to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines.”

Peñaplata Seminarians, Dec. 8, 2022 (ICPYA)

As the Patron of the faithful of the local church in Peñaplata, this year’s feast is much more meaningful – as the parishioners remember, celebrate, and continue to savor Mary’s motherly presence in their ongoing journey as “community of pilgrim faithfuls” these past 70 years.

This year, several fruits of this synodal journey could be seen in both the physical and spiritual dimensions of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Peñaplata.

Notable physical improvements could be seen within the Church premises – as parishioners and benefactors have been very generous in sharing their time, talents, and treasures, resulting to the installation of big decorative stained glasses on the major walls of the Church building – showcasing the images of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and Our Lady of Fatima. This is also complemented by the augmentation of the sound systems paraphernalia, the extension of the concreting of pavements, and eventually setting up a small play area/court for the parishioners, among others.

Spiritually, the parishioners are now able to re-live their sense of being a community, as face-to-face Eucharistic Celebrations have been effectively restored and celebrated regularly back to the “new normal”, after two years of lockdown and limited face-to-face activities. This gives more meaning and significance to the synodal Church of Peñaplata, considering that the Universal Church is currently embarking on a 2-year listening journey called the Synod on Synodality (journeying together) with the theme “Communion, Participation, Mission”. This resulted to the increasing participation of the youth, lay ministers, choir, catechists, other Church apostolates, and the re-kindling of zeal in the Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKKs) amidst the adversities.

Ordination of Fr. Jerick Asdang, Aug. 29, 2022.

Moreover, after two years of lull due to the pandemic, some 244 young faithfuls received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Archbishop Romulo Valles, on 12 November 2022, reinforcing their grace in the Catholic faith initiated at their Baptism.

And, paramount among the blessings for the parishioners of Peñaplata on the 70th Jubilee Year of the Parish is the Gift of Priesthood with the Sacerdotal Ordination of Rev. Fr. Jerick Barriga Asdang, a true son of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Peñaplata, last August 29, 2022. Father Jerick’s ordination ended the 56-year drought of priestly vocation in the Parish, and also inspired six teenage-parishioners to enter the Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary (XACOSE) to respond to and discern on their calling from the Lord, also prompting other young boys to contemplate and consider entering the Seminary.

Indeed, the 70th year of the Parish has not only blessed the local Church with its physical state, but has also been a year of bountiful sanctifications. Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, the community of faithfuls truly demonstrated the synodal spirit – helping one another to get back on their feet, rising up from the devastation of the pandemic, being nurtured by the motherly care of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and being ushered by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It has truly been a year full of blessings. And, nothing is more fitting than the parishioners rejoicing through these lyrics:

“Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa biyayang tinatanggap.
Muli’t-muli nagpapasalamat sa iyo, Inang Maria.”

(Diwani Ma. Rosemina G. Gales)