One with the Spirit

Prior to Pentecost Sunday, the Diocese of Digos celebrated Pre-Pentecost dubbed as Diocesan-wide joint Pentecost event 2023. The said activity is again held after the pandemic where delegates from various organizations and charismatic groups of the different parishes in the Diocese of Digos joined to be one with the Holy Spirit. The theme for this year is “One Spirit: Call to Communion and Mission” inspired from the Bible verse, Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV). Over a thousand individuals gathered together at Digos City Gym on May 27, 2023.

Twenty parishes from the Diocese of Digos members of the Diocesan Council of Laity Association (DiCLA) were acknowledged for their remarkable participation. Distinguished organizations who took part are the El Shaddai, Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD), Evangelization 2033 (EV), The Feast, Divine Mercy, Catholic Women’s League (CWL), Couples for Christ (CFC), Vocation Promotion, Neo-Catechumenal Way, Focolare, Mother Butlers, Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI), Adoracion Nocturna, Sacred Heart, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion (EMC), Oasis of Love, Legion of Mary, Dominican Laity, CMMC, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), Prex, Knights of Columbus, AADM, and Our Lady of Lourdes among others.

The Pre-Pentecost celebration became the norm of the Diocese of Digos together with all mandated organizations, charismatic groups, devotional groups, and lay representatives from different parishes in synodality to welcome Pentecost Sunday, according to Reverend Father Allan Joie Nuñez, Director of Social Communications Committee (SoCCom) of the Diocese of Digos and the in-charge of all the charismatic groups of the Diocese of Digos.

The purpose of the event Pentecost 2023 is to inform and enlighten all Catholic believers that Pentecost is the Catholic Church’s birthday and to continually preach the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit, reach out to people, and fulfill the call to mission. Rev. Fr. Nuñez also added that during Pentecost Sunday, each parish of the Diocese of Digos will have their respective celebration with their respective parishioners. It is the earnest desire of the Bishop of Digos, Most Rev. Guillermo Afable, D.D. to organize a yearly activity before Pentecost Sunday. The celebration is ecumenical in the sense that all religious organizations, schools, different church organizations, and other denominations were invited to walk together and with the Holy Spirit towards the Kingdom in heaven, said Fr. Nuñez.

The pre-Pentecost celebration is prepared with inputs from Rev. Fr. Sonny Villahermosa, and from the Feast community Brother Michael “Mike” Lizondra. Also, long hours of animation and praise and worship led by The Feast, CFC, PREX, El Shaddai, and Tuburan Community were performed. The celebration is concluded with the Holy Mass with Most Rev. Guillermo “Jimmy” V. Afable, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Digos as the presider.

The genuine support and real presence of Bishop Afable inspired all members of the church organizations to join him in celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit, which has become the yearly tradition in the Diocese of Digos. He is grateful of the presence of all the delegates representing different age brackets and for making the event spirit-filled, blazing with the Holy Spirit post. Bishop Afable proudly said in his message “mga one thousand plus mi nga nagkatigum dinhi sa Digos City Gym to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and of course the birthday of the church, the gift for the world”. (Gresiel E. Ferrando | Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish-Obrero SoCCom)