San Pedro Poveda Parish: The Life and History

Catalunan Pequeño – In 2018, a year after the Teresian Association established the extension campus of Saint Pedro Poveda College-Basic Education Department outside Metro Manila, they donated a land portion of 1.2 hectares to the Archdiocese of Davao. Immediately, words spread among the residents of Brgy. Catalunan Pequeño on the appointment of the Priest-In-Charge and eventually the creation of San Pedro Poveda community from the ground up.

The nomination of Priest-In-Charge took place sometime around May 2018, during the monthly General Assembly at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Mintal, the mother parish of San Pedro Poveda Parish. Present in the meeting were the GKK-Servant-Leaders. The nominees were Rev. Fr. Elneri Meñez, D.C.D., and Rev. Fr. Ricky Peñalosa, the former Parish-Vicars of the Immaculate Conception Parish – Mintal. Fr. Meñez won by a large margin and eventually was installed as the Priest-In-Charge of San Pedro Poveda Community effective July 2018.

The transition began in the grassroots level. A GKK Exposure and Basic Liturgy Seminar (BLS) was spearheaded by the select catechists of Teresian Association. The catechism aims to impart and memorialize the life and legacy of San Pedro Poveda, a priest and educator by profession, humanist, and a martyr. At the same time, it is also intended to build the community. The said activity, scheduled every 5:00 in the afternoon, was rolled out around 21 GKKs in the outskirts of Brgy. Catalunan Pequeño, followed by the Anticipated Mass presided by Rev. Fr. Elneri Meñez.

On July 22, 2018, days before the Feast of the Martyrdom of San Pedro Poveda, the community began its Regular Sunday Mass every 6:00 in the morning, at the AlMaCen Gym.

The collective efforts of building the parish dedicated to San Pedro Poveda dated back to 2018 when the community held its masses in the said complex for two and a half years.

Fr. Menying made it clear to the public that the land donated by the Teresian Association was officially turned over to the Archdiocese of Davao. He thanked the Teresian Association and the entire community for the unwavering support following the construction of the parish.

Fast forward to year of the Lord, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic restriction eases, the community was able to build its makeshift chapel at the parish site few weeks before the third community-wide fiesta. It was a monumental movement. Bringing the community together at the forefront amidst the adversities. Following the continuous improvements in the chapel courtesy to the blessings and the indelible mark of bayanihan spirit in our community, the community was able to prepare for the Canonical Establishment.

On December 3, 2021, Most. Rev. Romulo Valles graced the Canonical Establishment, thereby making the San Pedro Poveda the 42nd parish in the Archdiocese of Davao. It was concelebrated by the invited priests and the entire Barangay Catalunan Pequeño. Subsequently, the Archbishop formally installed Rev. Fr. Elneri Meñez as the Parish Priest. Fair enough, the establishment of the coincided with the Birth Anniversary of the patron saint.

A little rewind, the community had its collective efforts of building the parish in 2018. The said effort is still resonant and apparent with the bayanihan spirit in our community, that even the pandemic cannot resist the igniting spirit of our parishioners. Earlier this year, on Easter Sunday, the parish ceremoniously broke ground to commence the construction of the three-storey mixed use building. (John Emman Magallanes)