News that shaped 2018

The year 2018 was shaped with beautiful moments, treasured memories, and blessings of which the Davao Catholic Herald was able to chronicle like different festivals were celebrated, feasts of Saints were recognized, new bishops were installed, new shepherds of the church were called, and Year of the Youth is declared or celebrated as the new liturgical year. So many things happened this year, and as we move forward into the beginning of another chapter, let us all look back to the different news that helped shape up the year 2018.

January of 2018 began with the celebration of the 53rd GKK feast of Sto. Niño of Talomo. Celebrating the Eucharist with a message from Fr. Duhaylungsod, saying that people should be focusing on providing solutions on issues involving children rather than just dancing the Sinulog. On February, the Diocese of Davao produced three bishops and the diocese likewise was recognized as a mature church, not only in the number of years but also in Faith. Divorce became an issue in the month of March which many faithful does not approve of. Thus 6,000 leaders of the church affirmed the sanctity of marriage during a Family and Life Apostolate convention held in Davao with the theme “those who were bound by God can never be separated by men”.

Days of waiting came close to an end as the third bishop of Mati, Bishop Abel Apigo was installed in April. Barangay and SK elections was also held last May. Thus, the Archdiocese of Davao and the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) spearheaded another initiative with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) dubbed as E-CHAMP or Election that is Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful. Another bishop was ordained last June. Bishop Medil Aseo was installed as new Bishop of the Diocese of Tagum.

The first local priest ordained at the Christ the King Cathedral in Koronadal City is Bishop Casicas and became the 4th Bishop of Marbel last July of 2018. For this year, Davao City hosted the National Catholic Media Convention in the month of August at Mergrande Beach Resort, in the hopes of deepening the spirituality of those working in the Catholic media. But the following month, in September, an earthquake occurred in Tarragona. A week prior to its feast which caused some damage on some portions of San Pedro Claver church. The front portion of the church almost collapsed if not for the grills that supported it while some cracks were seen in the walls connected to the pillars of the sanctuary when the quake struck at 3:16 in the afternoon of September 8, the birthday of the Blessed Mother.

As the month of October started, the whole community of Archdiocese of Davao is filled with excitement and enthusiasm as the relic of St. Padre Pio’s incorruptible heart paid visit to the city. Thousands of people lined to grab a moment to a closer encounter of the relic. The whole visit transformed the lives of its devotees and the faithfuls as they draw inspiration from the life and ministry of the saint. The 11th month of the year, November, was a joyful month as the new Archbishop of Cotabato was named. Bishop Angelito Lampon, OMI of Jolo was chosen by Pope Francis after the resignation of Orlando Cardinal Quevedo. And as December opens its page as the last month of the year, Pope Francis appointed the Digos priest, Fr. Ronald Lunas as the new bishop of the Diocese of Pagadian in Zamboanga Del Sur. Also this month, the church also launch the ‘Year of the Youth’, the beginning of the liturgical year with the theme “Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved, Gifted and Empowered” as part of its nine-year journey for the new evangelization and the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity here in the Philippines.

Indeed, this year was filled with several events and experiences and unexpected happenings which transformed our lives in different ways. It helped us become better Christians; and it strengthened our relationship with the community and the church. As we close the chapters of this year, let us not forget the lessons and different values which we acquired and that is to let go of the things that can cause unhappiness and great grief. We must focus, instead, on the things that can bring us spiritual bliss. The past will always be a nice place to visit, but it is not a very good environment to stay at, that is why we have to look forward to the future that awaits us. (Andrea Jeanne Abundo, Sheena Rose Leteral and Christine Joy Rodriguez | HCDC Masscom Interns)