History of the St. Francis of Assisi Quasi-Parish

La Verna Hills Subd., Diversion Road, Davao City

The St. Francis of Assisi community which is located at La Verna Hills Subdivision, Brgy. Cabantian, Davao City was canonically established as a Quasi Parish last September 17, 2013 by his Excellency Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, DD within the Eucharistic celebration. The installation of its first Parish Priest in the person of Rev. Fr. Orlando A. Angelia also took place at the same time.

The jurisdiction of the new Quasi-Parish extends from DAMOSA, Mamay Road to Sun City, Diversion Road which includes sixteen chapels namely: Zone 1 – St. Anthony, St. Anthony Village and MOPH, Liceralde; Zone 2 – Sto. Nino, Diamond Village and San Jose, JLA Subd.; Zone 3 – San Lorenzo Ruiz, Victoria Heights Subd.; Zone 4 – St. Vincent, Vincent Heights and San Miguel, Diho Subd.; Zone 5 – Sagrada Familia, PUNAD and Sto. Nino, Lea Subd.; Zone 6 – Birhensa Fatima, Pag-Ibig Homes and St. Francis of Assisi, La Verna and Zone 7 – St. Joseph, Davao Empress Community, Christ the King, SPDA Communal and MOPH, Catitipan. These GKKs were formerly part of the three parishes of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Bajada; San Miguel Parish, Panacan and St. Mary’s Parish, Buhangin.

The feast day of this new Quasi-Parish falls every 17th of September which is the day to commemorate the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, honoring this unique gift of the Lord by experiencing the same marks of the five wounds of our Lord.

The Parishioners of this young parish community are encouraged to be selfless, humble and simple as well as being compassionate to the poor by imitating the example of their patron saint – St. Francis of Assisi.

One feature that characterizes this new parish community is its promotion of organic gardening as a way of taking care of mother nature and by protecting the environment as a way of imbibing the spirit of St. Francis as a patron of ecology and environment.

The talented Rondalla group which is composed of young parishioners makes this new and young parish proud which just rightly shows that even the younger generation is happy to take part in the quest of living up St. Francis of Assisi’s example through selfless service to the Church.

The elder members of the community also take active roles in the parish life through various organizations like Divine Mercy Apostolate, Couples for Christ and by being part of the Formators or catechetical ministries.

The Vicariate School of Theology (VST) which is a privilege granted by the IIREFF (Ignatian Institute of Religious Education) which offers theological subjects parishioners also help giving good and sound formation of parish leaders and members.

Indeed, faith transcends the hearts of every one, no matter what age bracket they belong, through the guidance and inspiration of St. Francis of Assisi and the passion to serve the Lord in whatever way we can.