Mati Diocese Celebrates Jubilee of the Liturgical Ministers thru Virtual Chorale Competition

The Diocese of Mati successfully conducted the Virtual Chorale Competition last June 22 to June 25, 2021. This is in line with the celebration of the Jubilee of Liturgical Ministers with a theme: Liturgical Ministers: Gifted to Give.

Headed by Rev. Fr. Eric L. Bangcot, DCM, the Director of the Commission on Worship, together with Rev. Fr. Ronnie B. Orrelianida, DCM, Rev. Fr. Marlon Requitillo, DCM and in coordination with the Social Communications Ministry in the Diocese of Mati, the competition, which had to be done by segments according to Vicariate due to the increasing number of Covid-positive cases in Davao Oriental, proved to be successful.

Each competing group was required to perform a “warm-up” song entitled We Give Our Yes by Carlo Magno and a contest-proper piece entitled Gifted to Give by Ryan Cayabyab. Only the teams that made it through the virtual online round were asked to proceed to their respective parishes where, in accordance to current safety protocols, only the official videographer from the SocCom was allowed to cover each performance. Each vicariate has a schedule that had to be followed: June 22, 2021 – St. James the Apostle Vicariate (Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino-Boston, Parish of Sto. Niño-Kinablangan, Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Lambajon and the Parish of Immaculate Conception-Baganga); June 23, 2021 – San Salvador del Mundo Vicariate (Quasi-Parish of San Antonio de Padua-Baugo, Parish of San Salvador del Mundo-Caraga, Parish of St. Francis Xavier-Manay and the Parish of San Pedro Claver-Tarragona); June 24, 2021 – San Nicolas de Tolentino Vicariate (Parish of Santo Rosario-Calapagan, Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral-Mati and the Parish of Divine Mercy-Mati); and June 25, 2021 – the San Vicente Ferrer Vicariate (Parish of San Ignacio de Loyola-Luzon, Parish of St. Francis Xavier-Sigaboy, Parish of San Isidro Labrador-Bato-Bato and Parish of San Vicente Ferrer-Lupon).

The participating choral group of each parish was given a certificate of appreciation for their active participation in the said competition. The judging of the Virtual Competition last June 26 was done through live-streaming in the Official Facebook page of the Diocese of Mati – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mati, Trinity Cable Television, DXHM-AM 549 KHz Heart of Mary and DXDV 97.5 Spirit FM – MATI. The judges of the said competition were: Mr. Albert Respecia, chairman; Rev. Fr. Rey Armasa, DCM and Seminarian Anthony Pobar.

The big winners were: for St. James the Apostle Vicariate, 1st Place went to the Parish of the Immaculate Conception-Baganga; 2nd place went to the Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino-Boston and 3rd place, the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Lambajon. For San Salvador del Mundo Vicariate, the Parish of San Salvador del Mundo-Caraga got the 1st place; 2nd place, the Parish San Pedro Claver-Tarragona; and 3rd place, the Parish of St. Francis Xavier-Manay. For San Nicolas de Tolentino Vicariate: 1st place, Parish of Divine Mercy-Mati; 2nd place, the Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral-Mati; and the 3rd place, the Parish of Santo Rosario-Calapagan. The first placers of each Vicariate will compete in the Diocesan level on June 30, 2021.

The Diocese of Mati, armed with faith and strictly following the government’s protocols, remained undeterred by the raging pandemic in celebration of the Jubilee of Liturgical Ministers.