We continue to ponder on the homily of Bishop Valentin Dimoc when he presided the Indigenous Peoples’ mass on Oct. 11.
The Americans introduced their own brand of governance while the CICM and ICM missionaries did their evangelization through education and faith formation. Example: while the American governors responded to the reality of revenge by communities in Mountain Province and by clans in Ifugao, the missionaries responded by focusing on faith-formation of students who will become future parents and leaders.
After 100 years of missionary work in the old Montañosa, here we are IPs, thanking the Catholic missionaries for bringing the cross of Jesus Christ. Their coming to our shores and to our mountains is indeed a gift.
Now, we do our part in passing on the faiththrough Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC)-type church, where there is dialogue, participation, and shared responsibility. It is our turn to continue to evangelize so that the values of the Kingdom of God may be more visible in our lives, in our structures, in the socio-political/cultural/economic aspects of our lives, in our way of doing things as a society and as a church.
We are being encouraged to carry on the mission and be faithful missionary disciples of the Lord Jesus. We can do this by building and strengthening our 353 BECs in the vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe. This is a tough challenge but a joy to pursue it.
We persevere in encouraging and enabling our BECs to participate in the Yeast (Youth, Education, Altar, Social and Services, and the Temporalities) ministries.
By making our BECs in our local church vibrant, we are contributing to the growth of the universal church. We welcome the joy of realizing that the Lord Jesus sent us, the baptized and confirmed by the Holy Spirit and nourished by the eucharist, to make our BECs truly alive and witnesses to the faith.
We are grateful for the gift of faith and we continue the mission.
We also celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines and 114 years in our local church.
The vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe has ended November with the ordination of Rev. Fr. Frederick A. Lid-ayan in Hungduan, Ifugao. We also welcomed December with the ordination of Rev. Fr. Brayle M. Bagyan in Kilong, Sagada. Here is our novena for the ordination.
Almighty Father, we the BEC of Sagada unceasingly pray for our fast approaching beautiful celebration of faith, vocation, and family.
We pray O Lord for a good weather so that everyone will be safe and happy.
Let the preparation and celebration be Covid-19-free for everyone’s well-being and safety.
Let unity and harmonious collaboration prosper so that joy be the atmosphere in the workplace.
Lord please make our preparation and celebration be providential and unitive.
Let it be real haven of peace and love.
With the precious blood of Jesus, we trust that our families will be protected from the pandemic.
With the Holy Spirit, we trust that conflicts and misunderstandings along the way will turn to learning, to forgiveness and unity.
We pray for Deacon Brayle. Lord bless him with energy, good health, and tranquility. Morally and spiritually boost him that he may constantly see his vocation as a gift to the people and his response will be always a loving faithfulness to your call.
We ask you this in Jesus Christ your son, our Lord and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
St. Joseph. Pray for us.
Congratulations too to Frs. Benny Castañeda and Johnny Sumalileng as they celebrate their 36th priestly anniversary on Dec. 3.
Please pray for me too as I celebrate my 19th priestly anniversary on the same day. Your prayers, loving care, and sincere fraternal correction will help me mature in my priesthood.
Thank you.
