SAINT JAMES PARISH

Saint James Parish in Dapitan City takes pride in being the oldest in the diocese. With the Jesuit priest Pedro Gutierrez. Two years later, a fellow Dapitanon became their shepherd, Fr. Antonio Hamak, who served them twenty years. Those who succeeded him include Fr. Engracio Rivera, Msgr. Salvador Mora, Fr. Esteban Gaudicos, Msgr. Emigdio Socias, Fr. Ranulfo Suarez, Msgr. Wilson Cadano. At present, Fr. Virgilio Belleno administers Saint James Parish.
 

The laity had also participated prominently in the life and history of the parish. From Manook and his daughter Maria Uray, the present lay leaders, ministers catechists, charismatic and mandated organization members, they have acted as lay evangelizers. With the support of various parish groups and chapels, the parish moves gradually to the establishment of basic ecclesial communities.

The Society of Jesus was tasked to preach the good news in this part of Mindanao. They came to the Philippines on 1581. When the country was divided among four religious congregations for their area of responsibility on 1598, the Jesuits were given the Diocese of Cebu which covered the whole Visayas and Mindanao. So located at the North Western portion of Mindanao, Dapitan fell under the jurisdiction of the courageous men of Saint Ignatius.

At first, the Jesuits came as chaplains of the Spanish naval force out to explore, conquer and colonize more tribes. Such was the case of Pascual de Acuña whose brief stay started the Jesuit mission in Dapitan. The squadron of Juan Juarez Gallinato, of which he was the chaplain, had just defeated the Maguindanao Muslims in ferocious battle near Dapitan. While the terms of surrender were being negotiated, the squadron anchored at the Dapitan harbor. Acuña took advantage of the situation to do mission work among its residence and the surrounding tribes until the Muslims managed to escape after two months. This was on 1609.

Other Jesuits naval chaplains followed his example particularly when Dapitan became a popular port of call for Spanish squadron on patrol. Finally, on 1629, the Society sent the Mexican Jesuit, Pedro Gutierrez, to found specifically the Dapitan mission. Dedicating tirelessly all his efforts for those whom he has regarded his children, he was able to establish a permanent Jesuit mission residence in the area. Two years later he became its first superior. The missionary zeal of the Jesuits was spent particularly on the conversion of the Subanen known to be the original inhabitants of the peninsula. At times, they had to offer their lives as martyrs like Francisco Paliola who shed his blood in Ponot on January 29, 1648. Dapitanon shared in these missionary endeavors. They acted as escorts soldiers or interpreters of the foreigners, like the son of Pagbuaya, Manook. Others became lay evangelizers in their own areas.

The Augustinian Recollects arrived in the Philippines on 1606. They came late for the general division of territories for evangelization among the Augustinian, Frawnciscans, Jesuits and Dominicans eight years earlier. Thus, the eastern part of Mindanao was taken from the Jesuits and assigned to them. On 1770, the expulsion of the Society of Jesus handed to them the whole island as field for mission work. For the Dapitan mission, Bernardo Teresa became the first superior. The Filipino diocesan clergy took over on 1946 in the person of Epifanio Baleares.

Sources of Information:

* Zamboanga del Norte: Crossroad of Development; Gateway to Mindanao

* Provincial Development Council, "Provincial Situationer 1992" PDC Meeting

* G.S. Dalmacio, "Historical Prof. of Dipolog Parish (1834-1940)"

* Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, 1986

* Horacio Dela Costa, The Jesuit of the Philippines, 1581-1768

* Diocese of Dipolog, 1967-1989 (Tribute to Most Rev. Felix Zafra D.D)

* Other original historical documents found in the parishes of Dapitan, Katipunan and Dipolog, and in Rome.

* Fr. Cedric L. Adriatico, "The Jesuit Mission of Dapitan in the Seventeenth Century."