The Diocese of Imus opens its Jubilee Year on Nov. 24-25, marking the declaration of the whole province of Cavite as an independent diocese from its mother diocese, the Archdiocese of Manila, on Nov. 25, l96l by Pope John XXIII, by virtue of the Apostolic Constitution “Christi Fidelium.”

The diocese was canonically erected on April 26, 1962 with the Most. Rev. Artemio G. Casas as its first bishop. The parish church of Ntra. Sra del Pilar in Imus was chosen as the cathedral church, the seat of the new diocese.

On Nov. 24, ecclesiastical districts will congregate at their respective places. There will be a program of songs and agape, after which, the vigil proper will take place. Confessions will be ongoing during the vigil. The districts that will have their vigil at a place outside of Imus will proceed by motorcade to Imus where they will congregate at a specific place to begin the procession together with their patron saints towards the Imus Cathedral.

By 11:30 p.m., everybody will be in front of the cathedral. At exactly 12 midnight, Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle will open the Holy Door or the Jubilee Door. The Bishop, together with the priests of the diocese, will pass through the Jubilee Door, after which the Eucharistic celebration begins.

On Nov. 25, 5 p.m. , a Eucharistic celebration will be officiated by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales inside the Imus  Cathedral, with several Bishops concelebrating in thanksgiving for this year of grace.

Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle is its present bishop until he is installed Archbishop of Manila on Dec. l2, at the Manila Cathedral.

Imus history

In his history on the diocese, Fr. Virgilio Saenz Mendoza, parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Church in Naic, writes that the Diocese of Imus counts 2,339,555 Catholics with five ecclesiastical districts, 10 vicariates, 48 parishes, nine quasi-parishes and four pastoral centers.

There are 92 diocesan priests, eight religious priests and six guest priests assigned in different parishes and church institutions. Some are assigned in foreign lands as chaplains of the Filipino communities, or on study leave.

Cavite is almost like a little Vatican with the presence of 12 seminaries and formation houses for religious men, 65 religious houses for women, either formation houses or houses of prayer. On its own, the diocese has two seminaries:  Our Lady of the Pilar Seminary and Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol. There are also 10 houses of secular institutes. There are also 19 parochial schools, 25 congregational schools, three Catholic colleges and one university.

The patroness of the Diocese of Imus is Nuestra Señora del Pilar, whose feast is celebrated on Oct. 12. The Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga has been the patroness of the province of Cavite since her apparition in 1667. She is presently venerated in San Roque Church in Cavite City, which celebrates her fiesta on Nov. l3 and today. Bishop Emeritus Manuel Sobreviñas will officiate the Concelebrated Mass today at 9 a.m., while Most Rev. Chito Tagle, Arcbishop-elect of the Archdiocese of Manila, will celebrate the 6 p.m. Mass.

In the Nov. l3 fiesta  Mass, “hermano mayor” Boy David invited baritone Jack Salud to sing “Ave Maria” by Cacini, while soprano Nanette Moscardon-Maigue sang with the Bungang Himig choir of the Sacred Heart Parish in QC.

Ilocos Sur parish fiesta

Thanks to former Manila Councilor Bernardo Ragasa, Jr., we learned that Santa Catalina town in Ilocos Sur celebrates its fiesta on Nov. 25. Named after St. Catherine of Alexandria, the parish is managed by  Fr. Vernusto Mata as parish priest. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia headed by Archbishop Ernesto Salgado.

Councilor Ragasa’s father, Bernardo P. Ragasa, Sr., was the mayor of Santa Catalina from l937-l942. When he was only l0 years old, the younger Ragasa lost his father to kidnappers; Ragasa Sr. was never seen again. It was believed then that the crime was committed by people who resented the senior Ragasa’s strict rules about mining gold in the area.

The Mayor Bernardo P. Ragasa Elementary School stands today, however, in his memory as a good mayor. Councilor Ragasa, Jr. goes back to his hometown, attending to the needs of the church like donating new Stations of the Cross (when the old ones were stolen) and improving the sound system.

Mensa Domini formation house

Mensa Domini (The Lord’s Table) order was founded by the late Bishop Cornelio Dewitt in San Jose,  Antique. In l975, then Bishop Nicolas Mondejar invited the nuns to Odiongan, Romblon, to help in catechetical work and BEC activities. On Oct. 25, the Our Lady of Fatima Formation House was blessed by Msgr. Ernie Fetalino in a hilly two-hectare area in Odiongan, donated by the late Augusto Festin and his family.

Fatima Festin-Perdido also donated the three-ft image of Our Lady of Fatima. Superior general is Sister Delia Masculino. Young ladies interested to join the congregation can call Mensa Domini at tel. no 4l234l2 (Quezon City convent).

Joyful mysteries for Senegal intention

Let us pray the Joyful Mysteries tomorrow for the intentions of Senegal (Africa)—that economic reform will decrease the country’s dependence on foreign aid, that Senegal’s involvement in peacekeeping be recognized, that Senegalese migrant workers in Europe be treated fairly, that the country succeed in solving its acute energy shortage, and that the government and insurgents in the south of the country come to peace.

Ambassadors of Light at Philamlife

Anderson Go, founding president of Ambassadors of Light Foundation, Inc., will present his choral group in a fundraising concert on Nov. 28, 7 p.m., at the Philamlife Auditorium to raise funds for the scholarship of 22 members (male and female “unsighted” singers). Anderson, who is visually impaired himself, founded Ambassadors of Light in year 2000. Titled “Dream of my Heart, Part II”, the concert will also feature Laarni Lozada, who was a former scholar of AOL.  Tickets available at the gate. or text Sonia at 09l7-87l-8870.

Condolences to the Diocese of San Fernando for the the passing away of their bishop, Most Rev. Artemio Rillera, SVD. Funeral Mass is on Nov. 22, 9 a.m., at San Fernando Cathedral.