RECOLETOS DE HINATUAN-Dugmanon: First Stop of Father General’s Visit to the Philippines

“Visita la comunidad de Hinatuan en Surigao del Sur-Mindanao con recepcion Digna de un ministro. Almuerzo con lideres parroquiales, charla con el pueblo, celebracion dela Eucharistia, con las Iglesia a rebosar, cena festiva y diaologo con los religiosos de ñas dos communidades: Hinatuan y Los Arcos.”– Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez, OAR

With these words, our Prior General expressed his gratefulness for the warm welcome he received from the people of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, and Brgy. Los Arcos Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur where the two OAR mission parishes were located. It was awe-inspiring for the father general that he was welcomed with colorful festivities, sumptuous food, and a dense joyful crowd.

Rev. Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez, OAR with his secretary Fray Luciano Audisio, OAR, and translator Fray Domingo Saladaga, OAR arrived in Brgy. Dugmanon on October 3, 2023, around 10:45 in the morning. Hundreds of parishioners and citizens riled up the road leading to barangay hall with their loud voices and audible applauses. The grand welcome continued at the grounds of the barangay hall with a short program and festival presentations.

In the afternoon, in the parish church, the visit went on with the dialogue with the people. In the conference, the father general stressed the importance of the Philippines to the history of the order. He ended with an emphasis on the call of the pope for a synodal church. This first day of the visit culminated with a eucharistic celebration with Fr. Saladaga as the presider assisted by Rev. Ivan Quizon, OAR, and Mons. Jose Zafra, Fr. Raymond Ambray (representatives of the bishop), Fr. Mark Saludes, OAR, Fr. Cristopher Gaspar, OAR, Fr. Jay Parilla, OAR, and Fr. Jerome Virtudazo, OAR as concelebrants.

On the following day, before heading to Brgy, Los Arcos, the father general visits several area chapels of the quasi-parish. He saw the chapels of Banacan, Lusaon, Campa, and Portlamon. The faithful of Campa Chapel had a chance of having a conversation with the father general where they expressed their gratefulness to the Recoletos for their pastoral work to their Catholic community. As we drove home the father general took photos of some captivating landscapes along our way.