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By Msgr. Crispin C. Bernarte, Jr.
“Centuplex” is a Latin word which means a hundredfold. At a time when many parts of the world experience shortage of priests to serve the pastoral needs of the Church, the town of Bacacay, Albay joyfully celebrates an upsurge in priestly vocation. On this year 2016, this town celebrates a double jubilee, namely, the extraordinary Year of Mercy that the universal Church observes and a Year of Thanksgiving for the gift of a hundredfold of priestly vocation from the God of mercy and compassion. On this special year of grace, the town folk’s sense of gratitude knows no end and its joy is overwhelming. Like Isaac who sowed his crops and reaped a hundredfold and subsequently was so blessed by Yahweh until he became truly prosperous (Gen 26:12-13) the Bacacayanos amidst simplicity of life-style celebrate with pride and great hope this Centuplex.
Bacacay, Albay of the Diocese of Legazpi is a home to three parishes: St. Rose of Lima in the downtown, St. John Nepomucene in barangay Bonga and Sacred Heart in barangay Cabasan in the island of Cagraray. Christianity found its place in the hearts of Bacacayanos not long after the first Franciscan missionaries set foot in the province of Albay. Historical records show that Bacacay was a mission area or “Visita” of the Franciscan friars who were based at the parish of Tabaco City which was then also a “Visita” of the parish of Camalig, Albay until 1616. Both parishes have St. John the Baptist as Patron Saint. Taking this mission pattern, most probably St. John the Baptist was also the titular of the Church of Bacacay in the early part of its history following the Camalig-Tabaco mission tradition. Bacacay eventually became a parish in 1660. St. Rose of Lima was canonized later by Pope Clement in 1671 and thereafter became the Patron Saint of Bacacay, Albay.
A Journey of Faith
Through the years the cross that was planted by the first Christian missionaries on the coastal town of Bacacay did not only bring in a big catch of believers from among its people but also a big number of fishers of men. Likewise, in this agricultural town the harvest is rich and the harvesters are many, in religious parlance! One in faith, the three parishes of Bacacay are united through a strong marian devotion endemic among its people. Since 1900, Mary who is known here as Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados has been and is being venerated by all the town folk as its heavenly patroness, protector and “Ina” (mother). History tells that our Blessed Mother appeared at the foot of Mayon Volcano in Bonga, Bacacay before some abandoned aetas. Since then the devotion flourished among the local catholic Christians. This devotion whose feast is celebrated every August 31st made Bacacay truly “un pueblo amante de Maria”. This must be the major reason for this town’s abundance in religious vocation, making it a cradle of priestly vocation in the region if not of the entire country.
This town’s rich harvest of priestly vocation, as of this date, includes 1 bishop, 98 priests, 3 deacons and counting, excluding those who have already gone ahead in the kingdom of our merciful God. These ordained men are categorized as diocesan priests working either in the diocese or outside the diocese, religious men and those who trace their roots to Bacacay. The whole town is grateful too for the twenty two women religious and three religious brothers who hail from this turf and like us do sing joyful praises to God for this gift of a hundredfold.
Living in Hope
Situated right on the typhoon belt of the archipelago, strong typhoons in the past like Trix, Olive, Sisang, Reming and lately Glenda, to name a few, brought irreversible damages to the simple town of Bacacay making the local life’s challenges a lot harder than it used to be but amidst the pains and burdens a calamity brings the people’s faith even gets stronger, putting full trust in God despite manifold ordeals. Families continue to give their sons for the endless mission of the Church that we all love, to serve as teacher of the Word, minister of the Sacraments and servant of the Community.
United in Love
Renewed by the grace of God through each sacerdotal ordination that the community is able to witness, the Church of Bacacay moves on working together in humble communion, promoting priestly vocation and working towards becoming a better community. A representative from every priest and seminarian’s family altogether constitute the team of Vocation animators in the town praying for and promoting vocation to the priesthood and sisterhood. United in love, celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy and reaping the blissful fruits of the Centuplex, we remember with deep gratitude God’s overwhelming gift to our community even amidst material poverty and various handicap. We joyfully celebrate this divine favor of hundredfold blessing in deep humility, helping one another in good times and in bad. We always believe in God’s endless mercy thus our celebration of the Centuplex and all subsequent endeavors, we pray, will do some honor to God who is rich in mercy.
We therefore call on all the clergy from Bacacay, Albay throughout the world: let us be one in celebrating our Centuplex on August 31, 2016. To God be the glory! Amen.
-http://www.cbcpnews.com/
