City of Dipolog: Diocese(LB)

CENTER OF EVANGELIZATION OF MINDANAO

The beginning of Christianity i n Dipolog can be traced farther back
in time with arrival of the Jesuits missionaries, shortly, after St. Francis Xavier's visit in MINDANAO.

In 1609, Fr. Pascual Acuna, S.J., Chaplain of the Spanish Squadron, started mission work in Mindanao with the natives in the area. Twenty years after, 1629, Fr. Pedro Gutierrez, S.J. founded the mission center in Dapitan. This made Dapitan as the center of evangelization in Mindanao.

To execute fully their Christian mission, priests from Dapitan were assigned to make periodic visits in neighboring barrios and sitios, Dipolog included.

In 1769, on account of their expulsion from the Philippines, Augustinian Recollects who assumed the ecclesiastical administration replaced the Jesuit missionary priests. Fray Bernardo Teresa became the first superior in Dapitan. Sometime between 1796 and 1797 the Lubungan Parish, now Katipunan Parish, was established with Dipolog under its jurisdiction. By that time MINDANAO was under the ecclesiastical province of Jaro, this being the seat of the Augustinian Recollect.

Dipolog was then a Barrio in Dapitan. A pueblo was organized by a group of natives and Boholano pioneers led by a Spanish missionary priest, in Sianib, (now Mutia) a barrio about twenty kilometers from the shoreline. The choice of location was based about twenty kilometers from the shoreline. The choice of location was based upon the prevailing circumstances of the time. Moro pirates and marauders endangered the coastal towns and settlements, so for security reason they chose the site far inland. A "capilla" was erected through free labor and self-help. Here the people congregated and heard mass.

When Moro piracy was no longer rampant, the people moved nearer the seacoast, in sitio Isab, Nipa-an. Here they built another "capilla" on the hilltop overlooking the mouth of Isab Creek adjacent to a vast plain. Later the people felt the inconvenience in going up and down the hill to attend religious activities. So they moved to Tulwanan in Nipa-an. Finally, they transferred to the opposite side (Dipag) of the river and constructed a
Simbahan.

In 1868, the Jesuit returned to the Philippines and resumed their work at the old Mindanao mission replacing the Augustinian Recollect priests. MINDANAO was returned to the ecclesiastical province of Cebu and in 1870 the Jesuit came to Dipolog.

Rev. Fr. Francisco Martin Luego, S.J. sent Rev. Fr. Antonio Obach, S.J. to Dipolog. Rev. Fr. Antonio Obach was the first Jesuit to live here though assigned in the parish of Lubungan, now Katipunan. He occupied the old convent vacated by his predecessors, the Recollect priests.

Fr. Antonio Obach moved to Dapitan to take place of Fr. Juan Gelaberth, S.J., Cura Parroco of Dapitan, who died. His place in Dipolog was occupied by Fr. Jose Ramon, S.J. Upon the death of Fr. Jose Ramon, another priest, Fr. Jose Villaclara, S.J., succeeded him. On July 13, 1892, Fr. Eusebio Barredo, S.J., succeeded Fr. Jose Villaclara as parish priest of Lubungan.

Since Dipolog was in the Jurisdiction of Lubungan, Fr. Eusebio Barredo led the faithful of the place in the construction of the convent on December 21, 1892 and was completed on April 17, 1893. His next project was the cemetery construction, which was started on June 1, 1893 and completed on September 29, 18. Finally, Fr. Eusebio Barredos project in Dipolog was the church that was erected on April 1, 1894. The first mass in the new church was on June 29, 1894.

With this projects completed, Fr. Eusebio Barredo prepared Dipolog to become a parish. So on June 30, 1896, Dipolog was made a parish with the barrios of Polanco and Sianib under its jurisdiction by virtue of the order from the mother parish of Lubungan. The Governor General of the Obispado of the Philippines confirmed the order from the Obispada of Cebu on October 30, 1896 and the Royal Approval from Spain was on February 8, 1897. On November 6, 1896, Fr. Esteban Yepes was appointed the first parish priest of the parish of Dipolog.

About hundred years after Fr. Esteban Yepes was appointed the first priest of the parish of Dipolog, we have another Esteban who presided during the Centennial Celebration in the person of Msgr. Esteban C. Gaudicos, V.G. Accidental this might be, but the Providence made this possible to have him preserve the Church and restore the Altar to the original structure.

HISTORICAL TID BIT

The year was 1893 Rev.Fr.Eusebio Barredo, S.J. planned, conceived and did was necessary to materialize an idea to put up a new and more commodious "Simbahan" in DIPOLOG because the capilla was to inadequate.He organized the 24 cabezas de ba- rangay through the support of Governadorcillo Don Basilio Tabiliran in gathering first class timber through the "takay" system. Each barangay was supposed to finish 8 big trozos (logs). In a few months time 192 big and long logs of molave, guisok, kubi, ipil and other hard wood were filed in the plaza

On March 4, 1894 the first molave post of the projected "Simbahan" was erected. With the exception of those that needed technical knowledge,

In 1932-1939, Rev. Jaime Mir, S.J. became the Parish Priest. He provided the church with the bigger Harmonium and an automobile. He had purchased books and devices for the boys' and girls' schools.

In May, 1940, Rev. Fr. Nicasio Y. Patangan, the first Filipino diocesan priest of Mindanao and a native of Dipolog, became the Parish priest after Rev.Fr. Jaime Mir,S.J. With the help of his assistant, Rev.Fr. Pio Saavedra, the high school department known as St. Vincent's High School started to operate. Father Patangan organized the first group of cathechists to teach in elementary and secondary public schools.

In 1946, Rev.Fr. Engracio S. Rivera became the assistant parish priest of Fr. Patangan in lieu of Rev. Saavedra. And by 1947 the college level was offered with Rev.Fr. Rivera as its first director for both secondary and college levels.

Today, as we move on towards the Third Millennium, The Holy Rosary Cathedral of Dipolog is presided by most Rev. Jose R. Manguiran, D.D Bishop of Dipolog. Old but not worn-out. Traditional but not antiquated.Young and progressive. That's the church in Dipolog as she continues to mature in the vineyard of the Lord.

Thanks to God who made for us a world to build a parish and a church in which to serve and praise HIM.

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