Most Holy Rosary Parish (Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City)

PARISH PROFILE:

I. Most Holy Rosary Parish (F. 1980; Erected as a Parish: 1993)

II. Address: Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City 6100

III. Lot: Donated by Mr. Abelardo Bantug Sr. and Family

IV. Titular: Most Holy Rosary

V. Feast Day: October 7

VI. Vicariate: Bacolod South

VII. Chronology of Assigned Priests at Most Holy Rosary Parish (Brgy. Alangilan):

                       

Fr. Antonio Y. Fortich celebrated the firt Mass in this place in the 1950’s.

           

As Part of Mission Area of Granada:

1.        Fr. Telesforo Sardon       

      Chaplaincy (1973):

2. Fr. Gratian Murray                            1973-1984:

      Assistant Chaplain:

      Fr. Genaro Demecais                         1982-1984…

3. Fr. Genaro Demecais                                    1984-1988: was assigned as Parochial                                                                      Vicar of San Sebastián parish.
   
   

Parish(1993):

4. Fr. Arecio Dormido                           1988-Oct. 1, 1993 : was assigned as                                                                         Diocesan Treasurer at the Bishop’s                                                                            House.

5. Fr. Leon Orbista                                Oct. 7, 1993-June 23, 1997:

      Administrstrator:

      Fr. Ivan Intong                                  Jan. 1995- Apr. 1996: was assigned as                                                                            Parochial Vicar of Victorias: Our Lady of                                                                        Victory Parish: Nuestra Senora de                                                                                         Salvacion, Victorias City.                                                                                          

6. Parish Administrator:

      Fr. Filomeno Duaban                       June 23, 1997-

7. Fr. Fr. Christopher Entrata                           was assigned to Bata parish.

8. Fr. Farley Ray Santillan

Religious Vocations of men and women from Alangilan Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary:

1.      Fr. Jexon Davao

2.      Fr. Mitchel Jawili-Guadalupe

3.      Fr. Gregorio Neri

4.      Fr. Telesforo J. Neri (POM)

Nota Bene:

The date of foundation of Alangilan Parish according to 2008 Catholic Directory of the Diocese of Bacolod is 1980. But Fr. Gratian Murray had lived in the community since 1973 after his assignment at Granada Chaplaincy. The researcher of this study then preferred to tag 1973 as the foundation year of Alangilan Catholic community.

Introduction

            From being Sitio Calaparan, under Brgy. Granada, was created as an independent barangay Alangilan in 1982.  Records show that Granada had been visited by priests even in early 1900.  On the two bells of Granada was inscribed: d. Padre Roman Manuel Lucsin 1867 (donated by Fr. Roman Manuel Lucsin 1867). Since the settlement of Alangilan was very near Granada, the great desire of early missionaries, foreign and Filipinos alike, to win souls to Christ obviously could have brought them to this place.

            Mr. Francisco and Rosario Guadalupe was the first to construct a chapel built out of bamboo and pawod.  Mrs. Rosario Guadalupe or Lola Sayong with other mothers were the first self-taught catechists.Through the  Flores the Mayo they initiated the   children and young adults in basic catechism.

            Fr. Antonio Fortich who was Parochial Vicar of San Sebastian Cathedral was known to be the first one to celebrate Mass in the place and he continued to do so from 1944 to 1949 when he was assigned as parish priest of Binalbagan.

           

            The parish of Alangilan is sixteen kilometres at north-eastern chart of Bacolod City.  Rootcrops and vegetables were the general source of income of the parishioners. Bgry. Alangilan is dubbed as the vegetable bowl of Bacolod City but more popularly kn own as Bacolod’s water source.

           
            In March 1964, Fr. Telesforo Sardon was assigned as Chaplain  of Brgy. Granada. The proximity of Alangilan to Granada was the practical reason of its being administered by Fr. Sardon. Sunday masses were held consistently from then on.  This spiritual reality brought about the building of a simple but concrete chapel for a more sacred celebration of the Eucharist.

            In November 1969, Fr. Gratian Murray was assigned as Parish Priest of Granada. He continued the spiritual administration of Alangilan as Fr. Sardon did before him. Fr. Gratian bought a house and converted it into a convent. After a minor renovation of the house, Fr. Gratian asked to be transferred to Alangilan in 1973 and in his place as parish priest of Granada was assigned Fr. Emilio Henares.

The Phenomenological Church

            1973-1980       In 1973, Fr. Gratian Murray, the replacement of Fr. Sardon, successfully elevated Alangilan into a Chaplaincy. An American and one of the Founders of the University of St. La Salle, he bought a house and converted it into a convent. The former La Salle Brother did not stop there, he searched for a bigger lot for a bigger chapel which led to the donation by Mr. Abelardo Bantug Sr. and Family of a one hectare lot in 1977.  On March 26, 1979 the newly constructed chapel was dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary

           

            The Barangay sang Virgen was made by Fr. Gratian as the number one vehicle for the evangelization of the people of Alangilan. The Legion of Mary, the Sacred Heart and the Nocturnal Adorers emerged as lay associations at the advent of Barangay sang Virgen. The daily praying of the Rosary in the homes became a popular devotion at the time of the Marian priest Fr. Gratian.

            Fr. Gratian Murray, an former American La Salle Brother, was assigned in Alangilan. He worked for the sacramental upliftment of the community and also for their total human development.  He was instrumental in the construction of the Holy Rosary Chapel.  In 1975, he introduced in the chaplaincy the Alay Kapwa program of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

            1980-1990. On August 4, 1982, Fr. Genaro Demecais was assigned as a new Chaplain of Alangilan.  Fr. Gene made the church community feel the difference between the devotional church and the socially aware and responsive-responsible church.  Talks on total human developments were held and most of the members of the congregation felt being the church than being simply a part of the church.

            At the time of Fr. Gene,  the spiritual experiences of the Alangilanons of the Pre-Vatican period was given flesh with the advent of a new Chaplain armed with  Vatican II doctrines. The architectural graduate and late- vocation-priest, Fr. Genaro Demecais endeavoured to make the life of the faithful relevant to the call of the moment by having indoctrination on the total human development and preferential option for the poor.  Basic Ecclesial Communities in the community Areas were initiated.

            On May 29, 1988, Fr. Arecio Dormido was given the task of supervision of the Chaplaincy. Fr. Aris’ youthful enthusiasm and charm for the mature folks made his work of organization easier. He used the Basic ecclesial Communities in the propagation of the diocesan programs and projects.  Fr. Leon Orbista breezed through the parish with his witty remarks and simple lifestyle.

            1991-2000.   Fr. Leon Orbista breezed through the parish with his witty remarks and simple lifestyle.  He was faithful in following the scheduled activities of the parish in alangilan Paoper and in the surrounding community Areas.

            2001-2009. Fr. Farley Santillian initiated the building of a bigger parish Church. The youthful and popular preacher in the genre of Fr. Sonny Ramirez, O.P. poured out his energy into the church construction and synchronization of the activities of the Lay Associations. The community Areas were given their own individual patronal models to emphasized the different virtues of the Christian life.  The frankness of Fr. Farley sometimes made him unpopular among local politicians and the local folks but his consistency in the cause he adhered to made him acceptable to the common tao.

            The building of the modern and huge structure for worship was his greatest contribution to the Catholic community presently (May 2009).  His intenet-technological savvy was useful in his search for the sponsor in the building of the church structure. His parish website could well be a model for other priests who wish to make use of modern communication technology.

The Church of the Poor

            The parish activities from Fr. Gratian Murray to Fr. Fraley Santillan were geared towards building of a community that caters for all but especially for the vegetable farmers and farm workers.  The parish existed for the total development of the catholic community and the whole community.  Projects which uplifts the life of the poor had not been strictly limited for Catholics.  They were shared even with other faiths.

SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY:

      A. Primary Sources

     

      A.1.  Unpublished Documents:

      1. Books of Baptismal Records of San Sebastian Parish from:

      2. Books Marriage Records of San Sebastian Parish from:

      3. Books of Death Records San Sebastian Parish from:

      4. Books of Appointments of Priests of the Diocese of Bacolod

      5.  Books of Profile of Priests of the Diocese of Bacolod

            A.2.  Interviews:

      1. Fr. Ivan Intong at La Herencia Subd., Bacolod City on April 13, 2009. He was                  assigned as Parish Administrator of Alangilan From Jan. 1995-April 1996.

            B. Secondary Sources:

            B.1. Books:

            1. Romero, Ma. Fe Hernaez. Negros Occidental Between Two Powers (1888-                                                         1909). Negros Occidental Historical                                                                          Commission, Bacolod City, 1974.

            B.2. Memoirs and Articles:

            1. Handurawan, 2006

            2. 2008 Catholic Directory of the Diocese of Bacolod

            3. Our Lady of the Rosary Chaplaincy Profile as Submitted to the Curia by Fr.                      Arecio Dormido. October 15, 1989.

            C. Websites:

1.      Diocese of Bacolod website: http://home.catholicweb.com/BacolodDiocese

2.      http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1635341/vegetable_basket_of_bacolod.html?cat=5