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Balanga Diocese Marks 30th year

A CELEBRATION OF BEAUTY, HEROISM & HOLINESS

(Peachy Yamsuan)

Bishop Socrates B. Villegas led thousands of his flock in celebrating the 30th anniversary of his Diocese of Balanga on March 17 by consecrating the diocese's newly refurbished St. Joseph's Cathedral. He was presider at the rites of consecration and the Mass which was concelebrated by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of the Archdiocese of San Fernando (Pampanga), Bishop Sofronio Bancud of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, and Bishop Manuel Sobrevinas, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Imus (Cavite), Bataan's clergy and some 20 more priests from Manila and other  dioceses.

The Diocese of Balanga was carved out of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga in 1975. It comprises the entire civil province of

Bataan, the smallest among the provinces of Central Luzon. The province is a peninsula jutting out to sea, with Manila Bay to the east, China Sea to the west, and the province of Zambales to the north. At the time of its foundation, the diocese only had 13 parishes and 15 priests. Today it has 28 parishes and 3 chaplaincies and 43 priests. Also, in 1975 it had only one priest who was a native of the province, but now it has 26.

In his homily, which was interrupted several times by spontaneous applause, Bishop Villegas compared the newly acquired beauty of the cathedral to the innate beauty of the people of Bataan. "This is a celebration of beauty, the beauty of the people of God of Bataan, of the inspiration of Pope Paul VI who established the diocese, the pioneering efforts of Bishop Celso Guevarra, the first bishop and the first priests of the diocese such as Msgr. Dumaual and Msgr. Manansala," the bishop said. He further said that the beauty of the cathedral, which now sports marbled floors, a new retablo, and stained glass windows on the sanctuary and all around the church, is simply evidence of the beauty of the people of Bataan.  "Pinapaganda ang cathedral para bumagay sa tao. Ang kagandahang loob ng Diyos at ang tao ay nagkatagpo sa pagtitipan sa katedral na ito, Bahay ng Diyos, Bahay ng Tao," he said amidst rousing applause.

The rites of consecration and the Mass were both solemn and engaging, as the youthful bishop led his flock through the symbolisms of the celebration and their context in the diocese's present situation and experience.The bishop cited these signs as:

1. Water. Bataan is born of water, Manila Bay and the China Sea. It is surrounded by water, a peninsula, and its people depend on this water for their livelihood. And the water sprinkled at the start of the mass on the people and the church symbolizes the life and livelihood, the new beginning and new birth of the diocese.

2. Chrism (oil). Oil is produced by the tedious process of pressing and passing through fire. The past 30 years of the diocese were a time of trial and search for meaning of life, but it was the grace and blessing of God that brought the people of Bataan through its journey through rocky roads and darkness. In this celebration, we bring our secret tears and fears, resentments and wounds. The oil will be spread on the altar, and on the different posts of the church, as a reminder of God's abiding presence and grace.

3. Incense. The past 30 years brought smoke and fire to Bataan. Smoke from guns of the insurgents, from blown up dynamites used in illegal fishing, and as carbon monoxide fumes coming from factories, indicators of men's violence towards one another and towards the environment. The incense that will permeate the church will be like fragrant odor reaching up to God's throne in heaven, a promise that all the smoke will change the smoke of sin and violence of men.

4. Light. The most beautiful sunset is not in Manila Bay, as I believed when I was a Manila boy, but can be found in Bagac and Morong. Light and glow are innate in the people of Bataan because of their proven valor, and now, their aspiration not just for heroism but also holiness.

5. People. We are the people of God, the most beautiful of the most beautiful of churches. Even if the beautiful structure of the church fades away, the beauty of Bataan will not fade away because "God is in us, which is the real and authentic beauty."

"Let us not be afraid that this beauty will vanish because our true beauty will remain, and that is Jesus Christ," Bishop Villegas said.

The 30th anniversary mass drew a mammoth attendance never before seen in such a gathering, a parishioner of Orani, Bataan said. The cathedral was filled to the aisles, with overflow crowd all around the church.  Delegations came from all the towns of the province.

It was also the occasion to launch the diocese's full-range formation program dubbed as PALAD (Pandayan ng Layko ng Diyosesis) with Fr. Michael Tria as program director. Fr. Tony Quintos, chancellor of the diocese, read the document formalizing the program and appointing Fr. Tria.  At the close of the mass, Bishop Villegas gave special awards to Architect Susan Castillo, who helped in the renovation of the church, and to actor Jomari Yllana, who organized a benefit concert to raise funds for the construction.The bishop together with Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia also unveiled a special marker of the occasion at the entrance of the cathedral.

A barrio fiesta featuring various booths of the different parishes capped the celebration. Bishop Villegas and his clergy attended the barrio fiesta garbed in spiffy barong Tagalog. The barrio fiesta lasted into the evening, with everyone sharing fun and native food.