By Mr. Warlito Noguerra
This article was written in 2009, eight years after the Augustinian friars began to administer the parish in 2001.
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Socorro, surigao del Norte was under stewardship of the SVD Fathers for many years. Rev. Fr. Alejandrino A. Plaza, SVD was the first parish priest assigned in the parish. He encouraged and motivated the parishioners to actively participate in the different church activities, projects and programs.
The year 2001 marked the beginning of another epoch in the history of the parish. The friars of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) took over the pastoral administration of the parish, which was started by the SVD missionaries. The first OSA parish priest assigned in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish was Rev. Fr. Sisinio A. Paderog, OSA with Rev. Fr. Andrew P. Batayola, OSA as the parochial vicar. When Fr. Andrew left in 2002 for Australia for further spiritual studies, Rev. Fr. Pacifico “Jun" Nohara, OSA assumed the post as the parochial vicar. The initial task of the OSA missionaries was to reorient the Catholic faithful whose social and spiritual life need to be reinvigorated.
This article was written in 2009, eight years after the Augustinian friars began to administer the parish in 2001.
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Socorro, surigao del Norte was under stewardship of the SVD Fathers for many years. Rev. Fr. Alejandrino A. Plaza, SVD was the first parish priest assigned in the parish. He encouraged and motivated the parishioners to actively participate in the different church activities, projects and programs.
The year 2001 marked the beginning of another epoch in the history of the parish. The friars of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) took over the pastoral administration of the parish, which was started by the SVD missionaries. The first OSA parish priest assigned in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish was Rev. Fr. Sisinio A. Paderog, OSA with Rev. Fr. Andrew P. Batayola, OSA as the parochial vicar. When Fr. Andrew left in 2002 for Australia for further spiritual studies, Rev. Fr. Pacifico “Jun" Nohara, OSA assumed the post as the parochial vicar. The initial task of the OSA missionaries was to reorient the Catholic faithful whose social and spiritual life need to be reinvigorated.
The OSA friars through the leadership of Fr. Sin with the assistance of Fr. Jun and the cooperation, material support and donations from the parishioners, a new and beautiful Catholic Church was constructed and finished. The new church is transferred in Brgy. Taruc from Brgy. Navarro. When Fr. Jun left for a mission abroad in South Korea in 2004, Rev. Fr. Donato E. Ellezar, OSA was assigned as the parochial vicar.
The old church, located in Brgy. Navarro, was renovated and improved. It is now called San Agustin Pastoral Center (SAP-C). Something and spiritual activities of the parish are held in the center. Others who want to avail the place for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and others are allowed with minimal rental for maintenance. However, political conventions/rallies and religious activities on non-Catholic religions are prohibited per approved implementing rules and regulations formulated for purposes of clarity.
Fr. Sin and Fr. Donutz knew that the old convent should be demolished and replaced because the termites are slowly eating the structure and it is already dilapidated. Hence, a new three-storey convent is constructed at the site where the old convent is located. The construction work was still halfway when the Augustinians effected their reorganization and reshuffling last May 2008. Fr. Sin and Fr. Donutz were transferred to their new assignments. Fr. Sin became the parish priest of the mission station in Gubat, Sorsogon, while Fr. Donutz became the prior and novice master of the novices in the Augustinian Novitiate and Prayer House in Cebu. Fr. Benjamin Unabia, OSA became the second parish priest of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish and Rev. Fr. Leo Mario F. Singco, OSA was the parochial vicar. Fr. Ben and Fr. Leomar were very compatible and they were working hard to finish the construction of the convent. In 2009, the convent was finished.
The presence of Fray Ericson M. Borre, OSA and Fray Vincent Liwag, OSA had helped much in the pastoral work of the parish. By that time, Fray Ericson was already a solemn professed friar and became the third member of the community. Fray Vincent was at that time on his pastoral exposure for six months. Fray Ericson, who is very good in music and plays musical instruments very well, has helped strengthen the church’s choir and other related activities. On the other hand, Fray Vincent has equally done a magnificent job assigned to him by the parish priest.
The old church, located in Brgy. Navarro, was renovated and improved. It is now called San Agustin Pastoral Center (SAP-C). Something and spiritual activities of the parish are held in the center. Others who want to avail the place for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and others are allowed with minimal rental for maintenance. However, political conventions/rallies and religious activities on non-Catholic religions are prohibited per approved implementing rules and regulations formulated for purposes of clarity.
Fr. Sin and Fr. Donutz knew that the old convent should be demolished and replaced because the termites are slowly eating the structure and it is already dilapidated. Hence, a new three-storey convent is constructed at the site where the old convent is located. The construction work was still halfway when the Augustinians effected their reorganization and reshuffling last May 2008. Fr. Sin and Fr. Donutz were transferred to their new assignments. Fr. Sin became the parish priest of the mission station in Gubat, Sorsogon, while Fr. Donutz became the prior and novice master of the novices in the Augustinian Novitiate and Prayer House in Cebu. Fr. Benjamin Unabia, OSA became the second parish priest of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish and Rev. Fr. Leo Mario F. Singco, OSA was the parochial vicar. Fr. Ben and Fr. Leomar were very compatible and they were working hard to finish the construction of the convent. In 2009, the convent was finished.
The presence of Fray Ericson M. Borre, OSA and Fray Vincent Liwag, OSA had helped much in the pastoral work of the parish. By that time, Fray Ericson was already a solemn professed friar and became the third member of the community. Fray Vincent was at that time on his pastoral exposure for six months. Fray Ericson, who is very good in music and plays musical instruments very well, has helped strengthen the church’s choir and other related activities. On the other hand, Fray Vincent has equally done a magnificent job assigned to him by the parish priest.