Sta. Cruz Chapel
Historical Background:
The first record written about Brgy. Sta. Cruz was when it became a part of the territory of Del Carmen, Siargao Island (old name: Caolo or Numancia) in 1920. One half of Bucas Grande island together with Brgy. Pamosaingan, and Hinundayan was under the American regime with Francisco Alburo as town president. At the same time, the care for the souls was administered by priests assigned in Del Carmen. Based from canonical books copied from Del Carmen to Socorro (where the main parish is located), June 24, 1913 was the first recorded baptism coming from Brgy. Sta. Cruz with Fr. Juan van Hagen as the minister. Probably, the baptism was held in Brgy. Pamosaingan, since the patron saint of the barangay is St. John the Baptist, in time with the fiesta celebration that falls on the same date. Brgy. Sta. Cruz is also the nearest barangay to Pamosaingan with 3 kilometers distance from each other. When Socorro became a chartered municipality on February 22, 1961, Brgy. Sta. Cruz became a part of the jurisdiction of the new town. President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Executive Order 219 for the creation of the new municipality. As of May 2010, there are 402 people living in this rural barangay in Socorro. Population: 402 (As of May 2010)[1] ______________ [1] www.nscb.gov.ph ___________________________________________ More... Sta. Cruz was originally inhabited by a population whose majority where Catholics from neighboring provinces like Bohol, Cebu and Leyte. In 1920, they decided to build a small chapel where they could gather together and pray the rosary every Sunday. Since there was no priest who could attend to their spiritual needs they invited priests from neighboring parishes like Claver, Dapa and Numancia just to celebrate mass with them during fiesta. Then the Tenyente del Barrio was the head of the Chapel with succeeding leaders of the barangay and chapel became remarkable growth in the spiritual formation of the faithful. In 1960, catechetical instructions in schools was initiated by Fr. Castro, SVD. Later on, a liturgical formation program was initiated by the diocese, leading the formation of Pangulo sa Liturhiya (PSL), Pedrito Etom, Desiderio Mulay and Manuel Etom served as leaders every Sunday. When the number of Catholics increased, they decide to build a new and bigger chapel. They even asked the assistance of the faithful of Pamosaingan who willingly supported the through the leadership of Luis Constante. Since then, through Basic Ecclesial Community Program of the diocese, the number of Catholics is increasing. |
Patron: Sta. Cruz
Feast day: May 2-3 Nos. of BECs: 6 Address: Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines Chapel Officials: President: Marilyn V. Etom V-President: Elsie E. Legaspi Secretary: Lolita Secuarata Treasurer: Alicia M. Etom Auditors: Estrella Nier Alecia Flores PIO: Donesia C. Cortina Dedencia T. Velez Gallery: |