108. SAN ANDRES APOSTOL DE CABATUAN PARISH

SAN ANDRES APOSTOL DE CABATUAN PARISH

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano
30 November 2019

 

 

 

Exactly a year ago, Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, I scribbled the history of the parish where I resided. The long overdue research is an expounded segment of my first history research in 1990, “The Land of the Golden Grains” or the Historical Development of Cabatuan, Isabela. Being a descendant of the pioneering faithful of the Church, I was able to gather first hand data from relatives both direct and collateral line of consanguinity and affinity. Aside from the narrations, I was fortunate to be able to gather photos of the structures and personalities of Roman Catholic Church of Cabatuan. Having served as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Co. 9155 for two consecutive terms (2016-2018), a friend of the La Salette missionaries, a partner in parish services by the diocesan priests and an active parishioner up to present, I was able to continue to update the history of the parish from time to time. Lately, I furnished the parish a copy of the research which was forwarded to the Diocese of Ilagan for their perusal.

The indigenous Kalingas where the first inhabitant of what is now Cabatuan, Isabela and they practiced native spirit beliefs. When the Ilocano Christians from Bacarra in Ilocos Norte arrived in 1912, they brought with them their religion – Aglipayan. In the 1930s, influx of migrants from Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan settled in Barrio Cabatuan which was then politically a part of the old town of Cauayan. The new settlers also brought with them their religion – Roman Catholicism. Some adopted the local Church while others travel to Cauayan for Church rites and Sunday Masses since the old town was predominantly Catholic under the tutelage of the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish.

 

Some of the early parish leaders and pioneering families were: Mr. & Mrs. Atanasio H. Dayrit, Atty. & Mrs. Luis B. Gomez, Atty. & Mrs. Damian S. Tomacruz, Mr. & Mrs. Luis Monforte, Dr. & Mrs. Jose S. Pilar, Mr. & Mrs. Charlemagne Suguitan, Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo R. Borromeo, Dr. & Mrs. Damaso Acosta, Atty. & Mrs. Jose D. Dacuycuy, Mr. & Mrs. Aurelio Bautista, Mr. & Mrs. Wilfrido T. Dayrit, Mr. & Mrs. Bonifacio Meneses, Mr. & Mrs. Primo Rivero, Mr. & Mrs. Alejandro Cadiente, Mr. & Mrs. Victorino D. Dacuycuy, Mr. & Mrs. Rafael M. Gozum, Mr. & Mrs. Maximo S. Lorenzo, Dr. & Mrs. Anacleto F. Angco, Mr. & Mrs. Norberto V. Abad, Mr. & Mrs. Gregorio Isidro, Mr. & Mrs. Avelino Villanueva, Mr. & Mrs. Venancio Santos among others including migrating Chinese.

In 1948, Fr. Joseph Imholf, M.S., the La Salette Superior General, granted the permission to the Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to establish a La Salette foothold in the Philippines. On November 5, 1948, four La Salette Missionaries, Fr. Conrad Blanchet, Fr. Raymond Leduc, Fr. Paul Douillard and Bro. Donat Levasseur based in Attleboro, Massachusetts, left by boat from New York via the Panama Canal, taking six weeks to reach Manila. They reached Manila on December 12. They finally arrived in Santiago, Isabela on December 22, 1948.

On September 1949, the missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette started their ministry in Cabatuan headed by Fr. Paul Douillard, MS followed by Fr. André A. Lussier, MS. The missionaries led the blessing of the newly created Municipality of Cabatuan on inauguration day, November 30, 1949. The first Holy Eucharistic Celebrations were held at the residence of spouses Damian S. Tomacruz and Nicanora Borromeo-Tomacruz beside the present Church. The private house was used as a temporary house of worship until a permanent Church was built in District Dos (now Barangay San Andres) in 1955 during the watch of Fr. Normand A. Helie, MS.

Cabatuan’s patron is Saint Andrew the Apostle and was brought by the pioneering Aglipayan Ilocanos in 1912 from Bacarra in Ilocos Norte where San Andres Apostol is most revered by the Catholics of this old pueblo. San Andres Apostol, whose feast day is November 30, was adopted by the La Salette missionaries when a parish was established in Barrio Cabatuan by the Diocese of Tuguegarao after the War. An old image of the saint in front of his x-shaped cross became an issue on the ownership of the icon. A dark wood sculpture replaced the controversial Apo San Andres and during the tenure of Fr. Nito Rapadas, a modern statue in full color was donated by Mrs. Liliosa G. Miano including a smaller image used on processions.

Saint Andrew’s feast day is an important date in the annual liturgical calendar because it determines the date of the First Sunday of Advent, which is the Sunday nearest this feast. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen, fishmongers and rope-makers, textile workers, singers, miners, pregnant women, butchers, farm workers, protection against sore throats, protection against convulsions, protection against fever, and protection against whooping cough.

According to Google, Saint Andrew is the Catholic patron saint of fishermen who founded the Church of Byzantium, an ancient Greek colony on the site that became Constantinople, and later Istanbul in Turkey. His birthdate and place of birth are unknown. During his lifetime, he became a disciple of John the Baptist, one of the Twelve Apostles, and the first of Christ’s disciples. Saint Andrew and his brother Simon Peter were recorded in the New Testament as having been declared “fishers of men” by Jesus after he asked them to cast their nets. Saint Andrew was crucified circa 70 in Patras, Achaia, Greece.

The following La Salette missionaries served as parish priests: Rev. Fr. Alphonse Lachapelle, MS (1954-1955), Rev. Fr. Normand A. Helie, MS (1955-1959), Rev. Fr. Raymond L. Bouley, MS (1959), Rev. Fr. Leonel E. Lacasse, MS (1959), Rev. Fr. Andre A. Lussier, MS (1960-1962, 1962-1965, 1966-1969 & 1977-1980), Rev. Fr. Rene Bisaillon, MS (1962 & 1977), Rev. Fr. Rutillo B. Mallillin, MS (1965-1966 & 1982-1985), Rev. Fr. Efren L. Musngi, MS (1969-1970), Rev. Fr. William J. Slights, MS (1970-1972 & 1973-1975), Rev. Fr. Maurice Cardinal MS (1972-1973), Rev. Fr. Francisco I. Maliwat, MS (1975-1977), Rev. Fr. Salvador C. Pico, Jr., MS (1980-1982), and Rev. Fr. Bernard Taylor, MS (1985-1986).

The Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish owns one of the forty-four colonial bells of Isabela – an 1858 bell dedicated to Santo Domingo de Guzman. It was one of the bells of Nuestra Señora del Piat in Cagayan province which was later given to Angadanan Church, now Alicia Church. According to the history of the Our Lady of Atocha Church in Alicia, the Cabatuan bell was one of the three Angadanan (Alicia) bells given to other Catholic missions. In the 1950s, it was transferred to the newly constructed San Andres Parish Church. However, according to the founders of Roman Catholicism in Cabatuan, particularly the Dayrits and Tomacruz’, the bell was brought by La Salette missionary Father Normand A. Helie from the Diocese of Tuguegarao (now archdiocese) when the locals who were majority Aglipayans decided to erect a Catholic Church in 1955. The Saint Andrew the Apostle of Cabatuan bell has the following markings: -image of Santo Domingo de Guzman- / -cross- / STO DOMYNGO DE GUSMAN / AÑO DE 1858 / PATRON DEL PUEBLO DEL PYAT.

Various Catholic organizations were established which includes the Legion of Mary, Catholic Men’s Club and in more recent years the Catholic Women’s League, Knights of Columbus, Adoracion Nocturna among others.

In 1986, the parish was turned over to the Diocese of Ilagan. The following served the church: Rev. Fr. Francisco U. Uanan (1986-1993), Rev. Fr. Rene B. Tomines (1993-1999), Rev. Fr. Ingeno E. Rapadas (1999-2004), Rev. Fr. Carlito G. Sarte (2004-2005), Rev. Fr. Victor Buencamino F. Mendoza (2005-2012), Rev. Fr. Carlos J. Marquez (2012-2017), and Rev. Fr. Roseller L. Lora (since 2017).

Regular improvements were made since the La Salette missionaries erected the Church edifice in the 1950s including the construction of a parish office. After the turn-over to the diocese, Fr. Rene Tomines initiated the construction of an official residence of the parish priest and was completed during the time of Fr. Nito Rapadas. Renovations and major repairs on the façade and altar were made during the time of Fr. Jhong Mendoza. Major constructions were carried out during the watch of Fr. Caloy Marquez within and outside the Church including the construction of a belfry, canopy, parish office and multi-purpose function hall. The altar, ceiling, flooring and wings were totally reconstructed.

To spread the ministry and to spread more the Christian faith and due to the rapid growth of population and believers, additional churches and chapels were built in Barangays La Paz, Diamantina, Culing West, Rang-ay (Sitio San Carlos) and Luzon. Records in the Municipal Planning and Development Office shows 77.53% (2010 census) of Cabatuanenses are Roman Catholics. For over a century Apo San Andres, Patron of Cabatuan, continues to guide the faithful and the town in its journey in an era full of challenges.