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MISSION SENDING RITES FOR FR ALLAN CHABIT, A MISSIONARY TO GUYANA

Fr Allan Chabit, an MSP Associate Member from the Archdiocese of Cagayan de oro, receives his official assignment: Diocese of Georgetown in Guyana. The mission-sending ceremonies were held at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Jasa-an, Misamis Oriental on March 9, 2008 within the 10:30am mass of the said Church.

The main celebrant was the beloved archbishop of Cagayan de oro, Most Rev Antonio Ledesma SJ. The concelebrants were five MSP priests: Fr Soc Mesiona, Fr Carmelo Horlador, Fr Pat Casino, Fr Ed Edpalina and Fr Bobbie Cue (a missionary in Papua New Guinea). Since it was a Sunday, it was difficult for some priests in the archdiocese to join and witness the celebration.

The Immaculate Conception Parish in Jasa-an was Fr Chabit’s first assignment as an administrator or parish priest. The people who came to witness the celebration were not coming only from the local parish, but also from the two other parishes where he served as parish priests: in Alubijid and in Kinoguitan. Some members of the Fil-Mission Auxiliary came. Some representatives were from Davao (headed by Ms Ping Cortel) and from Gingoog (headed by Ms Mary Llacuna).

In his homily, Archbishop Ledesma gave the significance of the sending of Fr Chabit, its relevance to the archdiocese’s life and its contribution to the mission of the universal church. Meanwhile, the MSP Father Moderator, Fr Soc Mesiona, also gave his message to the congregation. As a missiologist, he explained how important mission is, as well as the sending of a missionary, is in the life of the Church. In fact, it is the raison d’etre of the Church.  Moreover, in his farewell message, Fr Allan tried to dispel the misconception about his temporary departure from the diocese. For some people, they have this misconception that once a priest is sent out somewhere would mean a punishment for an awful thing done. His joining the MSP is for him to experience what foreign mission is.

After the mass, a lunch was prepared for the guests by the parishioners and the parish priest, Fr Filomeno Cabulosan. 

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