Diocese of Antique caps celeb of Jubilee Year

By Margie L. Gadian

Sunday 17th of June 2012

SAN JOSE,Antique, June 17 (PIA) -- The Diocese of Antique will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a series of activities that will end on June 18, 2012 with a Grand Jubilee Day.

Archbishops, Bishops and guests from all over the country are coming over to Antique to be one in this great celebration of the creation of the prelature way back in March 24,1962 and functioned as a Diocese under the Most Rev. Cornelio De Wit, MHM,DD as its first Bishop-Prelate.

In its early years, the local Church was guided by the philosophy and theology of liberation, with these strategies: pastoral care, education/catechesis, liturgy, and socio-economic programs.

True to its mission and dreams, the first decade of the Prelature was marked by the setting up of the St. Peter's Seminary for the formation of its future priests, establishing schools for Christian education and formation of small Christian Communities (KKs).

Organizing people for cooperatives both for fisher folks, farmers and small entrepreneurs as well as migrant sugar workers or the sacadas and the bringing of health facilities to the barrios through the Socio-Health Program were spearheaded by the Social Action Center of the Prelature.

The Missionary Sisters of the Lord's Table of the Mensa Domini was founded by Bishop De Wit for young women who desire to consecrate their lives to God.

Many other projects were undertaken including the putting up of Station DYKA in 1972 with the hope of bringing the Word of God and the pastoral, catechetical and socio-economic programs of the Prelature closer and accessible to the people.

In 1982, the Prelature of San Jose de Antique was elevated into a Diocese. A Filipino diocesan priest was appointed as Bishop of the Diocese- the Most Rev. Raul Quimpo Martirez,DD.

The years that followed were full of pastoral awakening, spiritual renewal and evangelization, structural changes and dissemination of synodal decrees and policies all for the good of the church and the people.

Two other bishops were installed after Bishop Martirez, namely the Most Rev. Romulo T. De La Cruz, who was transferred to the Diocese of Kidapawan in 2009 and was followed by Most Rev. Jose Romeo O. Lazo,DD who up to now is the Bishop of the Diocese.

On Monday, June 18, 2012, all roads will lead to San Jose, Antique as a Eucharistic Celebration will be held at the San Jose Parish Cathedral to be attended among others by high ranking officials of the Church all over the country, guests and Antiquenos as well.

This same day has been declared by the President of the Philippines, as a Special (Non-Working) Day in the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista, Province of Antique per Pres. Proc. # 408.(JCM/MLG/PIA6-Antique)