The Faithful and the Church

One of the attractions of the Church is the wonderful cooperation and teamwork between the faithful and the clergy. After more than a thousand years, the bond seems more stronger than ever. For outsiders, the question is how we did we do it. We take these things for granted as part of our culture and tradition.

When Ferdinand de Magallanes landed on March 1521, nobody knew how Filipinos would accept the church. After more than 450 years, the Vatican noticed that faith of the only Catholic Church outpost in Asia has remained constant. We have been amply rewarded for our zeal and dedication.

In the 1960’s Archbishop Rufino Santos became the first cardinal in Southeast Asia. In the 1980’s Pope John Paul II came to the Philippines and celebrated mass at the Davao City Airport. This was the first trip ever of a pope to Southeast Asia. In the 2000’s we were the only Asian nation with three full time cardinals, bishops, Vidal, Sanchez and Rosales.

In the 1980’s when evangelization seemed to be losing steam, Mindanao Bishops Regan and Claver organized the GKK, the first outside South America. The faithful of Mindanao gladly received the GKK. Truly the Church and the faithful are inseparable.