Davao PREX (Last of two parts)

To date, PREX seminars are held in the following parishes (some are not anymore active): Sacred Heart Parish in Calinan, Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish – Bajada, San Antonio de Padua – Agdao, Immaculate Conception Parish – Peñaplata, San Miguel Parish – Panacan, San Isidro Parish – Lumondao, St. Mary Parish – Buhangin (Panorama subdivision chapel), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish – Bangkal, Virgen Dolorosa Parish – Babak, Sto. Rosario Parish – Toril, St. Francis of Assisi – Maa, and San Pedro Calungsod – Baguio district.

But history will tell that the coming of PREX in the Archdiocese of Davao was not without struggles. For almost three years of lobbying, pleading, presenting testimonies of PREX graduates and PREX priests who were involved in the conduct of PREX seminars, Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla (the Archbishop of Davao at that time) gave his approval allowing the conduct of PREX seminars to the parishes whose parish priests may wish to adopt PREX for their formation program through Circular Letter No. 2 series of 2007, dated February 16, 2007.

This coming October 2019 PREX Davao will celebrate its 20th Year. PREX – Sta. Ana is planning to celebrate it BIG because PREX – Sta. Ana is considered to be the Mother of PREX in the archdiocese having conducted the first PREX seminar on October 1999.

For 20 years, PREX Davao has conducted almost a thousand batches of PREX seminars and has produced approximately 20,000 graduates of which majority are now actively involved as parish or GKK leaders. PREX graduates in the Archdiocese of Davao addressed one another as Kuya or Ate and they are serving as PSLs, PSAs, PSKs, GKK secretaries or GKK treasurers. Some have become lay ministers, lectors, commentators, gift-bearers, choir members, legioners of Mary, and the like.

At present there are already 20 priests who have attended the PREX seminar including Bishop George Rimando, the Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese.

PREX Davao has produced their own sets of speakers for the different Talks (there are 11 Talks for every seminar). Gone are those days that PREX Davao has to invite speakers from Gen San or other parts of Mindanao. PREX Davao has also produced several Lead Couples who act as emcees or facilitators of the seminar. These Lead Couples come from the different 13 parish-outreaches in the Archdiocese of Davao.