Remembering 2024

The first sentence of Charles Dickens Classic, Tales of two Cities is “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” All weather stations say 2024 was the hottest year on records. After the long drought, came a series of typhoons, floods and earthquakes.

As a consolation, 2024 was the best of times for the Archdiocese of Davao. Carved from the territory of the first Archdiocese of Mindanao (Zamboanga), Davao celebrated its Diamond or 75th Anniversary, the activities focusing on synodality, remembrance and thanksgiving. The 72 hours final countdown began with all 42 parishes celebrating mass at 6pm followed by parish dinner on November 28. November 29, the Archdiocese hosted a dinner/program at the SMX Convention Center. Our Special guests were Papal Nuncio Charles Brown and more than 20 archbishops and bishops coming from all over the nation.

On November 30, the Papal Nuncio celebrated the final 75th anniversary thanksgiving mass at the San Pedro Cathedral. About 200 priests attended, the biggest number in attendance in the history of the Archdiocese. The 3-day program ran smoothly because of the coordinate hard work of the steering committee and the working committees. The November 29 college choirs and dancers performed very well. Overall, the 72-hour preparations and presentations deserve a rating of sobresaliente, triple A, magnificent.

Congratulations for the excellent team effort. We look forward to the 100th anniversary on November 2049.