By land, Tampilisan is the door-way to the province from the south. Its parish, entrusted to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, was erected on May 2, 1978. Eight priests have shared their time, talents and treasure with its parishioners. Fr. Silvano Amora, its first pastor, set the basic structures and vision for the parish. Through the years, Fr. Enrico Montano, Fr. Atilano Tabaranza, Fr. Sotico Florida, Rev. Fr. Esquirion A. Santisas, Fr. Joveniano Buctuan and Fr. Felomino Cuaton widened the parochial organization and implemented the plans and programs previously drawn. Fr. Herbert Mag-aso steers the wheel now, guiding his flock towards “total human development through BEC/GKS formation and enrichment.

To accomplish this task, spiritual formation is complemented with on-going training and seminars for the laity, especially the leaders, ministers, catechists and those involved in family life and youth apostolate. The religious organizations and movements do their part by lending their hands spiritually, morally and materially whenever necessary.

Like her patroness, the life of the church in Tampilisan remains homespun and plain. But the growth of people as a community is very promising.

SAINT VINCENT FERRER PARISH
SALUG, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

The church has to be courageous in carrying out its mission particularly amidst adversities. St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Salug has learned this lesson the hard way—by undergoing trials. Forty-two years have passed since the creation of Salug into a parish on July 18, 1962, priests have come and are gone: Fr. Pio Saavedra, Fr. Nicolas Daga, Fr. Ancleto Pellano, Fr. Edito Gamallo, Fr.Oswaldo Bacareza, Fr. Wilson Cadano and Fr. Edgar Guantero, Fr. Beda Belotindos, Fr. Edgar Agura and Fr. Herbert Mag-aso--yet the parishioners have remained humble and simple. They have grown strong in their faith and brave in their unity. Otherwise, they could have easily been battered by the destructive storms in their ecclesial life. The on-going Christian formation program intended for their total human development is then not in vain. Rather, with prayers, and devotions, it is bearing fruit.

Today, through the leadership of Rev. Fr. Esquirion A. Santisas, the present pastor, the flock tries to put more flesh into their faith through the enhancement of the Basic Ecclesial Communities. As Christian ecclesial communities, they have also pre-occupied themselves with discernment on the decrees of the Second Plenary Council to be better guided in building basic ecclesial communities.

What church in Salug receives as grace hopefully flows to God for until now, the latter is still under the jurisdiction of the former ecclesial speaking.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH
LILOY, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

If ever the Diocese of Dipolog begets a child and a new diocese or prelature is born comprising the southern parishes, the Immaculate Conception Parish in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte will certainly vie to become its seat. No wonder, its parishioners are fond of referring to the newly constructed church as the “cathedral”.

Not only the church building but the whole parish is being rebuilt according to the BEC vision. Gradually but surely, communities are sprouting all over the parish which covers twenty-eight barangays. In the process, the laity-leaders, ministers, catechists, youth and families—discover their role and worth in the church. Seminars, retreat, dawn rosary and various apostolates help to enhance the parochial life. Practically, every organization involves itself actively in any ecclesial activity.

Liloy was created into a parish in 1957. Today, Msgr. Esteban Gaudicos is the one leading God’s flock to Jesus Christ and he is assisted by Rev. Fr. Joveniano Buctuan. But before him, a list of pastors known for their exemplary zeal had served Liloy: Fr. Epefanio Baleares, Fr. Hector del Callar, Fr. Ranulfo Suarez, Fr. Anacleto Pellano and Fr. Edgar Agura, Fr. Felomino Cuaton, Fr. Herbert Mag-aso, Fr. Raule Cadungog and Msgr. Beda Belotindos.