A hundred years' journey in faith

Manila, Philippines -  “From the very beginning of our planning how to celebrate meaningfully the hundredth year of our local church, many especially among the clergy were convinced that a mere celebration would be a futile exercise if nothing happened thereafter,” shares Archbishop of Lipa Ramon Arguelles. “We also realized that the lively faith of our church in Lipa today cannot be explained unless we acknowledge the manifold mercies of God revealed in the centuries preceding our own time.”

Thus came about A Century of Faith, a book celebrating 100 years of the Local Church of Lipa, which tells a story that began in 1910 and continues today, when the Archdiocese of Lipa exhibits robust life and growth.

The book was launched on June 20 at the Minor Basilica of St. Martin of Tours in Taal, Batangas, coinciding with the ruby celebration of the local church of Lipa’s elevation to an archdiocese.

Archbishop Arguelles hosted the event, with special guests Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, a former archbishop of Lipa and of Manila, and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto.

“Our story as people of faith is what defines this book,” explains Arguelles, whose family hails from Batangas. “It is the story of the Living Church in this part of the world, the experience of the faithful from generation to generation, at times difficult and painful, at times glorious and miraculous.”

On April 10, 1910, Pope St. Pius X created new ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the Philippine archipelago, and one of these was the Diocese of Lipa, encompassing the province of Batangas and neighboring areas.

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles (second from left) with Federico Lopez, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan, and Msgr. Gabor Pinter.

A Century of Faith remembers and celebrates the stories of the Batangas people’s journey in faith over the past 100 years. It narrates the story of the early missionary work, the bishops who led the diocese, the many parishes created, the religious communities that contributed to the growth of the diocese, the seminaries and the diocesan schools, and the year-long celebration of the archdiocese’s centennial jubilee, for which it underwent three years of preparation.

Miracles and legends provided momentum and strength to Christianization in the province, such as when local residents, rather than foreign missionaries, figured in Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Caysasay in Labac, Taal in the 1600s.

According to Archbishop Arguelles, the story of the local church also parallels that of Batangas.

When devastation by Taal Volcano’s eruptions in the 18th century prompted the transfer of several towns away from the volcano and the lake, the parishes moved with them, building new churches.

In 1898 the Philippine Revolution led to departure of the Spanish clergy, and Filipino secular priests took their place. Although World War II brought some of Batangas’ worst-ever times, it did not prevent the Diocese of Lipa from erecting new parishes.

Today, the Archdiocese of Lipa encompasses Batangas with the dioceses of Lucena, Gumaca and Boac, the Prelature of Infanta, and the Apostolic Vicariates of San Jose and Calapan as its suffragan sees. It comprises the whole of Batangas province, a total of 61 parishes.

The significance of the role of the Archdiocese of Lipa is also revealed, tracing the roots of some of the most influential leaders in the Philippines – Cardinals Rufino Santos, Rosales, and Ricardo Vidal – back to the local church of Lipa.

The community gathers at the Minor Basilica of St. Martin of Tours in Taal.

Also within the book’s 300-plus pages are beautifully detailed photographs of churches, sacred images and religious practices, which are complemented by the archdiocese’s own archival photos and documentations of events leading up to the centennial year held from 2010 to 2011.

Journeying in faith

At the launch, Arguelles presented Cardinal Rosales and Archbishop Pinto with the first copies of the book. He also presented special awards to the families of former spiritual leaders of Lipa: Cirilio Almario, Jr., Mariano Gaviola, Alejandro Olalia, and Cardinals Rosales and Vidal; as well as to Ayala Corporation chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and First Gen Corp. chairman and CEO Federico Lopez, for their support in publishing A Century of Faith.

Thousands of the Catholic faithful of Batangas gathered in Taal to celebrate the occasion and to witness the launch of the book.

“This book is our story as God’s people,” says Arguelles. “It touches on the centuries before ours. It looks forward with gaudium et spes – joy and hope – to centuries ahead of us. This book shows our collective experience that to God ‘a thousand years is one day and one day is a thousand years’.”

Beyond commemoration, the book may also be considered a potent instrument towards further strengthening the Catholic faith, not only in Lipa, but even throughout in the country.

Archbishop Arguelles signs one of the first copies of the book.

“Because we believe that somehow this book is inspired, its purpose is to challenge the reader to further prayer,” continues the archbishop. “After all the wonderful things that happened to us that brought this book to being, the final objective of this book is to serve as a continuing inspiration for us who live in this grace-filled moment.”

Copies of the book are available at the Lipa Archdiocesan Chancery tel (043) 756-2572 or (043) 981-3023. Proceeds will be used for the construction of the Theology Seminary and Pastoral Curia.