Mission

Recollecting on the beginning of my missionary work in Gapok 2011My name is Fr. Rookmoore Saniel and I am presently assigned to Gapok Parish with Fr. Elmer G. Boston, OMI.  It is a mountain parish under the Archdiocese of Cotabato.  To me, it is a “dream come true” since I have been wanting to be assigned in one of the mountain missions where the Oblates do their missionary work.Gapok is just like any parish in the Archdiocese. It has its own “framework” how to establish a good and successful missionary work.  But this sort of framework is always subject to the vagaries of the characters of priests assigned to the place.  The challenge that confronts priests is to ask what impact do they have on the lives of the people? What are the various methods and strategies need to be employed so that the parish programs truly work? Can it be measured simply in terms of numbers of baptism or sacraments celebrated in the villages? As I go about visiting the mission area, the first thing I consider very important in the mission is ‘building good relationship’ with the people. I have to bear in mind that fellowship in the Church is simply a reflection of  good relationship between and among the leaders and its members. Consequently, good relationship between and among the parish staff and the mission partners (parishioners) is a visible sign of communion that is the church.  Good relationship with the people entails respect, continued dialogue and friendship. The priests have to be involved in the daily struggles of the people within the parish. House visitations, formal or informal conversations and the likes, nurture a deeper and closer friendship. In fact, it generates solidarity among parishioners. I have also learned that through dialogue in various forms, I can garner a wider and deeper sense of understanding of the people I work with. Dialogue involves recognizing each one’s role and dignity and importance.  This is the reason why we give emphasis on strengthening the BECs. Establishing the “basic ecclesial community” is a hallmark of development in the parish. Lay people becomes active in the church and they become mission partners to accomplish the church’s mission. In the mountain area, the BEC has become the cornerstone of every parish community. It generates bonding, unity and even deeper faith and concern for the neighbors. Through BECs, the number of active members grows. Another important task of pastor in the community is preaching the Word of God. Pastors should be good preachers. They have to proclaim the gospel with certainty, effectiveness and sound theology. People of this generation do not simply listen and accept everything what the pastor is saying. They know what to believe and what to disregard.  Pastors need also train Lay Ministers (kaabags) to develop their preaching, because through good homilies they can empower the parishioners, especially the young people.In Gapok, we have an anti-mining program that educates leaders and people on the importance of their land for their life and families.  The proposed open pit coal mining in the area threatens to destroy all their “treasures.” We conduct video presentations at every chapel to show the destructive effects of coal mining contrary to the false information being disseminated by the mining companies. And we have been quite successful in this advocacy through the help of some local enviromental organizations. But the spread of mining activities in many surrounding areas is overwhelming knowing that the mining company which operates in the areas is the giant San Miguel Corporation.  The company’s offer to buy the lands is very tempting given the poverty of the people. We are optimistic that eventually, people will understand the value of their lands and livelihood and they would be able to appropriately respond to the threats of mining activities to people’s lives and habitat. In our environmental ministry, we also advocate the planting of trees in all our chapel areas. The tree planting program encourages people to plant trees as  trees become fewer, because of illegal logging  that causes flash floods and landslides. Last December 2011, we had a 3-day Parish General Assembly (PGA). It was a big event in the whole parish that involved all parish leaders of the different ministries and organizations from parish level to the chapels and BECs. It was also the time that the community select new leaders who would be partners in the mission.The PGA shapes the platform or “road map” as to where and what the parish would undertake for its future and further improvement. The assembly also helps the leaders to be firm in their commitment in helping the parish in its programs and activities. In a way, it encourages lay leaders as they participate in the decision-making in shaping the parish activities and programs. It is also the time to check and review parish policies to see whether they are still acceptable or they need some amendments.But what people easily notice among the priests in the mission is their  frequent ‘travels.’ The priests travel every day going to different chapels to celebrate Mass either by motorcycle, horse or simply by hiking. There are 54 chapels covered by the parish and the priests visit more or less 30-40 village chapels every month; others have their masses yearly. As an apostolic community, Oblates are always called to live in community. The good thing about having an Oblate community in the mission is that there is someone you can talk to or to confide with, especially in times of difficulties and personal struggles.  Finally, the one thing that every mission and community must always bear in mind is common prayer. The OMI constitution has never failed to mention the need and significance of common prayer in every community and mission. Fr. Elmer and I say our common prayer, at least,  we pray the morning and evening prayers together in the chapel. It becomes our source of inspiration and strength to do our tasks and perform our mission with dedication and compassion.At the moment, I am on a sick leave following a motorcycle accident while in the mission. I am staying at NDU and OMI Provincial house community for recuperation. I will be back in the mission after a month or so and hopefully I will bring with me fresh zeal for the people and mission.