I was doing
my research work and profiling in my own diocese for Transformative Pastoral
Leadership Program. As I was scanning those old yet valuable documents, I was
able to discover the humble beginning of the erection of the Diocese of
Surigao. I noticed myself that much of my attention was leading to know these
few significant persons (hopefully not forgotten) of this beloved Diocese. They
were the first who laid the foundation of faith in the lives of all
Surigaonuns, of which, we are still enjoying now.
I opted to
share this short information as a simple act of gratitude for them who were not
Surigaonuns yet labored so much for all of us. We may not know their names and
even recognize their faces but it goes without saying that they have
contributed much to where we are now.
As I was gazing at their (bishops) pictures, I
could not help but imagine the vastness and beauty of the Diocese of Surigao at
present– the clergy, consecrated nuns serving the Diocese, lay leaders, and the
faithful congregation. These are just few of the many concrete evidences of how
they gave themselves faithfully and zealously in their apostolic and prophetic
role in building the local church of Surigao.
Pagkagana ba lamang handumun na kun uno kita kuman, nagpakita na
jaoy mga tawo na nag-una dato na naghago pagdajaw, mipa-tuyo sa ilang mga
singgot para gajod sa katawhan nan Surigao. Ako na-imagine an kalisod sanan
kahago kun tag-uno nila pagsugod pagtukod nan ini na Simbahan. Kalapad karadjaw
an sakop nan Diocesis nan Surigao, dili pa gajod maradjaw an dayan pero
malahutayon gihapon sila na miserbisyo.
Ini siguro an dako na hagit kuman dato na mga Surigaonun – Human
kita makatilaw sa resulta sa paningkamot sa mga tawo na nag-una dato, magpadajon
isab untana kita na maningkamot aron mapalambo kun uno may nasugdan na. Dili
nato sayangan ug dauton ang mga gipundar ug gihaguan sa iban. Magmatinud-anun untana
kita sa nagkalain-lain natong mga tahas diha sa Simbahan.
Sugdan ta ini kuman !
May I
invite all the Surigaonuns and even those faithful congregations from the neighboring
Dioceses (Tandag and Butuan) to remember and pray for our beloved Bishops who took
the first lead for you and me to follow.
Let us thank
the good LORD for giving us shepherds after His own heart.
Brief History of the Diocese of Surigao
It was Pope
Pius XII who elevated the provinces of Surigao and Agusan into a diocese on
June 3, 1939. It was erected on November
10, 1939 with Bishop James T. Hayes, SJ of Cagayan de Oro as the
temporary administrator. The diocese of
Surigao is a suffragan of Cagayan de Oro which comprises the entire civil
province of Surigao del Norte with the titular - San Nicolas de Tolentino. It has a total land area of 3,739 sq. kms.,
with a total population of 457,785 and 353,764 Catholics.
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Bishop Giovanni VRAKKING, M.S.C.
(1940.05.25 – 1955)
Born: 1886.12.27
(Netherlands)
Ordained Priest: 1911.08.13
Consecrated Bishop:1940.09.21
Died: 1961.01.29 († 74)
Bishop of Surigao (Philippines) (1940.05.25 –
1955)
Titular Bishop of Cedamusa (1955 –
1961.01.29)
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The first
bishop was installed on September 21, 1940 in the person of Fr. John C.
Vrakking, MSC. But the joy over the
birth of a new diocese was unfortunately short-lived because by then World War
II broke out. The missionaries were
displaced. Some of them stayed with
their parishioners hiding in the mountains.
 |
Bishop Charles VAN DEN OUWELANT, M.S.C.
(1955.03.23 – 1973.01.10)
Born: 1911.07.03
(Netherlands)
Ordained Priest: 1936.08.10
Consecrated Bishop: 1955.06.21
Died:
2003.08.22 († 92)
Bishop of Surigao (Philippines)(1955.03.23 – 1973.01.10)
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Msgr. Vrakking got sick in 1953 and was succeeded by Fr. Charles van Ouwelant, MSC as administrator, and eventually on June 21, 1955, Msgr. Ouwelant was ordained second bishop of Surigao. After 18 years, in 1973 he opted to resign and give way to a Filipino
bishop.
On March 31, 1973, Most Rev. Miguel C.
Cinches, SVD was installed the third bishop of Surigao whose place of origin
was in Dauis, Bohol, born on February 7, 1932.
Bishop Cinches labored for 28 long but fruitful years in the diocese of
Surigao until finally the fourth bishop
The fourth bishop of Surigao Most Rev.
Antonieto D. Cabajog, DD
was an Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu prior to his
assignment in Surigao.
He was appointed on April 21, 2001 and
installed on July 24, 2001.
