Bishop Gutierrez officiates Canonical Erection of new GenSan Parish
Gen. Santos City’s 2nd most populous barangay (population: 67,000++) Barangay Fatima finally gets its wish, its very own Parish!
The new parish’s makeshift tent during its canonical erection
After years of being under the Holy Cross Parish (administered by the Passionists) of Barangay Calumpang (the city’s most heavily populated), the Bishop of the Diocese of Marbel Most Reverend Dinualdo D. Gutierrez, DD, administered the rites for the Canonical Erection of its own Parish on July 14, 2008. This was aptly christened as the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima.
Situated in a one-hectare lot donated by the local government of GenSan in NASA Village, Purok 12 in the barangay, the new parish was also given its very own parish priest by the Bishop, namely Rev. Fr. Joseph S. Benitez, 43 years old, a native of Maasim, Sarangani Province.
Our Lady of Fatima Parish Priest Fr. Joseph Benitez reads the Prayers of the Faithful while behind him is mass presider Rev. Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, DD of the Diocese of Marbel
Fr. Joseph has been given the exciting job of building his church building from scratch. During his speech before the congregation which included more than 20 priests from all over the Diocese and City Mayor Jun Acharon, he revealed that he can’t do the job all alone by himself. He needs the help, support and prayers of his new parishioners and other generous-minded people.
The multitudes during the mass, including City Mayor Jun Acharon, in the center
So if you have time, drop by the new parish and give your financial or material support. It’s not difficult to locate. Whether coming from the airport or driving from Calumpang, just follow the colorful pasandalans or tribal flags at the road sides leading to the site.
Fr. Joseph Benitez, will be more than happy to see you.
Our Lady of Fatima Parish now joins the roster of other Gensan parishes, namely Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in downtown Dadiangas, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Barangay Lagao, St. Michael Parish in Barangay San Isidro, Sto. Niño Parish in Barangay Bula and the parish from where it was weaned, the Holy Cross Parish in Barangay Calumpang.
Tagged Barangay Fatima, Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, Diocese of Marbel, Holy Cross Parish, Mayor Jun Acharon, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Our Lady of Peace and Good voyage Parish, Passionists, St. Michael Parish, Sto. Niño Parish, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish
orman07/16/2008 at 8:29 AM
this is great news! di na tayo mahihirapan tuwing holy week for bisita-iglesya.
manny,cp07/16/2008 at 8:46 AM
Magandang Gensan! Thanks for the update information on our Diocese activities. Congratulation Our Lady of Fatima Parish and Fr. Joseph Benitez, the 1st Parish Priest!
bariles07/16/2008 at 9:13 AMAuthor
@Orman, for the visita iglesia, we need 7 churches. Now we already have 6. We still lack one. We can still put in the Novitiate Chapel in Lagao for the meantime, in the list.
@Fr. Manny, magandang Gensan too! I am helping the new parish in my little way. I hope this reaches a lot of generous souls. Welcome to Bariles Republic father and for subscribing. Regards to the rest of the Passionist Community.
wenpretty07/16/2008 at 10:03 AM
Congratulation Our Lady of Fatima Parish and Uncle Joseph!! =)
blackmeat07/16/2008 at 10:57 AM
Sir, diba may ara man simbahan sa may silway duol sa tulay kag sa Obrero pa.. Ahehe!
bariles07/16/2008 at 11:00 AMAuthor
@wenpretty, hi! Thanks for your message! I hope Fr. Joseph reads this.
@Blackmeat, kapilya lang to sila under the OLPGV Parish. Salamat kid! Welcome back. Long time, no comment ha? Hehehe!
meg07/16/2008 at 3:38 PM
hi Avel…
praise God for answered prayers.. at last people from fatima wouldnt be having a difficult time finding where they would want to hear mass..another parish means..more blessings..
lets support the move and help buiold another church for the Generals!!
God Bless the new Parish Priest… Fr. Joseph.
see yah later kila TALE’with Mayang and Frank…i hope orman would be there too..
menggay
jinky borela07/16/2008 at 4:36 PM
Wow, nice to hear na at at last mag materialize na talaga ang dream parish of Fatima.
One more to go, kumpleto na destination for the bisita iglesia next year. . .
Calling all generals na may big heart and generous soul, let us support the foundation of the latest parish.
May God bless us all!
cecilia e flores07/16/2008 at 4:48 PM
That’ s very good news for those who want to go to mass daily. God will surely provide for its completion! Congratulations Fr. Joseph for being entrusted with that great task!
Mabuhay Our Lady of Fatima Parish!
Cecil
Joseph Vergara07/16/2008 at 5:22 PM
Kuya Avel,Orman mas maganda kasi pg maraming simbahan pra yung gustong mgsimba na malapit sa knilang lugar hindi n pupunta p sa siudad pra mgsimba lalo na mahal n ngayon ang pamasahe sa jeep at mahal na rin ang gasolina at diesel.waaaaa….
gensanite07/16/2008 at 6:18 PM
great news, TUNA MAN!!!
would you happen to know FR. MANNY’s e-mail address? i need to get in touch with the Passionists… you may e-mail his address to me…
thanks much…
bariles07/16/2008 at 6:20 PMAuthor
@Meg, hello! We really need to support this new parish! God is good!
@Jinky, hi! So nice to hear support and prayers of people even just on this blog. Thanks so much.
@Cecille, hi! This is indeed a big task for Fr. Joseph but with generous friends like you, this should not be insurmountable for him.
@Kuya Joseph, malaking katipiran talga ito para sa mga taga-Fatima at Uhaw. Salamat kay Bishop Gutierrez at sa kay Mayor Jun sa pag-donate nila ng isang ektaryang lupa para sa bagong parish.
bariles07/17/2008 at 8:29 AMAuthor
@gensanite, hello! Sorry I do not have his email address. But if you can identify yourself to me, I might be able to get it from him. No more wild guesses. Fair enough? hehehehe! gotcha!
gensanite07/18/2008 at 2:59 PM
ummm… can i bargain? hehehe…
i just need to get in touch with the priest-in-charge of the passionist benefactors’ society…
bariles07/18/2008 at 5:42 PMAuthor
@Gensanite, no more bargains. Sale season is over. Hahahaha! Pakilala ka na kasi….
jasper07/21/2008 at 4:01 PM
Thanks God for having a new parish in Fatima Its a Blessing from our Almighty Father hala mga taga Uhaw wala na jud moy reason nga dili mo kasimba nagpaduol na jud ang Ginoo diha.
God Bless and more power to Father Joseph.
naxjho07/26/2008 at 4:13 AM
a dream come true!!salamat sa mga bumubuo at sa mga prayers!!
God is really..really GOOD!!!
bariles07/26/2008 at 8:48 AMAuthor
Hello Jasper! You are right! Now if only people could help Fr. Joseph build his own parish… then blessings will not only come to him but to the good shepherds too.
bariles07/26/2008 at 8:49 AMAuthor
Hello naxjho! All the time, God is really good! Now, how much are you donating?
manny,cp07/26/2008 at 9:00 AM
TO GENSANITE:
Hello! I am glad that you recognize Passionist Benefactors Society.
Fr. Evan Esmade, CP is the PBS Director. Here is the information on how you can get in touch with him:
Address: PASSIONIST BENEFACTORS SOCIETY
4098 Bougainville Road,Sun Valley Subd.,
1700 Paranaque City
Tel. Nos: (02)823-0330
Fax Nos.: (02)823-0362
CP Nos.: 0921-9896216
We are happy to serve you. God bless!
bariles07/26/2008 at 9:13 AMAuthor
Thanks for this info Fr. Manny. Happy ka na, Gensanite?
Buti na lang nagkita uli kami ni Father at the blessing of the Meat Inspection Center in Barangay Glamang, Polomolok the other day. God is good! 
orman07/26/2008 at 5:14 PM
i have to share this: on my flight from manila to gensan today, july 27, i was seated next to Bishop Gutierrez. he was very warm and affable. in fact he was the one who initiated conversation (i am so not into initiating pep talks!) and that was really nice of the Bishop. when he asked about my name, i told me that AVEL was my eldest brother. well, that sealed the tearing down of the walls between us. the Bishop knows avel. anyway, before we doze off, the Bishop was already asking about my bank and our services. before we finally separated i handed him my business card and had to explain why am called ORMAN. the Bishop promised to call me for any banking concerns.
a papa07/27/2008 at 12:49 PM
@cecilia e flores -God bless and congratulations to Our Lady of Fatima Church!!!!More power to father Jo!!!!!—a papa
bariles07/27/2008 at 1:34 PMAuthor
@ a papa, Welcome to Bariles Republic! Please check out our other articles. Or if you want, subscribe to our feeds with your email ad. Daghang salamat!
gensanite07/29/2008 at 5:16 PM
thanks, TUNA MAN & FATHER MANNY…
God bless…
gensanite07/29/2008 at 5:19 PM
@manny,cp –
Hello FATHER MANNY,
Would you happen to know if FATHER EVAN has an e-mail address?
Thanks much.
rodner/pixar/rodney10/03/2008 at 7:12 PM
hal naa diay sila fr.bernard ug fr.bast putiun ug buhok
mga priest cla sa sts.peter and paul.. Im an altar server..kuva avel punta ka sa 4thmass d2 sa lagao parish makikita mo ako..
CaDeAtH12/15/2008 at 1:50 PM
@rodner
ikaw rod ha, nagSearch2 pud d.i ka.
Naa gani c Fr. Raul, Fr. Floro, murag c Fr. art tong nkShade?
ehehe
God Bless