Sacred Heart Parish of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur held its annual GKK day and Christmas celebration in the town's gym. Hundreds of different family groupings from our different Zones (Poblacion, San Isidro, Fatima, Inahan sa Kanunayng Panabang, San Antonio, SIDL) converged to celebrate this joyous occasion. We witnessed the induction of new Parish Pastoral Council, the newly recomposed members of Parish Youth and the induction of numerous officers from different zones. There were also presentatons that enlivened the day like: Daygon contest, Folk dances and modern dances. These were all interpersed with songs, dances, games of the parish choir, the Carmel youth and other mandated organizations. The day became the celebration of family life despite of the heavy rains, the spirits of the people were not dampened.
December 6, 2011 Tue
The Carmelite community of Carmel Agusan held its recollection last December 6, 2011 in Barobo, Agusan del Sur. Sr. Lurian Comaling, Carm.O.L. prepared the documents for our reflections and we reflected on this. Later in the afternoon, we discussed about our community life. We went beyond to discuss our relationship as a community and how we responded in times of conflicts. We made some clarifications on different aspects of our community life and encouraged one another to live as a good member of our Carmelite community. Present during the recollection are friars Tim Jusayan, Toto Jaranilla, Emman Vallega, Alain Balasabas and Irvin Mangmang. The associates present are Arlene Cabanban, Bebeth Rejas and Leah Cabanban.
December 8, 2011 Thursday
On the feast of Immaculate Conception, the grade three pupils of Mount Carmel College received their first communion. The mass was presided by Fr. Sirenio Jaranilla as their school president, Fr. Alain Balasabas, went to Rosario for the school Mass also. More than 20 eager pupils accompanied by their parents lined up and knelt to receive the body of Christ on their communion day. A simple meal followed for the family at the GKK hall.
December 9, 2011 Friday
The Lay Ministers together with Fr. Artemio Jusayan left for Marihatag Tree Park to have their annual gathering and evaluation. The Lay Ministers took the community truck and had a day with the Lord interpersed with dancing and singing while in the ecopark.
December 10, 2011 Saturday
Recollection day for the parish choir. Fr. Jaranilla facilitated their recollection which gave emphasis to community life, prayer life and the preparations of advent. More than 30 choir members participated in this event.
December 13, 2011 Tuesday
Fr. Toto Jaranilla gave a recollection to the TOC of Rosario, welcoming also the new aspirants. Focused during the recollection was the faith development of the TOC members of Rosario. They got to review the Church History and were challenged to further deepen their faith in the context of their family.
December 16, 2011 Friday
The Misa de Gallo began with rain here in Agusan. But the Church was filled with people. Even the barrio masses’ attendance was high. This novena is very significant for the people who looked up to Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Belen. The carmel youth joined the friars in going to the barrios. The lay ministers too had their assignments going to far-flung barrios sleeping overnight with the people to lead them in their Bible Service.
In the evening, the people of Agusan were caught unprepared for Typhoon Sendong. The mighty winds battered Agusan felling many of its gargantuan trees which took years to grow. Total blackout placed the Caraga region in darkness. Many cars were stranded as the roads are blocked by trunks of trees. A few cars were caught by the trees that fell. Despite of these, the casualties were rare. It shocked the town of Agusan del Sur who did not experience typhoon for a long time. Little did we realize that it will wreck Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City, our neighboring cities, as the Typhoon crossed from Agusan to Bukidnon. The waters of Bukidnon mountains and Iligan mountains fell in torrents. The forested canopy are no more as these were destroyed by logging worsened also by the mining activities in the uplands of Bukidnon and Iligan, so the torrent combined and and formed a mighty flood that swept Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City killing thousands of lives.
December 17, 2011 Saturday
Recollection of Sta. Irene. Fr. Toto Jaranilla was invited by Fr. Cesar Bahan, the parish priest of Santa Irene Quasi-parish to conduct the parish wide recollection. The theme centered on Building a Church as People of God. This is in preparation of their eventual transformation into a Parish. Santa Irene used to be under the Carmelites administration. Now it is an independent quasi-parish administered by the Stigmatine Fathers.
While in Santa Irene, Fr. Jaranilla learned of the extent of the damages in Cagayan de Oro. Fr. Bahan who is from Cagayan de Oro described more the damage as he has access to electricity through a generator. News poured of so many deaths. Fr. Jaranilla learned that his hometown is isolated from Cagayan de Oro as its bridges were destroyed by the onslaught of the floods.
In San Francisco, no electricity and the Misa de Gallo were all done in the light of candles and rechargeable lamps.
December 25, 2011 Sunday
Christmas celebration in Agusan was observed in a more peaceful way as the town still reeling from the effects of the storm. People were kind enough to share their blessings after the Carmelite friars called on them to share clothing, food, water and other relief goods to the typhoon victims. Everybody is thankful that the Almighty spared San Francisco from floods during Sendong.
December 26, 2011 Monday
The family of our Associates Arlene and Leah Cabanban; Fr. Alain Balasabas and Fr. Toto Jaranilla with the Carmel Youth went to Cagayan de Oro to deliver the relief goods shared by the people of San Francisco. They left around 4am with two L300 vans and went directly to Xavier University being one of the drop-off station of the relief goods in Cagayan de Oro. Then we went to Macanhan to deliver directly to those affected some of the relief goods. Afterwards we proceeded to Baungon, Bukidnon to share also some clothing and goods to those affected by the typhoon Sendon (Washi).
December 27, 2011 Tue
Upon our arrival in Agusan from relief operations in Cagayan de Oro, we were met by torrents of rain. We realized that since we left until now rains had not stopped. Agusan was flooded about knee-deep then we learned that Rosario Parish is also flooded. Many people were kept busy cleaning their flooded homes. Even the Parish Church of Rosario is inundated with water. Fr. Emman took some pictures of the flooding.
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