By Fr. Rey Villanoy
The title for my column is aptly as it was the theme of the recently concluded diamond jubilee of the Diocese of Capiz and the golden jubilee of the Archdiocese of Capiz—the dual celebration of two important events in the life of the Roman Catholic Church in Capiz.
It was in 1951 when Capiz had its own diocese, which separated itself from the then Diocese of Jaro. Some 25 years later, it was elevated to an archdiocese in 1976 and with two suffragan dioceses: the Diocese of Kalibo and the Diocese of Romblon.
So many things have happened since then. First, the establishment of more parishes and lately of numerous mission stations all for the service of the growing number of Catholics. And second, with it was the steady increase of the number of clergy to take care of the Catholic faithful.
Other major milestones were the establishment of two seminaries: the Seminary of St. Pius X in 1957 and the Sancta Maria Mater et Regina Seminarium in 1999.
The former being a minor seminary and the latter a major seminary. The seminaries in Capiz account for a good number of priests ordained year after year so much so that a number of them are either sent for further studies or on loan to other dioceses in the country and abroad.
All these (without mentioning many others) are indeed “generations of heaven’s blessings”. May the good Lord continue to bless the Archdiocese of Capiz in the years ahead.
Ad multos annos! To many more years!
