The Daughters of St. Paul who visited the people Nuing for the Bible seminar and to distribute Bibles had to cross ten rivers and pass through winding roads for nine long hours! Yes, that is how they were from the convent in Davao city. Most of the people in the area belong to indigenous tribes: Manobo, Bilaan, Lumad, Mandaya, Kaulo and migrants from Sanger, Indonesia. These people are already Catholic, thanks to the mission of the PME (Society of Foreign Mission) priests and later under the diocesan priests of Digos, and the Capuchin Fathers.
The sisters and their companions rejoiced with joyful thanksgiving upon arrival in spite of the tiring journey because of the beauty of the place and the people who were simply amazing. They were greeted with garlands of flowers by the ladies and “buko,” fresh young coconut drink and some ‘suman’ and other ‘kakanin’ (rice cakes).
They began the next day with the Liturgy of the Word, because even though it was Sunday, there was no priest to celebrate the Holy Mass. The Liturgy was led by a Lay Eucharistic Minister, while the choir carefully chose the songs for the liturgy and sang very well. The Bible seminar started after the Liturgy of the Word with the blessing of a heavy downpour. They were about 70 participants who were so happy to receive the Bibles in Cebuano.
The people also showed enthusiasm in purchasing other books and religious items from book exhibit that the sisters put up. The three sisters and two lay mission partners were happy and are ready to go farther afield for the next mission. They went home contented because the Lord “visited his people” through his Word. Amen, even if we once again passed the ten rivers and the winding roads. Srs. Rica, Konsol, Elpie, and LMP’s Jack and Ebing
By: Sr. Federica Dalaguit, FSP