Brief History
The Catholic Filipino Chaplaincy traces its early beginnings in 1988 when then Archbishop of Brisbane, Most Rev. Francis Rush, appointed Sr Necitas Esguerra, Fdcc to minister to the Filipino community in the Brisbane Archdiocese. Sister Necitas, a Canossian, later formed an Interim Committee with the support and guidance of Fr Paul Byrne. For three years (from 1989), Sr Velia Cristine SSpS ministered to the Filipinos living in the north of Brisbane while Sr Necy concentrated on those living in the south. When Sr Velia left, Sr Necy provided pastoral care to the Community until 1996.
A new phase in the chaplaincy began in June 1996 when Fr Dominador Flores, SVD was appointed as full time Chaplain. Fr Norman Pena SSP, Fr Adrian Tapiador SJ and Sr Mila Castillo also assisted in meeting the ever increasing needs of the community through youth ministry, university students and guiding bible groups.
After two years of deliberation and community discussions with the guidance of Fr Dom, the chaplaincy have produced a statement of common vision and mission, an organisational structure and a pastoral plan. It's implementation begun in 1998 and identify the different religious organisations: to celebrate mass in the different parishes where Filipinos live; to visit them where they are; to give seminars on the Bible; to encourage the formation of choirs and to encourage the people to get involve in their parishes. The chaplaincy began to take seriously the implementation of the formation program during the jubilee year 2000.
Fr Dom finished his term in December 2001and was replaced by Fr Ben Macajes, SVD. He was officially installed by Bishop John Geri as Parish Priest of St. Cecilia's Parish in Hamilton and at the same time acted as Filipino Chaplain on March 9, 2002.
The role of the chaplaincy became widely known as not just one of the many organisations among the Filipino migrants but rather an umbrella or the coordinating force for all Filipino-Australian Catholic communities within the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Fr Ben initiated the Sandiwaang Mass (Solidarity Mass) with the intention of bringing about unity among Filipinos. The chaplaincy was also well represented in Synod 2003, an important event in the life of the Archdiocese. The forum aims to achieve how we can better understand and value the spiritual treasure the Church has to offer in today's world, and how we can better respond to the spiritual hunger of people today.
An assessment/survey was also conducted to find out if there is still a need among members of the chaplaincy for a Filipino chaplain and the chaplaincy. 81% of respondents as individual and 76% as community groups indicated that a Filipino chaplain and the chaplaincy is needed. Hence the big challenge still remains, Fr Ben expressed support to continue building the Kingdom of God among Filipinos scattered all over the Archdiocese of Brisbane as a unified chaplaincy and not as isolated communities mindful only of one's own concern.
In June 2004, Fr Marce Singson was appointed by Archbishop Bathersby as Filipino chaplain and a temporary Assistant Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish in Booval, Ipswich. He was officially introduced by Bishop Joseph Oudeman on February 9, 2005 as Filipino Chaplain during a convocation with all coordinators of different religious groups in Brisbane. Fr Marce was later transferred and appointed Parish Priest of St Matthew's Church in Loganholme and incardinated in August 15, 2007.
The Filipino Shrine at Marian Valley in Canungra was formally blessed and inaugurated on June 18, 2005. The shrine houses icons of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the statue of St Lorenzo Ruiz (first Filipino Saint and martyr) and the image of the Black Nazarene.
The mother of the chaplaincy, Sr Necy Esguerra resigned as Pastoral Associate of the chaplaincy on November 2006. After serving the Filipinos in the Archdiocese for 18 years, she decided to slow down her pastoral activities after she was struck down with illness. A special tribute for her was organised for her enormous efforts in her marvelous service to the Filipinos.
The creation of sub-chaplaincies is an effective way to cater the pastoral services in different parts of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. The present set up of Gold Coast chaplaincy which was formed in September 23, 1996 is now well established due to increasing number of Filipinos living in the area.
Filipinos in Ipswich are also coming to life now after the Ipswich chaplaincy was born in December 18, 2005. The spirit of camaraderie of the Filipinos in Ipswich and for their docility and openness are signs for unity.
Focusing on establishing another Filipino community in the north, the Caboolture chaplaincy was created in December 2006 to extend it's services in the northern part.
The three sub-chaplaincies have set up their own activities and monthly masses and are all working closely to each other. The purpose of establishing sub-chaplaincies is not to divide or weaken the strength of the main chaplaincy in Brisbane but to help coordinate and strengthen the pastoral ministry of the main chaplaincy.
There are still some areas in the Archdiocese of Brisbane where Catholic Filipinos are scattered and divided that needs attention and the chaplain is hoping to give an eye on them in order to bring them to a sense of belongingness and oneness in faith.
On the annual general meeting of February 17. 2007, the pastoral council approved and unanimously accepted the amendment of the constitution and by-laws formulated in 1998 to a simple guidelines. Many items in the said document are no longer in harmony with actual or present situation of the chaplaincy. The new pastoral guideline was based and in line with the advice of the Executive Secretary of the Pastoral Councils of the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Note: The above history was written based on available documents from the CFACB’s brochure (1998), Souvenir Annual (2000), Ang Binhi Newsletters and minutes of meeting. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, CFACB do not warrant that the contents of this brochure is accurate, complete, error-free or that such content will be corrected.
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