St. Francis Xavier’s sidetrip to Leyte immortalized

ABUYOG, Leyte – A new landmark will soon be added to the impressive list of tourism attractions in this province with the completion of a fountain in the church plaza of Saint Francis Xavier parish church in this town. Oral tradition has it that the great Jesuit saint made a stopover in this town to fetch water for his voyage during his missionary expedition in Asia.

Saint Francis Xavier chapel was erected by the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) in 1716. The visita chapel became a parish church in 1750 after the name of the famous "Apostle to the Indies."

The Agustinians took over the church’s supervision in 1768 after it was rebuilt. The church’s design was changed in 1781 to conform with the architecture of Roman Renaissance. In 1965, it was renovated from a vertical-shaped to a cross-shaped church when an extension was built at the center of the church through the effort of Ret. Msgr. Luis D. Caintic. Msgr. Caintic also facilitated in the construction of the new belfry or bell tower.

From Manila, to reach Abuyog one has to take an hour flight to Tacloban City. Then from the city take a bus for an hour ride to Abuyog.

Abuyog rests at the heart of historic Leyte, the islands of firsts. It is the second largest town in that province today but for many, many years, it was considered the largest because its early territory encompassed the present towns of Mac Arthur, Javier, Mahaplag and other areas. The town is tucked along the fringes of the great Pacific Ocean. It sits on the middle of two great rivers, Cadac-an and Bito.

St. Francis Xavier Parish’s priest now is Rev. Fr. Albert T. Opiniano. He is the 40th parish priest in succession, since 1839.

During the Spanish era, the parish of St. Francis Xavier caters to the spiritual needs of the Abuyognons and the surrounding areas, now presently known as Saint Isidore Labrador Parish (Mac Arthur, Leyte), Saint Michael de Archangel Parish (Javier, Leyte) and Saint Michael de Archangel Parish (Mahaplag, Leyte). "The creation of these former barangays into new municipalities paved the way for their separation from the mother parish in the late 50’s and early 60’s," Fr. Albert told this writer.

Since the installation of Fr. Opiniano as parish priest on Jan. 12, 2001, various improvements and repairs were made on the church, specifically on its roofings, ceilings, floors, belfry and others.

Latest of these improvements is the construction of the new St. Francis Xavier Parish Rectory which was started last April 2003. Five million pesos is its target budget. And two million pesos was already raised through the support of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Abuyognons-USA, Abuyog Migrants Association-Hong Kong, Mga Anak San Abuyog-Manila, the parishioners and other generous and kind-hearted individuals.

At present, the La Hermanidad de San Francisco Xavier is constructing a fountain in the Church Plaza, its target date is August of this year. The construction of the commemorative fountain is being undertaken for it was believed that Saint Francis Xavier, had made a stop-over in Abuyog to fetch water for their voyage during his missionary expedition.

On August 29, 2005 is the 125th anniversary of the La Hermanidad of Saint Francis Xavier, and for one week, a series of activities lined-up such as: the dramatization on the life of St. Francis Xavier, scripted and directed by Mons. Jimmy Villanueva of Cebu City, the inauguration and blessing of the commemorative fountain, pastoral visitation of the different barangays, socio-cultural activities for nine nights sponsored by the different parish sectors, youth sports program and entertainment show by performers from Manila and Cebu.

The highlight of the affair will be a Pontifical Mass at 7 a.m. Theme of the event is "National Eucharistic Marian Year."

"Abuyog population is roughly 70,000, and 90% of which are Roman Catholics," Fr. Albert said.

For your donations on the on-going construction of Saint Francis Xavier Parish, please call Rev. Fr. Albert Opiniano at tel. no. (053) 3342057.