SOWN ON RICH SOIL
The History of St. Pius X Parish by Angelo S. Dullas
“The seed sown on a rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred, or sixty, or thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:23).
We are familiar with the story behind the name “Villa-Zar,” the combination of the surnames of Governor Mariano Villafuerte and Mayor Pablo Salazar, and yet the name before it became gives us a rich reflection of our identity. The now-barangays North and South Villazar were known before as “Yabo,” which could mean loose soil, a sitio of a much larger barangay Calagbangan. The locale was a former lumber camp turned into agricultural lands, where the main source of livelihood was cultivating coconuts, rice, corn, citruses, and root crops. The rich soil flourishing with diverse fruits of the land is yet to receive a seed, a seed to bear fruit and yield a hundred, sixty, or thirtyfold: a parish.
The story started two years after the canonization of Pope St. Pius X in 1954, when the Most Rev. Pedro Paulo Santos, DD., Archbishop of Caceres, founded the St. Pius X Parish in 1956, when the now-Diocese of Libmanan was still an ecclesiastical territory of the Archdiocese of Caceres. The parish was comprised of 18 barangays then, which could be the reason why the earlier feast of the parish was celebrated on January 18. The Rev. Fr. Domingo Halum was installed as its first parish priest. During his term, the present parish church and the old rectory were constructed. In 1962, Pope St. John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council, which was to last until 1965. The council aimed to address various aspects of church life and its relationship with the modern world and led significant reforms within the church. The same year was also marked by the appointment of Rev. Fr. Pablo Balon as the second parish priest. During his administration, the altar was changed, the main door of the church was finished, and the distinctive image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the church facade was installed. The image was placed to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, heeding the call of Pope Pius XII, who wrote “Haurietis aquas,” an encyclical to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pope Pius IX, in the same year the parish was founded. Likewise, the installation of the statue is a tribute to the incumbent prelate at that time, Archbishop Santos, whose motto is “Cor Jesu in te Confido”—“Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee.”
The Rev. Fr. Jose Rodriguez was installed as parish priest in 1965. His accomplishments include the completion of the bell tower and ceiling. His term was followed by an interim period which was to last from May 11 to 26, 1969. Rev. Fr. Elias Doroin from St. Peter Baptist Parish, Lupi, Camarines Sur, served as Parish Administrator during this period. Rev. Fr. Rosalio Olaybal followed Fr. Rodriguez in 1969. During the term of Fr. Olaybal as parish priest, Pope St. Paul VI promulgated the new order of the Mass, which translated the mass from Latin to the vernacular. Among Fr. Olaybal’s accomplishments were the painting of the Sacred Heart image, the cementing of the driveway and sidewalk, and the fencing of the parish grounds. In 1971, Villazar Barangay High School was founded. The first class used the barangay center as its first room, and Fr. Olaybal was among those who served as volunteer teachers. Also, during his term, the Parish Pastoral Council was instituted in 1974.
Fr. Olaybal was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Mariano Matubis in 1977. During the term of Fr. Matubis, an avid gardener, the churchyard bloomed with flowers. His term ended in 1980 and was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Antonio Aureus. Among Fr. Aureus’ accomplishments were the installation of the water facility, the construction of the stage, the children’s playing area, and the installation of the Lourdes Grotto, which is now located near the north wing of the parish building. In 1985, Rev. Fr. Edwin Lim was installed as parish priest. His term initiated changes in the parish altar and the organization of the catechists. He was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Cecilio Bismonte in 1988. Among Fr. Bismonte’s accomplishments were the renovation of the church, rectory, and parish hall.
In 1989, the parish was separated from the Archdiocese of Caceres as the new Prelature of Libmanan was created with the Most Rev. Prospero Arellano, DD., as its first bishop [1]. In 1991, the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines was held in Manila. Pivotal themes of PCP II include Community of Disciples, Church of the Poor, Renewed Integral Evangelization, and Basic Ecclesial Communities [2]. The council guided the new prelature in its direction as a local church. In 1992, Bishop Arellano called for the First Pastoral Assembly of the Prelature of Libmanan. PAPL I defined for the first time the vision and mission of the Prelature [1]. In the same year, Fr. Bismonte was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Leo Juan Sabas. Fr. Sabas oversaw the renovation of the church building and initiated the spiritual formation of the faithful.
The Rev. Fr. Oscar Paraiso took over the parish in 1994. He was known for the pastoral and social care he brought to his parishioners. In the same year, Bishop Arellano once again convened the Second Pastoral Assembly of the Prelature of Libmanan [1]. In PAPL II, the spirit of PCP II was tangibly realized through the initial formation of the “Saradit na Kristiyanong Komunidad” (SKK) in all the parishes of the Prelature. Fr. Paraiso was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Melecio Antonio Felix in 1999. During his term, SKK was organized in the parish. The current resurrection tower was also constructed, and the beautification of the patio was initiated. The parish celebrated the golden anniversary of the canonization of Pope St. Pius X in 2004. This jubilee was memorialized by erecting a statue of St. Pius X at the parish patio which was solemnly blessed by Bishop Arellano.
The year 2000 was marked by the Great Jubilee initiated by St. John Paul II. This was to celebrate the advent of the new millennium. The same year was also remembered as the convocation of another pastoral assembly, the PAPL III [1]. The theme of PAPL III was “Basic Ecclesial Communities: Life and Hope for a Renewed Church in the New Millenium.” The third pastoral assembly called for renewed enthusiasm and further reinforced what was begun during PAPL II, the SKK.
The Rev. Fr. Nolito Montaña succeeded Fr. Felix in 2005. Among Fr. Montaña’s accomplishments were the beautification of the parish facade and sanctuary, the construction of the adoration chapel, and the current rectory. During his term, the parish fiesta was transferred from January 18 to August 21, following the liturgical calendar. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Arellano’s resignation as Bishop of Libmanan and appointed Most Rev. Jose Rojas Jr., DD., the then-Auxiliary Bishop of Caceres, as its second bishop. The following year, the Prelature of Libmanan was elevated to a diocese. Bishop Rojas started the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal following the Editio Typica Tertia. In his term, the present vision and mission were also conceived.
In 2010, Rev. Fr. Cesar Bolina was installed as parish priest. Among his accomplishments were the construction of the current retablo of the parish, the side altars of Divine Mercy and Our Lady of the Pillar, the Stations of the Cross, the parish stage and gate, and the restoration of the image of St. Pius X. During his term, the parish celebrated the centennial death anniversary of St. Pius X, the Silver Jubilee of the See of Libmanan, and the first diocesan synod in 2014. In 2015, the parish gave birth to a mission station in Calagbangan, Sipocot, Camarines Sur, which was erected as Sto. Niño de Praga Parish in 2016. The Holy Mass of Canonical Erection and Installation of its first Parish Administrator, Rev. Fr. Melecio Antonio Felix, was held on its first Parish Fiesta, on May 1, 2016. In 2015, Pope Francis granted the canonical coronation of Our Lady of the Pillar, the Queen and Patroness of the Diocese. The year 2016 was also marked by the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy declared by Pope Francis. The jubilee was themed “merciful like the Father.”
Fr. Bolina was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Roger Barbecho in 2017. During his term, the church sides were re-roofed and walled. The year 2020 was marked by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, which limited the celebration of the mass due to the lockdown, immobilized the lives of all, and claimed many lives. Fr. Barbecho was transferred to St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Milaor as the assistant priest in 2021. The faithful are grateful to the priests who extend pastoral care to the parish during the interim period: the Somascan fathers of Casa Miani MRV Jr., Rev. Fr. Romulo Castañeda, Rev. Fr. Arvin Olivan, and Rev. Fr. Joseph Betito, were parish administrators.
The year 2021 was also marked by the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. This marked the half-millennia of the first baptism in the Philippines. In 2022, the parish gave birth to another mission station under the patronage of St. John Mary Vianney in San Jose-Alanao, Lupi, Camarines Sur. SKK reclustering of the now-comprised 6 barangays, namely: South Villazar, North Villazar, Tible, Sooc, Haluban, and La Purisima, started in 2023. In the same year, the Hermandad de la Virgen del Pilar was initiated in the parish. In the following year, other mandated religious organizations like the Sodalitas Sancti Benedicti and Hermanos de San Jose were also introduced. The current shepherd of St. Pius X Parish is Rev. Fr. Francis Francisco, starting August 2023. He was installed as parish priest on November 16, 2023.
[1] History. (2023, September 29). Diocese of Libmanan – The Official Website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Libmanan. https://libmanandiocese.org/index.php/2023/09/29/about-us/
[2] St. Vincent School of theology. (2011). St. Vincent School of Theology. https://www.svst.edu.ph/hapag/issues/article/second-plenary-council-of-the-philippines-pcp-ii-compendium-of-resources-76
