This year 2009 marks the sesquicentennial of the return of the
Jesuits to the Philippines since their expulsion in 1768. We are also
launching the Centennial Jubilee of the Ateneo de Zamboanga
University.
The first group of Jesuits arrived in the Philippines as early as
1581, while their Christian mission in Mindanao, particularly in Butuan,
began only in 1596. In the 17th century, the Jesuits established
three major headquarters in Mindanao: Zamboanga, Dapitan, and
Iligan. In 1768, Carlos III of Spain ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits
from the Philippines and other territories under Spanish rule, except
Russia. 154 Jesuit missionaries in the Philippines were exiled abroad,
leaving the missions in Mindanao in the care of the Recollects.
Almost a century after their expulsion, the Jesuits were
requested to return to the Philippines by Queen Isabel II of Spain
upon the suggestion of Bishop Santos Marañon of Cebu, whose
diocese then included the entire Mindanao. The order decreeing
their expulsion had been repealed much earlier in 1814 by Pope
Pius VII.
On board the ship Luisita, 10 Jesuits returned to the
Philippines on June 13, 1859 to take charge of the missionary work
in Mindanao and the adjacent islands especially among the nonChristian tribes. This plan, however, would be realized later, giving
way to the immediate clamor of the colonial government for the
re-establishment of Escuela Pia, later renamed Ateneo Municipal
de Manila and now known as the Ateneo de Manila University.
During this whole time, the Jesuits kept Mindanao
foremost in their plan. Barely 2 years after their return to the
Philippines, they set sail to Mindanao. A good story has it that
when the Jesuits reached Tamontaca in Cotabato on January 10,
1862, Fr. Jose Ignacio Guerrico exulted in their arrival, kissing the
ground with tears of joy. Tamontaca became the ‘first modern
Jesuit mission in Mindanao.’
Later in that same year, another group of Jesuits headed
by Fr. Ramon Barua started their mission in Tetuan in Zamboanga,
while Fr. Francisco Ceballos started another in La Isabella in Basilan.
Tetuan became a parish in the following year 1863, making it the
first canonically created parish in Mindanao.
In 1899 the transition from Spanish to American colonial
government temporarily left the seat of power vacant, giving
opportunity for instances that threatened the stability of missionary
work in Mindanao.
From 1900 to 1941, the Jesuit missionaries made their
way back to Mindanao again with much success in missionary
and educational work. However, the invasion of Japan in 1941
put an end to this productive period with great destruction.
Immediately after the war, the missionaries engaged in
the massive rebuilding of the parishes and schools. Thereafter,
the Jesuits continued to intensify their missionary work in different
parts of the archipelago, particularly in Mindanao. Notably, the
educational apostolate was given primacy, consequentially
aiding in the growth of Jesuit schools in Mindanao.
The spiritual strength that has kept the Christians
especially in Mindanao alive in the service of God and people
is what it is today because of the determined and committed
Jesuit missionaries who, despite lacking in number and vulnerable
to infliction, gave their lives to spread Christianity in areas of
uncertainty.
The period from 1596 to 1768 produced Jesuit martyrs. In
Mindanao the first martyr was Francesco Paleola who evangelized
Christianity with the Suban-uns of Zamboanga Peninsula. Fathers
Alejandro Lopez and Juan Montiel who were sent to negotiate a
peace treaty with Sultan Kudarat were killed along the banks of
Rio Grande in Cotabato.
The period 1859 to 1899 was marked by intensive missionary
work in Mindanao by the Jesuits in frontiers like Tamontaca and Jolo.
This was also the period of many outstanding Jesuits like Federico
Faura, Saturnino Urios, Mateo Gisbert, Pablo Pastells, Francisco de
Paula Sanchez, Jacinto Juanmarti, and Jose Ignacio Guerrico.
The same period gave birth to the following in Manila:
the Ateneo de Manila, the Normal School for Teachers, the Manila
Observatory, and the construction of San Ignacio Church. The turn
of events in 1899, however, caused the arrest and imprisonment
of Jesuit missionaries in Tamontaca and Cagayan by the
revolutionaries, interrupting their missions in the said areas.
In the early 20th century the Jesuits began to return to
their mission stations as ‘roving missionaries’ to cover as many
territories as possible. The period from 1900 to 1941 produced
the following: the Diocese of Zamboanga in 1910 with jurisdiction
over all of Mindanao and Sulu; parochial schools in every parish
(in Zamboanga the Spanish Jesuits opened the Escuela Catolica
in 1912, renamed Ateneo de Zamboanga); and the Ateneo de
Cagayan (opened in 1933). These developments, however, were
hampered by World War II in 1941, especially in Zamboanga,
Davao, Cagayan and other places in Mindanao.
The aftermath of World War II brought priests and lay
together resulting in a ‘spiritual revival’. This phenomenon was
greatly sustained within the next three decades when the Jesuits
were involved in intense missionary work as well as educational
apostolate. Fr. Eusebio Salvador acquired land for the Cathedral
and Ateneo de Zamboanga in what is now La Purisima Street. In
1948, Fr. Theodore Daigler began the Ateneo de Davao. Ten years
after, Ateneo de Cagayan acquired the university status through
the efforts of Fr. Francisco Araneta, making it the only university in
all of Mindanao at that time. In the same year, Zamboanga was
elevated into an Archdiocese. This period was also marked by a
development of bishoprics, and the number of native clergy rose
sharply through the establishment of seminaries.
To date, there are 6 Jesuit higher education institutions,
3 stand-alone basic education schools, and a few parish-based
mission schools in the Philippines. Of the five universities, Ateneo de
The Trustees, the Administration
and the Faculties
of
Ateneo de Zamboanga University
request the honor of your presence at the
Sesquicentennial Jubilee of the Return of the Jesuits (1859-2009)
• The 150th anniversary of the return of the Jesuits to the Philippines
• The 150th anniversary of Jesuit educational apostolate in the Philippines
• The 150th anniversary of Jesuit presence in Mindanao
and
The Launching of the Centennial Jubilee
of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (1912-2012)
on 3 July 2009
Mass
Presider: Most Reverend Abp Romulo G Valles DD
Archbishop of Zamboanga
Homilist: Fr Jose Cecilio J Magadia SJ
Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in the Philippines
10:00 AM, Multi-Purpose Covered Courts, AdZU, La Purisima Campus
Public Lecture by Fr Jose S Arcilla SJ
The Jesuits’ Return to Mindanao
and
The Beginnings of Ateneo de Zamboanga
2:30 PM, Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall, AdZU, La Purisima Campus
Zamboanga University, which is the first Jesuit provincial school in
the Philippines, is launching its Centennial Jubilee this year (2009).
Founded in 1912 as Escuela Catolica, it was renamed Ateneo de
Zamboanga in 1916 and became a university in 2001.
The Jesuits’ presence in the Philippines and in Mindanao
particularly, leaves imprints in the historical process that has
nurtured a promising living Church in the nation of today. Through
time, their dedication to the service of God and people in the
frontier, where only few would imbibe magis and empower the lay
to share in the effort for salvation, has been a mark of Christian
character. This character embodied in our institutions and shines
in our way of life serves as our source in sustaining our commitment
to face the new challenges of our time. Such significant character
that the Jesuits have been sustaining deserves to be celebrated
as part of our spiritual heritage.
Exhibit
The Jesuits in Mindanao since their Return
and
The Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Retrospect
5:30 PM, The Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago, AdZU, La Purisima Campus
For inquiries, please contact Aireen at (062) 991-0871 local 2240.
Photos from the Archives of the Philippine Province