25 years for local Filipino Catholic community

Friday, Jun. 10, 2022

SALT LAKE CITY — Since the first Mass in Tagalog for the Utah Filipino Catholic community was celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Salt Lake City on April 6, 1997, the community, which calls itself Misan Bayan – a name derived from the literal translation of ‘community Mass’– “has been able to preserve, maintain and continue sharing Filipino traditions, including religious values,” said Marina Fernandez, coordinator of the Misan Bayan, during the June 5 celebration of the organization’s 25th anniversary.

The celebration, held at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, included a Mass and a reception. Bishop Oscar A. Solis, who is a native of the Philippines, presided at the Mass. Concelebrants were Fr. Kenneth Vialpando, the diocesan vicar for clergy; and priests in the diocese who are from the Philippines: Fr. Noel Ancheta, spiritual director for the Misan Bayan and part of the diocese’s hospital ministry; Fr. Robin Cruz, parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Logan; Fr. Ariel Durian, administrator of St. Peter Parish in American Fork; Fr. Rodelio Ignacio, parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City; Fr. Max Butch Omana, chaplain of the Christ Prince of Peace Catholic community at Hill Air Force Base; Fr. Joshua Santos, administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Ogden.

Deacon John Kranz assisted at the Mass, which was celebrated in Tagalog.

While Bishop Solis dedicated most of his homily to preaching about Pentecost, he opened his comments by acknowledging the Misan Bayan anniversary celebration. “What a great blessing for us to gather with joy and thanksgiving to celebrate this special blessing from God, celebrating the Holy Mass with Filipinos and some other Catholic friends one Sunday every month through those years,” he said. “This anniversary speaks more of the fidelity of God to us. It is a clear manifestation of the abiding presence of our Lord in your life, in our Church and in our community. It is the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit that sustained you to come together to live our faith and make known to others that God is always with us; that he is faithful to his promise and remains with us in our midst.”

Following the Mass, Bishop Solis was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Marina Fernandez, coordinator of the Misan Bayan; and Jun Enriquez, the organization’s secretary.

When the bishop arrived in the diocese five years ago, “He did not hesitate to recognize and support Misan Bayan,” Fernandez said. She then thanked the bishop “for keeping us spiritually healthy.”

Accepting the certificate, the bishop said the organization allows the community “to witness the faith of the Filipino people in order to make a difference in the lives of the members of our faith community here in the local Church of the Diocese of Salt Lake City.” 

He urged those present to not feel embarrassed or hesitate to express their culture. “In spite of our differences, we are one Church, we are one family,” he said.