Filipino Catholic Mission of Montreal a Gift for the Filipino Community
By: Elenita Belgica
Father Francisco Alvarez PME (Father’s of Foreign Mission of Quebec) is the parish priest and chairman of the Filipino Catholic Mission of Montreal on St. Laurent Blvd. He was born in Baybay, Leyte and grew up in Davao City where his vocation as a priest came with a distinct calling as early as his first communion rites in his childhood. It was like a flowing chapter in a well written and edited book for Providence had provided specific religious personalities along his path, paving the way to his vocation like the smooth and placid summer waves in tranquil waters.
He was installed in the church in Montreal last September 8, 1996 after his reflection led him to a decision to leave his post in Hong Kong in favor of Montreal. His leadership in a growing mobile parish at Notre- Dame de Neiges that moved on to St. Denis were marked with a quest to venture into securing a church for the Filipino community. It was a desire shared with enthusiasm by the parishioners who devoted time, effort, skills and talents in the formation and stability of a growing Filipino church community with Father Alvarez.
The process of that project did not come as a paved road in a rose garden. In the contrary, it came with thorns that challenged the way towards the fragrance of the aspired rose garden. However, the vision was clear from a distance and with guided negotiation, calculated risk, fundraising activities and prayers, the church became a reality.
To write about the details would be mote and academic for the purpose of my visit with Father Alvarez and to pay my due respect to our Filipino church in a borough away from the center where majority of Filipinos reside. I felt so flawed to be one of those few who made tons of excuses to attend my Sunday masses there using as a trite reason “it is too far”. It dwarfed me when I realized that most of the Filipino church goers where from the West Island and other boroughs in Montreal.
The Filipino Catholic Mission of Montreal and the church in St. Laurent Blvd. is a gift to us Filipinos. Why do we call it a gift? Because there are only three churches that were given to us Filipinos to own abroad. The first one is in Rome and the second in Texas and the third one is in Montreal. It is our home, a haven where we are invited to enjoy the rites and rituals with no parishioner limitation or guidelines. Many of us have our parishes and that is excellent. But it would be a joy to visit our very own church and bond with others in a tradition of unity and community.
What struck me with awe and admiration was the “bayanihan” spirit that defines us and distinctly separates us from other cultures; a quality that springs from the heart of selfless and loving groups of people. The Filipinos in the Filipino Mission gave their all to fix, move, renovate, decorate and prepare the church for everyone. It has become a haven where hearts meet, spirits bond and people hold hands in prayer and loving communion.
The gift is there for all of us; Let us enjoy it, embrace it and make time to join each other.
