Mission Limasawa

By Fr Hector Suano

It was about ten in the morning and the sky was gray when I descended from the road to the shore. The sight and sound of big waves lashing the shore opened before me and the strong cold wind blowing against me made me adjust my feet for greater balance and stability. Beyond the waves not far away in the distance, I saw my destination island, emerald in color against the washed-out horizon. Knowing that boats would not travel in this stormy weather, I gave up my plan to visit it that day; crossing the sea was simply ‘Mission Impossible’.

The day before, I had gone to see Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas SDB of Maasin. I told him that I was interested in visiting a mission area of his diocese. He suggested Limasawa Island.  

You would never think that after almost 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, Limasawa Island, where the first Mass was celebrated, would still be a mission area. But, for whatever reasons, this historic island remains very much a mission destination today.

Limasawa is off the southern tip of Leyte and is seven square kilometers in area with a population of fewer than 6,000. It is a sixth class town divided into six barangays. Fishing and arming are the main sources of livelihood, dried squid and fresh bananas being the island’s most popular products.

Due to its isolation, the people of Limasawa enjoy few comforts in life. But its resources, which they acknowledge as God's blessings, keep them going.

Failing to cross the sea, I phoned Fr Christopher B. Esquibel, the parish priest of Holy Cross and the First Mass Parish, which includes the whole island, to learn more about life there and why it is considered a mission area. He said that the people on the island have and treasure their faith in God but that they have an issue on which faith group to affiliate to.

Currently, there are 14 faith groups on the island. About half of the population is Catholic while the rest belong to smaller faith groups.

Father Cris found that the faith of the Catholics needs to grow and make deeper roots. He calls for a ‘Duc In Altum’ – ‘Launch out into the deep’ approach to the faith.

The story of the Limasawans is our story too. Like them, we constantly struggle to witness to our faith in the situations in which we find ourselves. And Father Cris needs assistance in his campaign to encourage the deepening of faith in his people. If you have the time, talent, and treasure to help Father Cris you are most welcome to do so.

Some of our islands need missionaries from other islands in order to develop and grow in our Catholic Christian faith and to be closer to becoming ‘bright spots of heaven’ on earth.

The dark and low clouds burst and the heavy rain fell down like stage curtains slowly covering the island from my view when I left the shore. As I hop on the vehicle to be on the road again to visit other mission areas, I prayed that God may send missionaries to Limasawa Island.

***