Most Reverend Ronald I. Lunas, STL, DD. led the Pagadian Diocese Synod Team’s participation in the DOPIM Salubong on June 9, 2022, held at Saint Mary’s Theologate Ozamis City. The DOPIM Salubong was part of the Metropolitan Synod process set by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The Archdiocese of Ozamis hosted the activity. Synod Core groups from Dipolog, Iligan, Pagadian, Ozamis, and, Marawi dioceses gathered to experience the synodality at the metropolitan level.
The Metropolitan Salubong started with the Bible Enthronement, followed by the exhortation of the Reading by Rev. Fr. Belstar O. Ediang, STL from Pagadian Diocese. Fr. Ediang’s message centered on the very experience of the synodal process. He reiterated that Synodality had opened the doors of the churches to accompany the lost, the abandoned, and the lonely to be able to listen to their “Jerusalem”. “Synodality is reaching out the peripheries: to hear the voices of the poor and the voices of the voiceless.” He added. The creative Salubungan set the activity’s mode as all the groups introduced themselves through the famous specialties and delicacies from their respective dioceses. The Diocese of Pagadian brought the famous pinyato, banana chips, and tagaktak from Aurora and organic fruit wine from Dumingag, symbolizing prosperity and unity amidst the many challenges in the journey of faith. The presentation of the out-of-tune themes from the different dioceses brought about the participants’ shared understanding of the face of the Church in the present time. After the presentation, Participants shared in small groups their experiences.
The highlight of the sharing included the common themes, ways forward, and the cultural Symbol. The Gallery Walk, discernment of the result, and drafting of the common metropolitan vision/aspiration followed. The Holy Eucharistic celebration celebrated by Bishop Lunas highlighted the Metropolitan Salubong in a creative way where participants offered their cultural Symbols to the other dioceses. The Pagadian Diocese offered the replica of the Tricycle, Dried Fish, and Batik as the cultural symbols of Zamboanga del Sur.
