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The parish of Jones was founded, taken out of the parish of Echague in 1926 under its Patron Saint, San Guillermo.
Fr. Guillermo Lucas, co-adjutor in Echague, was appointed as the first parish priest. Fr. Lucas began to reside within his parish alternately living in the house of Mr. Silvestre Manaligod in Payac, Jones and in the house of Mr. Mariano Calimag in Mangaratungot (now San Vicente) in 1927.
The first church was built in 1928 through the cooperative efforts of the Catholic people of Payac, Jones. It was noted that the poblacion of Jones at that time was 100 percent Aglipayans. Fr. Lucas also started to reside in the sacristy of the church constructed into a sort of convento.
This parish was servrd by Diocesan priest including Fr. Catalino Bangayan, Fr. Faustino Cawan, Fr. Paulo Cawig and Fr. Cipriano Fontanilla.
In early 1950's, the La Salette Missionaries took over. It was Fr. Ramond Leduc, MS who first worked in the parish and who became its first Parish Priest when it became an independent parish in 1951.
Organizing the parish where practically all residents of the town were Aglipayans was extremely difficult.
Despite this difficulty, Fr. Leduc was able to establish the Knights of Columbus in this parish. He was later succeeded by Fr. Normand Helie, MS, Fr. Alphonse Lorochelle, MS, Fr. Jose Nacu, MS, Fr. Maurice Martineau, MS, Fr. Richard Lamontagne, MS. In the 60's, Fr. Conrad Blanchet, MS worked for the establishment of a school, La Salette of Jones, which was taken as a priority apostolate of the town.
In 1979, Fr. Rene Bisaillon, MS took overthe parish. With the Daugthers of Charity and some lay leaders, the parish of Jones grew fast as its good and extensive catechetical programs. Bible sharings were introduced; social and medicak assistance were some of the parish projects which somehow uplifted the conditions of the faithful in Jones.
Now, the parish has the council that assists the parish priest in meeting the spiritual needs of the parishioners. Its greatest achievement is the conversion of the majority, thus, Jones stands now as a Catholic territory.
The parish was officially turned over to the
Diocese of Ilagan Easter Sunday of 2006.
The last Missionaries of Our Lady of La
Salette who served as Parish Priest was Fr. Eugene Flores, MS and Bro. Henry
Siat, MS as Regent-Assistant. Fr. Eugene now is the Vocations
Promotion Director of the Religious Congregation. |
