INP/Our Lady of the Visitation Parish

Simultaneous with this project are the chapels of Sto. Domingo with Patron Saint Dominic observed on August 8 and San Jose with St. Joseph the Worker, May 1.

Father Requino continued the BEC programs and strengthened it by inviting the Daughters of Charity through Bishop Francisco Claver. In summer of May, 1997, the Sisters arrived and stayed in Busilac to help in Christian formation and formation of catechists spread all over the ecclesial community. To mention some are: Sr. Josefa Ramos, D.C. Superior; Sr. Adelia Bautista, D.C. Assistant and BEC in-charge; Sr. Consolacion Almerante, D.C. Sr. Melosina Lampad, Sr. Maria and Sr. Angie - Ministry of Presence; Sr. Lily Ventura, in-charge of the formation of catechists; Sr. Amy Quinto and Sr. Nilda Palamores left Busilac convent after 2 months.

The greatest achievement of Father Requino was the construction of the Parish convent worth more than a million pesos erected within the church compound at Sta. Maria, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao. This was combined efforts of the Bontoc-Lagawe Vicariate and the ecclesial community of the town. It was started in late 1997 and finished and inaugurated on September 28, 1998 with Bishop Francisco Claver blessing the Rectory convent in an appropriate mass. This day also marked the official transfer of the Mission Rector from Busilac to Sta. Maria.

After more than five year, the churchgoers witnessed the turnover ceremony between Father Requino and Reverend Victor de Guzman on May 28, 2000 in a mass officiated by Bishop Francisco Claver. The welcome and farewell addresses were rendered by Atty. Emelina Cattiling and SK Gabriel Chocyagan, respectively. Thereafter, Father Requino accepted his New Place of Assignment (NPA) in far-flung Tinoc at the foot of Mt. Pulag.

PRIEST JUST COME AND GO

The next three years were shared by four temporary assigned priests who formed the drama of come and go resulting to spiritual vacuum before and after turnovers.

First in the line was Reverend Victor de Guzman who grew up a city-life in Manila only to be ordained in Manila on July 22, 2000. Many of our parishioners traveled to Manila by bus to attend to attend the ordination. Committed to serve the people Potia, he had to accept the rigors and hardship of his assignment. He sacrificed traveling by foot to Mabanutan and opened a chapel.

Father "Tugs" as he was dubbed after his ordination accepted a church-based foundation sponsored by the Severino family of Sta. Maria which was named OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP FOUNDATION, Inc. with seed money of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P 100, 000.00) designed for scholarship to poor but deserving students. This foundation is open to anyone for donations or tithes offer.

It did not take very long when Father de Guzman announced his decision to be relieved, so on April 29, 200 1, the priest left for Manila to join the Jesuit Order. He is remembered for his strict disposition, straightforward to what is right and vehemently denounce and condemn what is wrong

The spiritual vacuum began. Nevertheless, Nena Pinkihan who came here as a catechist on June 27, 1992 became the Parish Secretary, handled regular Sunday Prayers and other obligations with the help of lay-leaders and mandated organizations.

In the year 2001, a visiting priest served the parish in the person of Fr. Herman Bugatti, a native of Hapao Banaue, Ifugao. He stayed here for 32 days only.

The youngest priest that came and graced Our Lady of the Visitation church was Rev. Fr. Nelson Villegas, 29 years old who was just ordained on December 17, 2000. He assumed the Mission on June 17, 2001. He is an "Ifucano", a genetic combination of Ifugao and Ilocano parentage. He came at a time a significant event happened in this Municipality - the ordination of Rev. Michael Dulnuan on October 20, 2001 - the first ordained priest who hails from San. Quintin.