Jagna parishioners mourned the death of well-loved former parish priest and first adopted son of the town- -the late Msgr. Saturnino Escobia Felicitas, H.P.
Born on December 23, 1915, Monsignor Ninong, as he was fondly called by friends and parishioners, died of pneumonia at the age of 93 on January 24 in his residence in Anda.
Jagna parish priest, Msgr. Orencio Jubac, E.V., personally facilitated the memorial services and wake based on the pre-arranged request of the late monsignor.
“It was really a personal prayer and intention of Msgr. Ninong that if ever the ‘proper time comes on him’, he be brought back to the Birhen sa Barangay Shrine in Jagna. However, for the convenience of the parishioners especially those who are too old to go to Ilihan Hill we decided that the continuation of the memorial wake be held at the St. Michael, The Archangel Parish Church for two days,†according to Msgr. Jubac.
A convoy of at least 20 private vehicles escorted the bier on Monday, dropping by briefly at the Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Guinduman before heading to Anda, Msgr. Ninong’s hometown.
The late monsignor finished his elementary years in Anda Elementary School. He took his secondary course at the former Central Visayan College (now CVI-F) in Jagna but received his high school diploma at the former Bohol Provincial High School in Tagbilaran City.
His desire to become a priest brought him to the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in Cebu City where he successfully finished his Philosophy and Theology studies.
He was ordained priest on April 2, 1949 by the late Bishop Julio Rosales, D.D.
His first assignment was in Maribojoc as parish vicar in 1949. He became priest-in-charge of Baclayon the following year.
His other major assignments as parish priest were in the parishes of Loon, Antequera, Tubigon, Calape, Tagbilaran City, Guindulman and Loay.
He was once Superintendent of the Bohol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS), a member of the Council of Priests of Tagbilaran City and Diocesan Chaplain of the Barangay Sang Birhen.
Prior to his retirement in the active priesthood, Msgr. Ninong was assigned as parish priest of St. Michael, The Archangel Parish of Jagna in 1975-1981 and in 1987-1992.
As one of the longest staying parish priests of Jagna, he has been dubbed as a “great homilistâ€.
He likewise initiated various spiritual related programs in the parish which made him closer to the people.
Jagna was also witness to his many glorious moments in priesthood, while serving the parishioners.
It was during his time when the Birhen sa Barangay Chapel atop Ilihan Hill in Jagna was constructed with the help of the late Diocese of Tagbilaran bishop, Onesimo Gordoncillo, D.D., and the late Bohol governor Esteban Bernido.
His title and rank as honorary prelate (H.P.) was bestowed on him by the late Pope John Paul II through the instrumentality of Talibon Bishop Christian Vincent Noel, D.D. as a mark of papal recognition of his service to the local church of Bohol and Jagna in particular.
After the February 8, 1999 major earthquake that destroyed the St. Michael Parish Church, he boldly instigated the million-peso restoration project.
His rapport with the people of Jagna and his undying devotion to the Birhen sa Barangay strongly inspired him to spend his conventual years at Ilihan Hill which has become a pilgrim site and a diocesan shrine.
Perhaps gifted with longevity despite his permanent blindness due to glaucoma, Msgr. Ninong was able to celebrate with the Jagnaanons his golden anniversary as a priest.
For his contribution to the parish and town, Msgr. Ninong was declared “First Adopted Son of Jagna†through a Sangguniang Bayan resolution during the term of former Mayor Alexander Villacastin in the early 1980s.
In the 375th founding anniversary of Jagna as a town and parish in September 2006, Mayor Exuperio Lloren accorded Msgr. Ninong the prestigious Dungog Kaliwat Jagnaanon Award.
Attended by hundreds of friends, former parishioners, relatives and fellow priests both from the Dioceses of Tagbilaran and Talibon Msgr. Ninong was laid to his final resting place at the Anda Cemetery on January 29.
The late monsignor is survived by sisters Ciriaca Felicitas-Lunop and Trinidad Felicitas-Magallano. - Sunday Post
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