More than 500 people flocked to Pacific Islands Club to support San Roque Parish’s dinner fundraiser dubbed as “San Roque Parish Celebrates the Return of the OAR Fathers to Saipan” last Monday, December 5, 2016 at Magellan, Pacific Islands Club.
In joy and fellowship, the Diocesan clergy, the Pastorelle sisters and guests from all parishes enjoyed the sumptuous food and live entertainment. The program began with a short background about the Order of the Augustinian Recollects (OAR) with a photo gallery slide presentation on the side. From a brief narration of the OAR mission in the Marianas from 1769-1908, the Most Rev. Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez, Bishop of Chalan Kanoa continued on with the OAR Saipan story by sharing the “courtship” years to bring back the OAR to Saipan. He emphasized that the Diocese patiently waited and finally succeeded when in August 2016, three OAR priests namely Fr. Allan Cabatian, OAR, Fr. Philip Rollon, OAR and Fr. Neil Bullos, OAR arrived to continue their mission in Saipan. Father Allan is now Pastor of San Roque Parish, Father Philip is Pastor of Santa Remedios Parish and Father Neil is Parochial Vicar of Kristo Rai Parish.
The program featured a mini-concert of the OAR Trio of Father Allan, Father Philip and Father Neil. For their front-acts, San Roque Choir sang “When You Believe” and was followed by three solo renditions by Miguel, Clarisse and Ryan. San Roque altar servers Carlo, Marlouie, John and Ryan showed their dancing talents during the intermission number.
The OAR Trio’s song numbers brought the house down. From religious to pop songs, they sang their hearts out and wowed the PIC crowd. Each of them had a solo number. The more the crowd cheered, the more the OAR Trio gave their best. The songs “All I Desire’ and “Tatak Recoleto” highlighted their finale number.
Also, The dinner fundraiser was an all-in-one celebration of important events for the OAR Trio – 428th anniversary of the OAR (December 5) , Father Allan’s 9th sacerdotal anniversary (December 1), Father Philip’s birthday (December 1) and Father Neil’s birthday and 1st sacerdotal anniversary (December 8).
Proceeds of this dinner fundraising will be for the rectory improvements at San Roque Church where the three OAR priests reside.
