THE HISTORY OF BLD ST. CATHARINES

Fall 1993 - Rene and Thelma Ongcangco attended ME #5 sponsored by BLD Toronto

1994 -  Ongcangcos sponsored Art and Fe Edralin and Tony and Glo Ugarte to join Toronto’s ME #6.   As often as they could, they attended Toronto’s praise and worship held at that time on Thursday nights.  Soon, they started meeting in their homes, adopting the “ACTS” prayer format and singing the songs they learned from their respective Class reunions.  Family and friends came to join them and as the prayer group grew, it became apparent they needed to have a bigger venue

1995 – Permission was obtained from the pastor of St. Catherines Cathedral of Alexandra to use the Cathedral parish hall for their prayer meetings.  After a year of regular use and an increasing number of people coming, St. Catharines Cathedral became the permanent venue of the prayer group.

1996 -  By this time, St. Catharines felt the need for a more structured organization for its prayer group.  They started to participate in a whirlwind of teachings in the Christian Discipleship Formation Program given by the Toronto District, given mostly on weekends and the occasional weeknight.

1996 - Jules and Ely Misa appointed as “Community Shepherds” by Toronto District to oversee and guide the growth of the community.  Ministries formed included Service, Praise, Liturgy, Secretariat, Treasury, Intercessory, MLA & LSA

February 6, 1997 -  the Bishop of Niagara approved the establishment of St. Catharines as an Outreach of BLD Toronto.

May 23-25, 1997 -  St. Catharines teamed up with BLD Rochester in sponsoring ME #1, held at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua, NY.  With St. Catharines officially becoming the first BLD “Outreach”, Jules and Ely Misa stayed on as Community Shepherds and the three “founders” who attended Toronto’s Aspirants Retreat - Rene/Thelma Ongcango, Art/Fe Edralin and Tony/Glo Ugarte – were appointed as “Core Leaders” of Management, Evangelization and Fomation respectively.

1997 -  St. Catharines sponsored its first LSS later in the year.

1998 - Another joint sponsorship of St. Catharines Outreach and Rochester Outreach of ME #2 in the same venue in Canandaigua, NY. This is the last ME they sponsored together and would thereafter put on their own ME weekend independently.

1999 -  Tony and Glo Ugarte requested to be relieved as Core Leaders, Formation and Romy and Minda Panday were appointed to the post they vacated.

2000 – Commenced the celebration of healing mass every last Friday of the month.

2001 -  Core Leaders were renamed as “District Council of Stewards” (“DCS”).  And the Outreach becomes a “District in Process” (“DIP”).  Jules and Ely Misa were renamed “District Shepherds”.   13 members participated in Toronto’s Aspirants Retreat.

2003 – Rene and Thelma Ongcangco were appointed by Toronto District to take over from Jules and Ely Misa as District Shepherds.  Danny and Myrna Zapata assume position vacated by the Ongcangcos as DCS, Management.

2005 - Fr. Manuel Serranilla appointed as Spiritual Director of St. Catharines DIP.

October 2006 -  Olie and Menchu Ealdama were appointed by the Toronto Administering as District Shepherds.

January 2008 -  New set of DCS emerged and installed as heads of 4 Apostolates -  Management (Poch/Avic Robles), Evangelization (Romy/Minda Panday), Formation – Roy/Carmen Mitra and Pastoral (Cip/Emmy Tabios).

March 2008 -  Local Bishop installs all DLCs including those for new ministries created -  Mark 10, Mission, Word and Teaching for a total of 13 Ministries.

January 2009 -  Youth Group and Solo Parents Ministry are formed.

September 4, 2009 -  Olie & Menchu Ealdama reinstated as District Shepherds for a further term.

June 4, 2010 -  Toronto Mission DCS announced at DLC General Assembly that St. Catharines DIP has met all eligibility criteria to become a Full-Fledged District.  Plans are for the transition to happen in 2011.

back to home