Missionary Work in the 18th-19th Century: History of the Augustinian Recollect Mission in Balingasag

Abstract

During the Spanish period, the colonial evangelization of the Philippines was carried out by the religious orders. In Northern Mindanao, the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Augustinian Recollects (Recoletos) missions played a pivotal role in the propagation of Christianity. The Recoletos held the eastern portion of the second district of Misamis, including the town of Balingasag. This event marked the beginning of the history of Catholicism in Balingasag until it became an independent parish mission (Dongallo, 1968; Magsalay, 1973; Vega, 1999). Hence, this paper aims to document the missionary work and activities of the Recoletos in the town of Balingasag. Primary sources utilized in this paper were retrieved from the National Archives of the Philippine, Jesuit and Recollect Archives, Parishes of Balingasag and Jasaan, Diocese of Cagayan de Oro City, and various libraries. Through the missionary zeal of the Recoletos, the coastal areas of Misamis were opened to evangelization. As a result, new towns were established through the separation of villages from the town matrices. But due to the limited number of missionaries, Balingasag became a visita of Cagayan. This ecclesiastical status remained until the early 19th century. In 1830, Balingasag, along with the other towns, was separated from the spiritual supervision of Cagayan after a successful petition from the local principalia. In 1849, Balingasag eventually became an independent parish. Throughout their mission, the Recoletos facilitated the conversion, baptism, marriage, and other religious and social activities in the town. With the restoration of the Jesuits in Mindanao, Balingasag was handed over by the Recoletos to the Jesuits in 1877.