Thrown out of the Philippines about 1766, the Jesuits are now celebrating their return 150 years ago.

The Bourbons did not like the Jesuits in Europe and in their empires since they were causing them too much trouble, probably reminding them of justice and love. At least that is what the Jesuits like to think, that they were a pain in the neck for the Bourbons for preaching against the excesses of power.

The Bourbons had enough power to make the Pope suppress the Jesuits, meaning they were no longer an approved institution of the Catholic Church in 1773. However, the decree of suppression was worded in such a way that it took effect only when the secular authorities approved it in their land.

It so happened, that Catherine of Russia did not like the Bourbons so she prohibited the reading of the decree of suppression in her lands. So the Jesuits survived in Russia. A few generations later, with the Bourbons gone and a new Pope, the Jesuits were reinstated. By 1859, nine Jesuits arrived in Manila intended for the missions in Mindanao but the Governor General and his advisers retained three Jesuits in Manila to teach in the Ateneo Municipal which later became the Ateneo de Manila.

The original mandate was Mindanao. The majority did go to Mindanao. Where before the Jesuits divided Mindanao with the Augustinians, this time the Augustinians arranged to leave Mindanao and be reassigned to Cavite. This probably triggered the Philippine Revolution since the Philippine-born diocesan priests of Cavite resented being removed from the flourishing parishes of Cavite, culminating in the execution for rebellion of Frs. Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora of Gomburza fame.

The Jesuits had Mindanao all to themselves. For every priest, there was a Brother who often could hardly read but they built the churches and conventos of Mindanao. These missionaries traced the Polangi River as it narrowed in the mountains of Maramag and dropped down to become the Rio Grande of Cotabato. They dealt with the Muslims of Sulu, built Fort Del Pilar of Zamboanga City and the Tamontaca reductions of Cotabato. The names of most of these pioneers are now known only to God and the Archives. A few are still remembered like Gisbert and Urios after whom Urios University in Butuan is named. Being Spaniards, the Jesuits were again herded into prison with the end of the Philippine Revolution and sent back to Spain. Many of the diocesan priests of Northern Mindanao turned to Msgr. Aglipay to form the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

It was only in the late twenties with the coming of the American Jesuits that the majority came back to the Church. Among the American Jesuits were great men and great characters, like Fr. James Hayes who became the beloved Kamahalan Santiago Hayes, Bishop of Cagayan de Oro and all of Northern Mindanao. Then you have Fr. Fenton Fitzpatrick who normally walked from Monday to Friday visiting his barrio chapels strung between Sumilao through Impasugong to Malitbog. Fr. Reith built up Malaybalay while Fr. Stofel had the following notice in his convent: “We are happy when visitors come.

Some when they come and others when they go.” For the vibrant Church in Mindanao today, the seeds were planted by these pioneering American Jesuit missionaries.

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