Sto. Niño Parish – Damulaan, Albuera

“Growing the spirit” is an adage applicable to the people of Sto. Niño Parish of Damulaan, because through the years, they have shown their steadfast faith in God, letting them grow and develop and eventually becoming a parish.

From the time this small barangay was settled, a small chapel made of bamboo and nipa palm was erected by the Celedio Family, enthroning on the altar image of the Most Holy Child of Jesus. This tiny house of worship shed light to many troubled hearts and become a guiding spirit to the early settlers of the place.

Damulaan as a barangay was under the care and guidance of Saint James the Apostle Parish of Albuera, Leyte. Everg Sunday, a priest would visit the chapel to celebrate the Holy Mass. As years passed by, the number of the faithful increased so with the construction of the chapel. It was renovated and enlarged. A concrete chapel now stood in lieu of the old bamboo and nipa hut.

Probably, it was the will of God that this humble chapel be made into a parish. In the early part of the year 2000, the Archdiocese of Palo made a plan to create Mission Stations in some strategic areas in the Archdiocese. Identified areas were Brgy. Curva in Merida, Brgy. Linao in Ormoc and Brgy. Damulaan of Albuera. The main purpose of creating these Mission Stations is to reach out and strengthen the faith of the people, deepen their knowledge and understanding about their faith of the people so that they will not be tempted to join other religious groups.

With the help recommendation of Rev. Fr. Alex Compas and Rev. Fr. Abraham Palaña, together with the full support of Bro. Nilo V. Narciso, a petition letter was made and was sent to the Archbishop of Palo, Most Rev. Msgr. Pedro R. Dean, D.D. to create a parish.

Eager to receive this great blessing from God, the people joined hands to make sacrifices as an offering for their petition. Prayer rallies were made, Aurora and dawn prayers were attended by hundreds and pilgrimages to different churches in the Archdiocese were done. Monthly pledges were made by the parishioners as well so as to ensure the financial stability of the church. The dream of the people came true when the petition was approved making Sto. Niño chapel a Mission Station.

It was in the month of May 2004 when Rev. Fr. Carlos Rodriguez arrived at Damulaan. He stayed at the former small house of Mr. & Mrs. Joselito Manacpo, which was made into a temporary small convent. The house was located at the opposite side of the church.

Officially on June 1, 2004, Fr. Carlos Rodriguez was installed as the priest in mission. On June 19, 2004, the groundbreaking ceremony for the erection of the new church was done. On July 2004 , the first phase of the construction of the Sto. Niño Mission Station started. As the construction of the new church commenced, donation and pledges from brothers and sisters all over the country and abroad poured in. Locally, the people contributed by giving faithfully their monthly pledges.

In just a matter of two years, a magnificent new place of worship stood. At the back of the church, adjoining the building, a rectory was made where the priest and his company were staying. Indeed, with the charm and charism of Father Caloy and with the full suppport of the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council, the people gave their all out support financially, materially and spiritually in making the dream come true. It was indeed considered a miracle.

After the years of being a Mission Station, Most Rev. Jose Palma D.D. the Archbishop of Palo, signed a decree making Sto. Niño Mission Station a parish. In this decree, the titular name given was Sto. Niño Parish and the official parish fiesta is January 14 and 15. Under tbe jurisdiction of Sto.Niño Parish were the Barangays of Tinag an, Mahayag, Antipolo, Salvacion and the heart of the parish, Damulaan. On September 8, 2007, the Parish Canonical Erection was inaugurated by the people of Damulaan and the nearby barangays. Rev. Fr. Carlos Rodriguez, Jr. was installed as the first Parish Priest.