Father Francis Chapman

In1939 the first group of Columban priests came to Mindanao. They had come at the invitation of Bishop James T. G. Hayes S.J. of Cagayan, whose diocese at that time comprised most of northern Mindanao. The Columbans were asked to take over from the Jesuits the parishes of Misamis Occidental province, so that the Jesuits could open new missions in Bukidnon.

With the exception of their superior (Father Peter Fallon who was a veteran from China), all the Columbans were young men in their middle 20s, newly ordained priests. Most were Irishmen but one was Australian, Father Francis Chapman.

Father Chapman’s first assignment was as parish priest of Tangub. His assistant was Father Patrick Cronin, who later became the first Bishop of Misamis and still later the second Archbishop of Cagayan.

During the War (1941-1945) Fathers Chapman and Cronin evacuated to the hills with their people. Father Peter Fallon, who had been reassigned to Manila, was one of the many Columban priests killed by the Japanese in their terrible massacre in Malate in 1945.

In the early postwar years, Father Chapman became parish priest in Misamis, and he was the one who built the present convento there. Later he was reassigned to other places, including Negros.

Eventually he returned to Mindanao and became parish priest of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental. When that parish was taken over by diocesan clergy, he created a job for himself by serving as unofficial roving chaplain to all the hospitals in Cagayan de Oro. He went to each hospital, anointing the sick and hearing their confessions.

Then, already an old man, he found the occupation of the final decades of his life. He became the chief confessor in the Cagayan Cathedral. There, for many years, he heard confessions everyday, and hundreds flocked to his confessional.

Periodically he would come to the Jesuit house for his own monthly confession: For a priest, minister of God’s mercy to others, himself needs God’s mercy.

When he died in March 2004 at the age of 91, he was mourned by many. One of the priests who attended his wake noted how the people loved the dead priest. Many considered him a real Father. They called him Tatay Father Chapman.

Father Chapman was the last survivor of that original group of Columban priests who came to Minadano in 1939. They were only the precursors. Many other Columbans came after them, Irish, Americans, Australians, perhaps other nationalities as well. They served in parishes in Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Lanao and Zamboanga del Sur. They had priests deployed in the Visayas and Luzon, particularly in Negros, Zambales and Pangasinan. They also administer Malate parish in Manila which, besides serving the native Filipino population, is also the official parish for English-speaking foreigners.

Several Columbans have been killed – at least two by Muslims, several by the Japanese.

In Misamis Occidental (besides building churches and conventos) one of their chief achievements was the development of a native clergy. Today, all the parishes in that province are administered by diocesan priests.

On the day of Father Chapman’s funeral (1 April 2004) I was myself not well and could not attend the services. I hope therefore that this column will serve instead as a little tribute, not only to this tireless, zealous, kind and always cheerful Australian priest, but also the Missionary Society of St. Columban of which Father Chapman was an outstanding member.