Brief Introduction for
The Rev. Dario Palasi

[Delivered by Lambert Sagalla at the end of  the mass dedicated to Fr. Dario Palasi’s  20 Years of Episcopal Church Ministry,
on Oct. 21, 2006.]
 

Shortly after the St. John's Episcopal Church website was launched in cyberspace, not a few have requested me to come out with a background information on Fr. Palasi. I wrote a piece which is already posted in the St. John's Episcopal Church, Flushing  website. However, I am sure many do not know how to access the website, let alone know that such a website exists. So allow me to share a portion of what I wrote.

[Prologue.] On May 1, 1898, six days after the start of the Spanish-American war, Commodore George Dewey sailed into Manila Bay and in a two hour engagement sent the Spanish Pacific fleet to the bottom. The victory generated considerable debate over what ought to be done with the islands. This resulted in the declaration by President William Mckinley that it was the United States manifest destiny to take possession of the Philippine Islands to "educate the Filipinos, and uplift and Christianize them.*

Anglican / Episcopalian missionaries were among those  who leapt at the opportunity to do missionary work in the Philippines following President William Mckinley’s "Manifest Destiny" declaration. 

While not a few would point out that it was really  the lobbying of  President Mckinley’s  friends in the Sugar industry that prompted the United States to take possession of the Philippine Islands, American missionaries  have had profound influence in the lives of  Igorots  in  Northern Philippines.

Finding out that lowland Filipinos were already Christianized, the Philippines having been under Spanish rule for more than three centuries, the Anglican / Episcopalian missionaries focused their missionary work in the Cordillera mountain ranges of northern Philippines and the predominantly Muslim populated areas of  Southern Philippines.

The Philippine Cordilleras [then composed of the sub-provinces of Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Apayao and Kalinga] were inhabited by  pagan, rice terracing, head-hunting tribes, collectively referred to, by historians or Philippine Chroniclers, as Igorots,  meaning mountain dwellers.  Igorots have also been historically referred to as  non-Christian Tribes,  cultural minorities, and  indigenous people of the Philippines.

Fiercely clinging to their freedom-loving ways, Igorots remained predominantly un-subjugated during more than three centuries of Spanish Rule in the Philippines.

 It was through the missionary works and/or institutions such as what the Anglican / Episcopalian  and other Missionaries established in the hinterlands of  northern Philippines that finally capitulated Igorots to accept Philippine civil authority.

Churches, chapels, schools, clinics, hospitals were the main institutions utilized  by the American missionaries to help Christianize, educate and uplift the lives of Igorots.

Thus, it came to pass that legions of Igorot descendants were able to overcome socio-economic barriers of a subsistence economy; educate themselves; and leapfrog into the second half of the 20th century as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, lawyers, architects, accountants, seamen, military men, musicians, artists, "you name it  they have it"  - which of course include priests. 

This brings us to the Rev. Dario Palasi, a descendant of rice-terracing, gangsa-beating, rice-wine drinking and once-upon-a-time head-hunting people, who is now serving as an Associate Priest at St. John's Episcopal Church in Flushing, Queens, New York.
 

The Rev. Dario G. Palasi , was appointed supply priest for St. John's Episcopal Church, Flushing, by Archdeacon Bernard Young, on November 1, 1998, while the Diocesan authorities wrestled with the future of  St. John’s Episcopal Church, Flushing.

During that time, there were only 14 parishioners at St. Johns as the ever changing demographic landscape of Flushing Queens took its toll on St. John’s congregation. Out-migration to the suburbs and elsewhere outside of Queens by the former members of  St. John’s congregation were supplanted by immigrants of diverse ethnic origins with diverse religious backgrounds – mainly non-Episcopalians.

And so if  you will look around the immediate neighborhood of St. John’s you will see a sprouting of  “houses of worship” of various religious denominations. This phenomena is widespread all over queens – non-Episcopalian religious institutions including mosques sprouting in areas where formerly the Episcopal Church was the dominant house of worship.

Sending Fr. Palasi to St. John's Episcopal Church, Flushing  must have been a stroke of genius on the part of  Archdeacon Bernard Young or was  by Divine Intervention. Perhaps, Archdeacn Young saw in Fr. Palasi something – a characteristic or talent – that he thought was important in attracting some of the un-churched immigrants towards St. John’s Episcopal Church, Flushing.  

For notwithstanding his sometimes repetitive and peculiar way of expressing himself in the English language during his early years at St. John's [a butt of jokes by not a few from within his very own ethnic people], Fr. Palasi continued to draw people to his ministry. These are mainly un-churched migrants or minorities seeking spiritual fellowship where they really feel welcomed – methinks, herein lies the strength of Fr. Dario Palasi's ministry.

Notwithstanding his handicap in communicating in the English Language, Fr. Palasi was, likewise, able to get the full support of the original and predominantly English Speaking congregation.  Fr. Palasi’s devotion - a sense of mission - in attending to the tasks required of his ministry endeared him to a majority of his congregation and so they continue to give him their full support.

Thus, Father Palasi’s status at St. John’s Episcopal Church Flushing was upgraded to “Associate Priest” when he was appointed to that position by Bishop Orris Walker, Jr., Bishop of Long Island, on  June, 2001.

Without the support of the original members of St. John’s congregation, particularly the vestry members headed by Edwin Medina, it is doubtful whether Fr. Dario Palasi would still be serving at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Flushing at the present time.

While St. John's Episcopal Church, Flushing has a long way to go in terms of becoming financially independent, the English mass congregation has grown tremendously in terms of number under the stewardship of  the Rev. Dario Palasi. The English mass Sunday congregation  currently averages from 60 to 80 worshippers from the 14 souls when Fr. Palasi took over. 

Several improvements/repairs in the church facilities were also made or being contemplated during Fr. Palasi's, heretofore,  floating tenure at St. John's Flushing.

We, the congregation of St. John’s Episcopal Church, feel honored with the recent appointment of  Fr. Dario Palasi as Dean of the Flushing, Queens Episcopal Church Deanery, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Orris G. Walker, Jr., 7^th Bishop of Long Island, through the recommendation of the Archdeacon of Queens, the Venerable Canon Bernard O. D. Young. We can only hope and pray that this is a prelude to Fr. Palasi’s  name being added to the list of distinguished rectors of  St. John’s Episcopal Church, Flushing. WHY NOT?

Perhaps, more than any other country in the world, it is in America where the proposition that all men are created equal have been pursued to its fullest fruition. This has afforded countless lowly immigrants, with the likes of Fr. Dario Palasi, from all walks of life, from all ethnic origins, from all religious beliefs, to realize their full potential in this land of the free and home of the brave.

May I, therefore, respectfully request all to stand and sing “God Bless America”. 

Thank you and Gold bless us all.