Historical Background

Mater Dolorosa Parish (MDP) was established on September 8, 1987 through an issuance of a decree by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin.  The parish church is located at 19th Avenue, (along JP Rizal Extension) East Rembo, Makati City.

MDP is the fruit of a mission of the Amigonian Fathers and Brothers (Tertiary Capuchins of Our Lady of Sorrows) inspired by the search for children who are lost in a world of poverty, negligence and ignorance, hunger for food and drug dependence.  Nevertheless, the Lord has other plans for these missionaries, though side by side the establishment of the new parish, a home for streetchildren was also established – this was Friendship Home, Fr. Luis Amigo, now Amigonian Youth Center.

Fr. Donato Gatto, T.C. was the first parish priest of MDP succeeded by Fr. Francisco Javier Cabezas on April 2, 1991.

The original territorial coverage of MDP was comprised by barangays CEMBO, WEST REMBO, EAST REMBO, COMEMBO and PEMBO – the Enlisted Men’s Barrios within (then), Fort Bonifacio.  Due to the large area of the parish, it became difficult for the parish priest to minister to the spiritual needs of the parishioners; hence Cembo was transferred to the jurisdiction of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.  On August 9, 1991, Pembo became a new parish and on June 18, 1992, a decree was issued establishing the parish of Sta. Teresita in West Rembo.

© church.nfo.ph
© church.nfo.ph

MDP saw the need to establish a new parish building replacing the old, dilapidated Our Lady of Fatima Chapel.  From 1992 onwards, the construction of the church building moved forward on a slow pace due to limited funds.  As slowly as building the physical structure, establishing the spiritual community moves on with the same pace but carefully and patiently bearing the hurdles of christian maturity.

His Eminence Cardinal Sin issued another decree on September 1, 1992 revising the boundaries of MDP setting the territorial limits to Barangays East Rembo and Comembo.  This new development made it easier for Fr. Javier to build up the spiritual church side by side the physical structure of MDP.  Nine mission areas of the Basic Ecclesial Community were set up in East Rembo and five in Comembo.  Focus was built on pastoral planning to carry out the various programs centering on BECs as a way of adopting an integral evangelization for a unified community.

In 1998, Fr. Javier proposed the creation of a new parish for Comembo.  The Archdiocesan Office for Research and Development immediately conducted an ocular survey and careful assessment of the viability of establishing a new parish.  In a short span of less than two years, the recommendation was approved.  Comembo became a parish under the guidance of Fr. Roderick Castro who later became Vicar Forane of the Vicariate of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Fr. Javier’s term ended in 2000 and Fr. Ralf Winterberg became the third parish priest of MDP.  He was succeeded by Fr. Jacob Thottappallil in 2003, followed by Fr. Paulson Panakal and Fr. Joel Mosura, the first Filipino Amigonian priest.

MDP has successfully battled the ‘community storms’ past its twenty-five (25) years of faithful service to the parish community.  Today, past its silver anniversary dawns a new life in the church with a shared theme:  Faith in God, Fidelity to My Mission.  With a young priest pastoring the community, Fr. John Jayoma leads an inspired mission back to “re-evangelization”.

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