HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
It was on November 23, 1951, after then Philippine President Elpidio R. Quirino established a new Housing Homesite (predecessor of the National Housing Authority) development area called Project 2, that then Archdiocese of Manila Vicar General Most Rev. Vicente P. Reyes, DD appointed Fr. Jose S. Sunga to begin the foundations of a parish community.
Fr. Sunga immediately set out to find a place of worship for the emerging population of government workers and their families who were the very first residents of Project 2. He leased one of the buildings of Quirino Elementary School (Durian and Anonas Streets) to house a chapel and rectory.
History recalled that Barrio “Obrero” (translated as worker) was the original name of Quezon City in the pre-war period. And as Pres. Quirino intended to build housing areas for public employees, Fr. Sunga rightfully named St. Joseph, who is the Catholic Church’s declared Patron Saint of Workers, as the spiritual model of the parish community.
The very first Eucharistic Mass was celebrated on December 7, 1951 by Fr. Sunga who was also installed then as the first administrator of St. Joseph Parish Church. As one of the oldest parishes in Quezon City, it is noted that the St. Joseph Parish also catered to residents in the surrounding areas that still does not have a church. In fact, St. Joseph Parish church played an important role in the founding of other parishes.
These included the Holy Family Parish in Kamias (1953), Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Teacher’s Village (1970), Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Project 4 (1976), Christ the King Parish in Greenmeadows (1979), Sta. Maria dela Strada in Katipunan (1981), Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Cubao (1982) and Lord of the Divine Mercy in Sikatuna Village (1993).
With a fast growing population of the faithful during the 1960-1970 eras, Fr. Sunga was able to locate a 1,700 sq. meter lot in Aurora Blvd. (then Calle Quezon). Ground breaking for the construction of the new church took place on March 1, 1952 and was finished until 1954.
Fr. Sunga served St. Joseph Parish for 19 years (1951 – 1970) until he took a new assignment at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Palanan, Makati until 1983. Fr. Maximo Ocampo took over as St. Joseph’s parish priest in an acting capacity as he was also the Diocese’s parochial vicar.
In 1971, Rev. Msgr. Protacio G. Gungon, GG took over Fr. Ocampo’s post. Until 1977, Msgr. Gungon instituted the Catholic teachings to traditional Filipino culture such as the Simbang Gabi, Panunuluyan, the Barefoot Procession and the Salubong during Easter. At the end of his term as parish priest, Msgr. Gungon became the first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Antipolo.
BAROQUE DESIGN AND STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
It was in late 1978 when then incumbent parish priest Rev. Msgr. Arsenio R. Bautista, who served at St. Joseph Parish from 1977 to 1989, undertook to reconstruct the church building into its present structural form. With the help of famed architect Rosita Tuason and structural engineer Emmanuel Kimwell, the generous contributions of parishioners and guidance of the Archdiocesan Commission on Church Construction.
The new St. Joseph Church building was inspired by the Baroque design mixed with modernist simplicity which swept the Catholic world in the 16th century that symbolized its triumph over Protestant reformation.
It was during the construction of the main church that Msgr. Bautista celebrated the first mass at the 1st floor of the new building. The Eucharistic Mass was for the blessing and inauguration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (now the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel). This was used as a venue for the masses while the construction of the main church was still ongoing.
After Msgr. Bautista’s term came the 5th parish priest – Fr. Romerico A. Prieto who served St. Joseph Parish church from 1989 to 1993. During the latter part of his tenure, Fr. Omer commissioned genre artist Loreto Racuya to create several murals for the parish. At the church doorway are two paintings that displayed “The Procession” which commemorates the bringing of the Holy Eucharist to the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel in 1986, and “The Sacred Heart of Jesus” and the services of the church to the community. At the elevated platform, Racuya painted Saint Joseph with a host of angels and the Filipino people signifying St. Joseph as Patron of the Catholic community.
THE B.E.C. Community
Perhaps one of the biggest contributions of Fr. Omer is the fulfillment of the response to the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (P*P II) in 1991 on a renewal program to build up the parochial community:
Our vision of the Church as communion, participation, and mission, about the Church as priestly, prophetic and kingly people, and as a Church of the Poor — a Church that is renewed — is today finding expression in one ecclesial movement. This is the movement to foster Basic Ecclesial Communities (P*P II, 137).
Thus, nine BEC zones (Amihan, Claro, Duyan-Duyan, Quirino 2A, Quirino 2B, Quirino 2C, Quirino 3A, Silangan A and Silangan B) were created and Head (and Street) Servant Leaders were appointed. These pastoral zones were tasked to bring the community parishioners closer to parish life and servant-leadership. Street masses were conducted, a community-based catechetical ministry was created, organized the WESTY (Worship, Education, Service, Temporal and Youth) program both in the parish and the pastoral zones, and the Community Friday Gatherings (CFGs). To prepare the flock in the parish renewal program, Fr. Omer initiated the acquisition and establishment of the Parish Formation and Development Center in 1991.
ST. JOSEPH BECOMES PARISH AND SHRINE
Most of the structures, policies and practices in St. Joseph Parish today can be attributed to Msgr. Alfonso A. Bugaoan, Jr. (1993 – 2006) as he initiated the implementation of the Parish Manual and Handbook on Pastoral Programs and Policies in 2005. This Manual guides the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) on the parish direction towards the fulfilment of its Vision-Mission.
Msgr. Jun is also credited with the acquisition of more real properties for St. Joseph Church: Fr. Sunga Bldg. and San Jose Bahay Kalinga in Molave St., expansion of the St. Joseph Catholic School, including the Plaza San Jose, and the parking lot.
Even the Church Altar was renovated and blessed and inaugurated by no less than His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin on March 19, 1994, Feast Day of St. Joseph. Also uniquely visible at St. Joseph Church are the devotional images of St. Joseph as emphasized in the many stained glass windows that relate his life.
Found at the interior elevated porch (narthex) are images of St. Joseph’s vision of the angels assuring his marriage to Mary (Matthew 1:20-21) and the death of St. Joseph. At its right and left corners are small satin glass images of the child Jesus’ presentation at the Temple (Luke 2:22-40).
At the left aisle are four stained glass windows showing the marriage of Joseph and Mary, Joseph and Mary finding no room in Bethlehem (Luke 2:7), the visitation of the shepherds to the Child Jesus (Luke 2:8-20) and the visitation of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-11).
At the right aisle are the four stained glass windows showing the dream of Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21), the flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23), the finding at the Temple of the Boy Jesus (Luke 2:41-52) and Joseph teaching Jesus carpentry.
Msgr. Jun initiated the “Kampiko” (Kaloob Mo, Panginoon, Ibabalik ko), a tithing program for parishioners in the zone level for the funding of PPC programs in Formation, Social Service and Development and scholarship for deserving students.
On December 3, 1999, St. Joseph Parish was conferred the title “Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph” by Cardinal Sin. With this, Msgr. Jun designated Mondays of every week as devotion day for St. Joseph. After the Novena Mass at 5:00 pm, the Novena Eucharistic Mass follows at 6:00 pm. Also during Mondays, the pastoral zones undertake the “Lipat Patron” where families pay homage and reverence to St. Joseph every week. Another devotion to St. Joseph is the Dalaw Patron on which for eight days, the St. Joseph image is brought to each of the eight barangays under the jurisdiction of the church until it is returned to the church on the ninth day.
Still, a major consideration in being a shrine is that the church is very accessible to parishioners from other Metro Manila areas making it more convenient for devotees to St. Joseph and shrine pilgrims. In fact, St. Joseph Shrine, besides being in a major thoroughfare (Aurora Blvd.) a few minutes from bustling Araneta Center (Cubao), the church enjoys the transportation convenience of commuter-friendly LRT Anonas station. The LRT Line 2 system has a 12.5 kilometer stretch from Recto to Santolan carrying no less than 200,000 passengers daily.
MORE IMPROVEMENTS
After Msgr. Jun Bugaon’s term in 2006 was St. Joseph Shrine’s 7th parish priest – Fr. Alfredo “B**g” G. Guerrero (2006 – 2012). While continuing on the good works of his predecessors, Fr. B**g made significant improvements in the facilities of the church. He is credited in the construction of the Fr. Sunga Rectory in Molave St. and the Chapel of Saints beside the PEA where parishioners light votive candles and offer their prayer petitions.
Fr. B**g, otherwise known as the author of the “Happy Me” joke books, also inaugurated and blessed the St. Joseph Devotional Altar and the replacement of the entire altar flooring. As director of the St. Joseph Catholic School, Fr. B**g made possible the construction of the SJCS Annex and increased the number of students in the “You Light Up My Life” scholarship program. He also initiated the Youth Mass on Sundays at 3:30 pm.
Fr. Ramon N. Eloriaga (2012 – 2018) introduced the “kasahog” spiritual framework which synergizes the activities of the parish and the pastoral zones into one cohesive and unified unit. His basic formation program of Lectio Divina encouraged parishioners the regular reading and active application of Bible teachings as he embraced illegal drug dependents into the parish community
Fr. Mon was also responsible for the installation of two big assembly fans which improved the ventilation inside the main church and CCTV cameras for added safety and security while the TV monitors provided easier viewing of the Eucharistic Masses.
SHINE, ST. JOSEPH SHRINE
With the celebration of the church of its 20th Year Anniversary as a shrine on December 3, 2019, Fr. Ronald Macale, newly-installed parish priest on October 22, 2018, said that it is only fitting and appropriate that the church now opens its doors to everyone to witness and experience the pastoral care, liturgical rites and devotional practices of St. Joseph Shrine. His slogan, “Shine, St. Joseph Shrine,” signifies the unique characteristics of the church. Some of these include:
· It is the only shrine in the Vicariate of St. Joseph of the Diocese of Cubao.
· It has eleven Sunday Masses and six weekday masses aside from eight monthly zone masses and five monthly school masses.
· It has a very active parochial community consisting of eight pastoral zones, a large number of equally motivated transparochial and parish-affiliated groups.
· It is one of the few parishes that have sign language masses for the deaf, a healing mass for the sick, and designated Sunday masses for the children (2:00 pm) and the youth (3:00 pm).
· It has a functional social service and development ministry that caters to the poor.
· It has a dynamic and collaborative Parish Pastoral Council with close to 70 members representing pastoral and liturgical ministry, parish affiliated groups and pastoral zone lay leaders.
· It initiated the Brigada Parokya where parishioners assist in the cleaning (dusting, scrubbing, washing, etc.) of the main church.
Only in his fifth month as parish priest, Fr. Ronald intends to mobilize the Catholic faithful towards St. Joseph Shrine by rationalizing the PPC and Zone Pastoral Council structures, policies and procedures to better serve the parishioners and the community, among others. He reactivated the Media and Communications Ministry to fully disseminate information on church programs and activities.
With such a massive physical structure and several real properties, Fr. Ronald created the Parish Infrastructure and Maintenance Committee to oversee and undertake structural as well as design renovations of the Main Church, Bahay Kalinga, the PFDC and Fr. Sunga building.
Special events such as the Fr. Ronald’s Sacerdotal Anniversary, coinciding with St. Joseph Shrine’s 19th Anniversary as Shrine, the March of Saints, the Christ the King Procession, the 33rd Dedication Anniversary of the Church and the Sto. Nino Procession displayed the parish’ anticipated plans and activities in the Year of the Youth this 2019.
A.O. Asuncion
