Sacred Heart Parish 3.98

4.5 star(s) from 6 votes
Telabastagan
San Fernando, 2000
Philippines

About Sacred Heart Parish

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The year was 1986 - considered by many as springtime in Philippine history. February saw the rebirth of democracy in the country after the People Power Revolution that seated Pres. Corazon Aquino as the 11th President of the Philippines.

For the suburban communities comprising the northern tip of the capital town of San Fernando, there was great cause for rejoicing as well. On December 14, a new parish, dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, was born from what used to be part of the Virgen de los Remedios Parish of Baliti. The new parish covered eight barangays/villages including Telabastagan.

Groundbreaking ceremonies, held at 3:00 in the afternoon marked the event, along with the appointment of Fr. Odon Santos as its first parish priest.

Fr. Odon opted to start by building his parish community even before the church structure could take shape. He chose the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima at L & S Subdivision as temporary seat of the parish. It was here where he performed the sacraments (e.g. masses, baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc.) for his parishioners.

A little more than a year after, Fr. Odon retired from his ministry and handed over the reins of the parish to a young and dynamic priest, Rev. Fr. Larry A. Sarmiento. Fr. Larry was installed as parish priest on January 31, 1988.

Picking up from where Fr. Odon left off, Fr. Larry led the parish community towards greater heights both spiritually and materially. While ministering to the spiritual needs of the people, he was also exerting much effort to build a beautiful place of worship. Construction of the church started on August 8, 1988. Given the generosity and willingness of the parishioners to help, the structure was completed barely a year, two months and fifteen days after. Thus arose the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus along a busy highway at Phase 2, Essel Park Subdivision in Telabastagan.

Under Fr. Larry the community grew spiritually as he organized retreat – seminars for his parishioners. He helped build fellowship with and among the community members, helping found a number of parish mandated organizations like the Catholic Women’s League (CWL), Adoracion Nocturna Filipina (ANF), Children of Mary Immaculate (COMI), Holy Name Society (HNS), Commentators – Lectors’ Guild, Usherettes and Eucharistic Ministers for the Distribution of the Holy Communion (EMDC). His initiatives strengthened the desire and commitment of the people to have a unified parish community.

Rev. Fr. Raffy Dela Cruz succeeded Fr. Larry as Parish Priest in 1995. Blessed with a kind heart and a strong desire to help the marginalized, Fr. Raffy made it his mission not only to minister to the spiritual needs of the people but also to provide assistance and support to the those who lacked opportunities to earn and learn. He put up the Sagradong Puso ni Hesus Foundation that offered a scholarship program for poor but deserving students. He organized livelihood seminars in partnership with Pampanga-based civic organizations like the Angeles City Food Package. For those in need of spiritual nourishment, he started a bible study circle called Bibliarasal. He also started the Parish Renewal Experience (PREX), an adult catechesis program that allowed participants to live and experience the key concepts of Catholic life.

Fr. Ed Musni took over from Fr. Raffy on October 2, 2002. Parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish remember him for his ability to raise funds for projects designed to improve the church structure for the benefit of the community.

Fr. Ed focused on much-needed church repairs and improvement during his term. The church interior was renovated including the sanctuary and the aisles. He was, likewise, responsible for the extension of the fence surrounding the church compound after the Lazatin Family donated a portion of their land for additional facilities. Along with the fence arose the Chapel of Adoration and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Multi-Purpose Building. During his term, the parish acquired a collapsible steel stage for use on various occasions.

Rev. Msgr. Antonio del Rosario was appointed as Parish Priest in 2007, following a major reshuffle among the Pampanga clergy. Among Tony was known for his insightful homilies, being a seminary formator for years prior to his assignment as Parish Priest. He conducted weekly masses in different sitios of the community and organized cenacles for spiritual nourishment.

In October 2011, Rev. Fr. Edgar L. Panlilio was assigned to take over from Among Tony who had been grappling with health issues. Among Garu, as he is fondly called by friends and parishioners, came in time to lead the parish in the celebration of its silver anniversary. Fr. Garu envisions a parish community that grows united in love and progresses from silver (Service-oriented, Inspired, Loving, Value-oriented, Empowered to have a Renewed Heart) to gold in terms of maturity of faith. From day one of his term as Parish Priest, he has exerted effort to help the community attain this.

Written by: Ann Ilao and Glorian Tomen
Edited by: Nina Tomen

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