ST. JOHN BOSCO PARISH VISION AND MISSION
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Vision
The Salesian Community, lay mission partners, and parishioners together form a community of Christ-centered and socially-committted families with preferential care for the youth and the poor through the guidance of St. John Bosco and Mary Help of Christians. Mission St. John Bosco Parish commits to live out the educative spirit of Don Bosco: * In giving holistic formation to the youth while carrying out programs for parents and families; * In working for the alleviation of the poor and the sick from their plight and the evangelization of the unchurched while it upholds and prioritizes the establishment of BECs and works for the sustainability of PUGAD * In providing for the meaningful celebrations of the sacraments and in fostering devotion and love for Mary Help of Christians * In advocating for good government and society as it is in communion with the local Church |
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PARISH HISTORY |
1951 Arrival of the Salesian Priests in Makati
Cogon grasslands greeted the Salesians when they first arrived in Makati in 1951. The area then had around 30,000 residents, with two thousand non-Catholics. The Salesian priests served the Catholic souls through the St. Ildefonso Parish (the first Salesian Parish in Makati) with Fr. John Rizzato as pastor. 1976 Establishment of SJB Parish Twenty-five years after the arrival of the Salesians, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila, saw the need for a parish to serve the residents of Barangay Dulo and the villages of San Lorenzo, Salcedo, and Legaspi. Thus, the St. John Bosco Parish Church was established on MARCH 2, 1976 with Fr. Godfrey Roozen, SDB, as its first parish priest. The parish has since dedicated itself to carrying out the mission of its patron saint, Saint John Bosco, the Father and Teacher of the Young. 1977 Blessing of the Church Cornerstone On August 15, 1977, the cornerstone of the St. John Bosco Parish Church was blessed by Cardinal Jaime Sin himself. Those who witnessed the momentous laying of the cornerstone were the parishioners, principal sponsors, the Zobels, barangay leaders, and the late Makati Mayor Nemencio Yabut. |
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1978 Completion and Dedication of the Church
By 1978, the St. John Bosco Parish Church was completed. It quickly gained renown for its unique concave-like structure designed by Jose Maria Zaragoza, one of the pillars of Philippine architecture. A deeply religious man known for his "Architecture for God and Man," Zaragoza earned a diploma in liturgical art and architecture from International Institute of Liturgical Catholic Churches in Rome. Aside from the Saint John Bosco Church, some of his works include the Archbishop's Palace, Villa San Miguel in Mandaluyong City; Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City, and the Meralco Building in Pasig City. The crucifix in the altar area was designed by one of the most respected Philippine sculptors, Eduardo De Los Santos Castrillo, whose works are known for their modular styles with fluid lines, including the famous People Power Monument along EDSA in Quezon City. Castrillo lost his mother when he was only a year old and he took refuge in art to help him cope with his loneliness. Later, he studied at the Ateneo de Manila University and the Don Bosco Technical College where his mentors encouraged him to create art as a therapy. For his college education, he took up Fine Arts (Major in Advertising) at the University of Santo Tomas and graduated in 1962. Some of his awards include the Republic Cultural Heritage (1971); Ten Outstanding Young Men (1971), and the Most Outstanding Citizen of Quezon City (2003). |
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Home for Thirsting Souls
Over the years, the St. John Bosco Parish Church has become a home for souls thirsting for God. The daily Masses-- four Masses on weekdays and 11 Masses on Sundays, attract Massgoers from various locations in Metro Manila, not only from the territorial jurisdiction of the parish (from Barangay Dulo in Bangkal, Makati City to Salcedo Village in Makati's Central Business District). The Adoration Chapel is never without adorers who spend “quality and holy hour with the Lord” from the moment the chapel opens at 7:00 a.m. until it closes at 8:00 p.m. Keeping the legacy of Don Bosco alive (RUN, JUMP, PLAY, MAKE NOISE BUT DO NOT SIN), the parish has provided a covered basketball court where the youths are welcome to play at specific times everyday. As Saint John Bosco is known as the Father and Teacher of the Young, the parish holds sportsfests, plays and other activities for the youth. "Trust all things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are." (St. John Bosco) |
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1993 New Parish Building Rises from the Ashes Less than two years after a fire razed the former Parish offices and mortuaries, the current Parish Building was inaugurated on December 7, 1993, thanks to generous donors and benefactors here and abroad who were tapped for the project by Fr. Roozen, SDB. Establishment of the Tuloy Foundation for Street Children The parish has also embraced street children who are victims of poverty, malnutrition, forced labor, and abuse. In 1993, as a response to the Catholic Church's call (made during the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines) to be a "Church of the Poor," the Tuloy Foundation was established. The project was initiated by Fr. Remo Bati, SDB and sustained by Fr. Rocky Evangelista, SDB. Tuloy caters to the poorest of the poor, particularly abandoned children who live in the streets. Tuloy provides them a home that not only provides them with their basic needs also teaches them moral values. At Tuloy, the children experience the care, attention and love of a family. |
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1996 Preferential Option for the Poor When Fr. Gerry Battad, SDB took over as parish priest in 1996, he guided the parish into becoming, more and more, a true church of the poor. Among the projects he initiated were Bahay Pagmamahal, a learning and outreach center; Bahay Pag-asa, a multi-purpose center, and the Balikatan Massage Clinic of the blind. The parish also started becoming more active in conducting medical-dental missions, job fairs, counseling, sick visitations, and other services. 2001 Tuloy Foundation Moves to Alabang; PUGAD Home for Street Children Established In 1998, a 4.5-hectare piece of land in Alabang was entrusted by the Philippine government to the Tuloy Foundation (through a 50 plus 50-year lease). The land was formerly the site of a government-run street children center. After Tuloy moved to Alabang, it entrusted its 3.5-storey building to the St. John Bosco Parish so that it could run its own program for the poor. Thus, the PUGAD Home for Street Children was established with Fr. Bong Javines, SDB as its first center director. PUGAD is a six-month processing center for children to prepare them for transfer in the big centers, or formal and non-formal educational agencies. |
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2002 Home for Migrant Youth In 2002, PUGAD started a new apostolate for migrant youth, or poor young men, ages 17 to 21, who take technical skills training at the Manpower Training Department of Don Bosco Technical Institute. Most come from the outskirts of Metro Manila and far-flung provinces and PUGAD has become a haven where they can study and work with ease and comfort. Fast forward to 2012, when both PUGAD pupils and the parishioners benefit from PUGAD Livelihood Projects which include a bakeshop, cafe, water station, organic farm, refrigeration and air-conditioning services.
2009 SJB Parish Website Launched With the launching of the first Parish website stjohnboscomakati.org in 2009, then Parish priest, Fr. Manny Domingo Jr., SDB established a new communication venue for the Parish. Through that website, and the current sjbmakati.com, multimedia information on Parish events, activities and services are now readily available to parishioners and other visitors here and abroad. 2010 SIMBAHAY Starts Publishing Making further inroads into the realm of Social Communication, on January 2010 the Parish published the first issue of its newsletter, Simbahay which Fr. Ting Miciano, SDB envisioned as a "crucial instrument in the education and nourishment in the Faith of the Parishioners and as an indispensable tool for evangelization." Don Bosco's Relic visits the Parish From December 23 to 24, 2010,the Parish was honored and blessed by the visit of the Worldwide pilgrimage of St. John Bosco’s Relic – his carefully preserved right hand, kept hidden in a resin replica of the saint’s body which lies enclosed in a glass casket. A brass border surrounds the casket - etched with the saint’s motto, “Da Mihi Animas Caetera Tolle” – Give me souls; Take away the rest. |
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The St. John Bosco Parish, currently under the pastoral guidance of Rev. Fr. Romeo Agustin G. Miciano Jr., SDB, continues to pursue its mission of being a church of the Poor.
So far, the parish has had Pastors: Fr. Godfrey Roozen, SDB (1976-1988) Fr. Remo Bati, SDB (1988-1991) Fr. Rocky Evangelista, SDB (1991-1996) Fr. Gerry Battad, SDB (1996-2003) Fr. Bernie Carpio (2003-2005) Fr. Joey Paras, SDB (Jan-April 2006; Interim Parish Priest) Fr. Manny Domingo, SDB (2006-2009) Fr. Ting Miciano, SDB (2009 to Present) Give me souls, take away the rest. -- Saint John Bosco |
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