Roman Catholic Diocese of Parañaque

Diocese of Parañaque Dioecesis Paranaquensis Diyosesis ng Parañaque
Location
Country	Philippines
Territory	Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City
Ecclesiastical province	Archdiocese of Manila
Statistics
Area	126 km2 (49 sq mi)
Population - Total	(as of 2006) 1,269,122
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Roman
Established	December 7, 2002
Cathedral	Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew
Current leadership
Pope	Benedict XVI
Bishop	Jesse Eugenio Mercado, DD, STL
Metropolitan Archbishop	Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle
Vicars General	Very Rev. Msgr. Felipe Ocol, HP, JCL, VG

The Diocese of Parañaque is one of the 72 ecclesiastical territories called dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It comprises the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa. It was established on December 7, 2002 by Pope John Paul II, who appointed Bishop Jesse Eugenio Mercado, an Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, as its first Bishop.

The diocese comprises 47 parishes, one chaplaincy and three shrines: 22 parishes and two shrines in Paranaque; 14 parishes in Las Pinas; and 11 parishes, one shrine and one chaplaincy in Muntinlupa. The Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew in La Huerta, Parañaque City, serves as the seat of the diocese.

Vision

We, the local church of the Diocese of Parañaque, envision ourselves as a communion of diverse communities, embracing and sharing in Jesus' mission to proclaim the Reign of the Father, constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by Mary, our Mother and Model.

Mission

As a Diocese, we commit ourselves to proclaim the Kingdom of God by:

1. Recognizing the primacy of grace and our need for continual renewal (Aggiornamento)
2. Building BECs as the way of being church and experiencing communion (Communion);
3. Engaging in the integral evangelization of all, particularly the developing communities, the family and the youth (Missio).

Core Values

• Open-heartedness and open-mindedness to God’s grace of conversion.
• Unity in diversity.
• Responsibility for the growth of communion.
• Shared, Participative, transparent stewardship of the process and resources of evangelization.

Pastoral Priorities

• Call to conversion, to bring about serious paradigm shifts particularly in the areas of:
  • the mission and identity of the Church
  • the roles and responsibilities of the lay apostolate, organizations and movements and
  • the traditional expressions and structures, attitudes and practices of faith-life.
• Renew focus on the sectors of Youth, Family and Developing Communities.
• Renew and strengthen relationships among the clergy, between the clergy and the laity, with the religious, and with the Bishop.
• Enhance liturgical celebration as the focal point of communio in worship, the source and summit of Christian Life.
• Promote, develop and sustain BEC as the basic mode of being church, and the parish as the focal point of unity and harmony.
• Strengthen, standardize, and harmonize catechesis and formation programs for all strata: Children, Young Adults, Clergy, Laity, Church worker, professional Church worker, volunteer, Ministries, Mandated organizations.
• Learn how to influence and renew our urbanized culture in Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa and with it over towards renewed integral evangelization, reaching out to its critical centers (malls, offices, schools, medial, local governments) utilizing the language it understands and the modern means and ways it employs.
• Intensify the missionary spirit that will move people to evangelize outside their personal sphere of comfort, whether in their neighborhood, their parish, the diocese of beyond our borders. We should all be missionaries
• Intensify the call for vocations
• Acquire and apply the most appropriate management techniques and principles of transparency, equity and mutual trust in marshalling and managing resources.

Statistics

The diocese has 1,269,122 Roman Catholics out of a total population of 1.38 million.^[1]

The logo of the diocese.

Diocesan Logo

The miter symbolizes the pastoral authority of the bishop-elect, which he will be exercising within the three cities, Parañaque (Crown with “M”), Las Piñas (Bamboo Organ), and Muntinlupa (the mountain near a body of water), comprising the Diocese of Parañaque.

Bishop's Coat of Arms

• The Cross – The cross is traditionally an element in most episcopal coats of arms. The Episcopal ministry is always Jesus’ ministry and the bishop is only a servant of Jesus, collaborating in His ministry.

• The Staff with lilies – The staff is traditionally the symbol of the pastoral authority of the bishop. The lilies denote St. Joseph, patron of the seminary from which the bishop had had his formation (San Jose Seminary, Quezon City). The bishop-elect envisions his pastoral role as patterned after St. Joseph himself, who acted in a fatherly manner to Jesus, who was entrusted to him and Mary by the heavenly Father.

• The Crown with an “M” – Mary is hailed as Queen in Heaven. But she exercises her queenship as a mother to her children entrusted to her by God. Moreover, Mary is the patroness of Parañaque, venerated under the title Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, the first city of the diocese.

• The Bamboo Organ – The Bamboo Organ is an internationally acclaimed musical instrument currently housed in the Parish of St. Joseph. This symbolizes the second city under the bishop-elect’s pastoral administration – the city of Las Piñas.

• The small mountain near a body of water – This is the symbol of the third city under the pastoral care of the bishop-elect, namely, Muntinlupa City.

• The Motto – “CONFIRMA FRATRES TUOS” – Taken from the gospel of Luke 22:32 wherein Jesus expressed his hope that after Peter’s denial and subsequent conversion, he is commanded to strengthen his brethren (strengthen your brethren).

• The color schemes – Green refers us to St. Joseph whose fatherly care to the Holy Family earned him the title patron of the Universal Church. The blue field on the other hand, refers us to Mary, who, given to the care of Joseph, conceived the child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit (red shade). The movement from dark to bright as seen in the area of Muntinlupa is the hope that through the bishop-elect’s humble ministry, the “dawn from on high (Jesus Christ) will come upon us all” in the diocese.

Organization

College of Consultors

Chairman: Bishop Jesse E. Mercado, D.D.

• Msgr. Felipe E. Ocol, HP, JCL, VG
• Msgr. Manuel G. Gabriel, PC, STD
• Msgr. Albert A. Venus, PC
• Msgr. Benedicto S. Aquino, PC
• Fr. Rolando R. Agustin
• Fr. Benjamin D. Molina, Jr.
• Fr. Gerard Vicente B. Mascariña

Roster of Vicar-Generals

• Msgr. Jose Bernardo Jr., PC (2003-2004)
• Msgr. Felipe E. Ocol, HP, JCL (2004-present)

Presbyteral Council

Chairman: Bishop Jesse E. Mercado, D.D.

• Msgr. Felipe E. Ocol, HP, JCL, VG
• Msgr. Manuel G. Gabriel, PC, STD
• Fr. Rolando R. Agustin
• Fr. Enrico S. Salazar
• Msgr. Albert A. Venus, PC
• Fr. Agalito T. Tarog
• Fr. Jose P. Duabe
• Fr. Gerard Vicente B. Mascariña
• Fr. Francisco R. Siguan, Jr.
• Fr. Benjamin D. Molina, Jr.
• Msgr. Benedicto S. Aquino, PC

Commission and Ministry Heads

• COMMISSION ON BASIC ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES AND NEW EVANGELIZATION, Chairperson - Fr. Santiago Avelino Z. Fernandez; Co-Chair: Fr. Ramon M. Ramos, CP
• COMMISSION ON YOUTH, Chairperson – Fr. Rodyn R. dela Torre; Co-Chair: Fr. Joseph D. Landero
• COMMISSION ON FAMILY & LIFE, Chairperson – Fr. Lamberto B. Legaspino; Co-Chair: Fr. Dominador Ma. Javier, OSM
• COMMISSION ON LITURGY, WORSHIP AND POPULAR RELIGIOSITY, Chairperson - Fr. Roderick S. Pacoma; Co-Chair: Fr. John Francis Frederick K. Manlapig
• COMMISSION ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CATECHESIS, Chairperson – Msgr. Mario Josefino F. Martinez, PC, JCD; Co-Chair: Fr. Agalito T. Tarog
• COMMISSION ON HUMAN PROMOTION, Chairperson – Msgr. Melchor D. David, PC; Co-Chair – Fr. Augusto C. Pulido

• LAY ORGANIZATIONS/TRANSPAROCHIAL GROUPS/CHARISMATIC MOVEMENTS, Msgr. Albert A. Venus, PC
• DIOCESAN PRISON MINISTRY / RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, Msgr. Melchor D. David, PC
• MINISTRY OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Msgr. Melchor D. David, PC
• MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT, Fr. Gregory H. Ramos
• MINISTRY OF VOCATIONS PROMOTION, Fr. John Francis Frederick K. Manlapig
• COMMISSION ON ECUMENISM AND INTER-RELIGIOUS THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE, Msgr. Manuel G. Gabriel, PC, STD
• DIOCESAN CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE, Chairman, Fr. Rustico V. Cruz
• DIOCESE OF PARAÑAQUE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION, Superintendent, Fr. Fidel G. Fabile

Curia Officers

Diocesan Commission on the Clergy

• Chairman: Bishop Jesse E. Mercado, D.D.

PRIESTS-IN-CHARGE OF:

• Incardinated Priests: Msgr. Felipe E. Ocol, HP, JCL, VG
• Religious/Consecrated Life: Fr. Rolando R. Agustin
• Guest Priests: Fr. Augusto C. Pulido

Members:

• Fr. Rodel D. Paulino, Fr. John Francis Frederick K. Manlapig, Fr. Enrico A. Ayo

Parishes

St. Andrew's Cathedral, seat of the Diocese of Parañaque

Vicariate of Sta. Rita De Cascia

• Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew (St Andrew's Cathedral)
• Immaculate Conception Parish
• Mary, Queen of Apostles Parish
• National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
• Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Multinational Village)
• St. Joseph Parish (Tambo)
• Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish
• Sto. Niño Parish

Vicariate of San Antonio De Padua

• Our Lady of Unity Parish
• Jesus, The Divine Healer Parish
• Ascension of Our Lord Parish
• Mary, Mother of Good Counsel Parish
• Our Lady of Grace Parish
• Our Lady of Peace Parish
• Presentation of the Child Jesus Parish
• Resurrection of Our Lord Parish
• San Antonio de Padua Parish

Vicariate of San Martin de Porres

• Holy Infant Jesus Parish
• Holy Eucharist Parish
• Our Lady of Beautiful Love Parish
• Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Sun Valley)
• National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians
• San Agustin Parish
• San Martin de Porres Parish
• Mary Immaculate Parish

Vicariate of St. Joseph

• St. Joseph Parish (Las Piñas Bamboo Organ)
• Christ the King Parish
• Good Shepherd Parish
• Last Supper of Our Lord Parish
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish
• St. Joseph the Worker Parish

Vicariate of the Holy Family

• Santo Cristo Parish
• Holy Family Parish
• Five Wounds of Our Lord Parish
• Mary Immaculate Parish
• Mary, Mother of the Church Parish
• Our Lady of the Pillar Parish
• San Isidro Labrador Parish

Vicariate of Our Lady of Abandoned

• San Roque Parish (Alabang)
• Ina ng Awa Parish
• L’Annunziata Parish
• Mary Cause of Our Joy Parish
• Mary, Mother of God Parish
• National Shrine of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal
• Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Chaplaincy
• San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish
• St. James The Great Parish
• St. Jerome Emiliani Parish
• St. Peregrine Laziosi Shrine

Notes

1. ^ Cheney, David. "Statistics, Diocese of Parañaque". http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dprnq.html. Retrieved 2007-08-31. 

External links

• The Official Website of the Mother Butler Guild Diocese of Parañaque
• Official Website of the Mother Butler Guild Diocese of Parañaque "Our Lady of Unity Parish"
• The Official Website of the Diocese of Parañaque