HISTORY OF HOLY CROSS
People form the Church and the Church forms the people… It is from this principle why a parish is created and the reason why it will flourish.
Sometime during early 1970s, the proliferation of different religious sects in Barangay Gen. T. De Leon had been a source of demoralization among Catholic parents. Quite a number of Catholic families were easily converted to other beliefs due to the fact that they lacked basic Catechetical knowledge. The Parish Church of San Diego de Alacala in Polo where the barangay used to belong was quite far. When Polo Parish was divided to form the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Marulas, the question of distance was still an issue, Furthermore, some were being attracted to other faith denominations brought by the presence of a non-Catholic radio station managed by foreign Protestant missionaries in nearby Barangay Karuhatan. Although there were regular religious services done in Gen. T. De Leon, it seemed that the spiritual development of the people was much to be desired. Hence the establishment of a Parish was becoming more and more necessary as it became the unifying aspiration of everybody. A few concerned Catholics decided to do some concrete steps in order to expedite the realization of establishing a parish.
In 1985, the proposition of having a Parish in Gen. T. De Leon was submitted to Bishop Cirilo R. Almario. Being convinced of the need to establish a new parish in order to guide the people in their spiritual life, he advised the group to wait for the schedule of assignments of priests, due to the insufficient number of active clergy in the Diocese of Malolos.
On June 22, 1988, Fr. Mar DJ Arenas, son of former Vice Mayor of Valenzuela, Isidoro F. Arenas and Estela B. de Jesus arrived in Gen. T. De Leon and was warmly welcomed by the residents of Gen. T. De Leon. The welcome party was held in the “old” chapel in the presence of Monsignor Iniguez and hundred people led by the Barangay leaders. On that day, after reciting the Apostles Creed in front of Msgr. Iniguez, Fr. Mar was formally designated “Priest-In-Charge” of the new “Quasi-Parish”, with a mission to prepare the people of God in Gen. T. De Leon and the adjacent Barangays into full fledged Parish.
Fr. Mar started consulting the people about the name for the new parish. There was a need to identify with whom the faithful can adhere to as their patron. Since the original devotion of the people was centered on the Crucified Christ, some suggested “Sto. Cristo Parish”.
However, there were objection to this name for the reason that the adjacent Barangay Marulas has already the title “Sto. Cristo” for its parish. Another suggestion was “Holy Rosary Parish” but again this was disapproved for the same reason as that of Marulas because Maysan has already “Or Lady of the Holy Rosary” as its patron. What was left then was to focus on what its nearest to the Crucified Christ, the Senior Fr. Mar suggested that the “Crusified” presupposes the Cross and “By the Holy Cross, Christ redeemed the world. “The people unanimously agreed to the idea as this had been the devotion of the residents of Barangay Gen. T. De Leon whenever they celebrate their fiesta every May 20. And so the name given was the “Quasi-Parish of Holy Cross”. This was the name submitted to the Malolos Chancery as the official name of the Quasi Parish.
In line with the Diocesan policy on creating Quasi-Parishes limiting the pastoral preparation within two years, the final recommendation by the assigned Priest-In-Charge was submitted to Bishop Almario for proper action. The council of Priest headed by Bishop evaluated the recommendation and found out the creation of new parish under the name, PARISH OF THE HOLY CROSS. And to designate the priest-in-charge in the person of Fr. Mario DJ Arenas as it’s new Parish Priest.
To formally and canonically establish the Parish of the Holy Cross, a big celebration was held on December 7, 1990, coinciding with Fr. Mar’s birthday and anniversary of his sacerdotal ordination. In the Mass presided by Bishop Cirilo R. Almario, Jr., together with quite a number of priests, Rev. Fr. Mario DJ Arenas was also installed as the first Parish Priest of the Parish of the Holy Cross and First Priest Administrator. By July of that year, two committees were formed: one committee to supervise the church building and the other was assigned the task of gathering funds for the project. On August 14 of the same year, a Groundbreaking Ceremony was held beside the old chapel that would be the foundation of the new church.
During the year 1989, several activities were held to jumpstart the organization of the new parish. This includes the creation of new zoning areas or Purok 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B. Then, a community-wide formation program called the Basic Orientation Seminar (B.O.S.) was conducted at each “Purok” now called “Kawan”. Also, a “Million Signatures for a Cause” and “pledges” was started as a fund raising program to start the building of the church.
On October 30, 1990, a church blessing ceremony was held to formalize the creation of the new Parish of the Holy Cross and Bishop Cirilio Almario Jr. Appointed Fr. Mar DJ Arenas as its First Parish Priest. On the same year, the Parish of the Holy Cross Credit Cooperative was also instituted.
Fr. Arsenio “Ato” Tuazon Jr. was appointed as the First Parochial Vicar of the Holy Cross parish on July of 1992. December 7 of the same year marked the Dedication and Solemn Consecration of the Holy Cross church officiated by Bishop Almario.
On the year 1994, a Parish Research Center (now known as Parish Research and Development Center) was created. It is a 3-story building that now houses the Parish Office at the 1st floor, the PASKA Office where Sunday Classes are held at the 2nd floor, and at its 3rd floor is where the Parish Commission on Youth (PCY) and the Legion of Mary holds its meetings.
An authentic relic of the cross where Jesus Christ was crucified was brought from Rome and was placed at the newly built Glass Altar specially made to house the Holy Cross most priced collections on the year 1998. On the same year, A new 3-story Formation Center was blessed by Bishop Deogracias Iniguez. It is where the PREX classes are held and also the Parish Pastoral Council and most of the Church Organizations hold their meetings here.
After serving the Parish of the Holy Cross for almost 15 years, Fr. Arenas was transferred to another parish and Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga was appointed the Second Parish Priest of the Holy Cross Parish on June 2003 and served for 7 years. On July 1, 2010, Rev. Fr. Danilo C. Bermudo was assigned as 3rd Parish Priest of the Holy Cross.
Past Parochial Vicars of the parish after Fr. Tuazon includes (in order of appointment) Fr. Rolando “RJ” Joson, Fr. Dennis Pascual, Fr. Gboi Samonte, Fr. Ted Esguerra, Fr. Jose Ariel Ramos, Fr. Joselin San Jose, Fr. Rolando “Boyet” Atienza, Fr. Roger Cruz, Fr. Melchor Ignacio, Fr. Leonard Hernandez, Fr. Edward Pecson, Fr. Jonathan Lazaro and Fr. Jose Arturo Batac.
People form the Church and the Church forms the people… It is from this principle why a parish is created and the reason why it will flourish.
Sometime during early 1970s, the proliferation of different religious sects in Barangay Gen. T. De Leon had been a source of demoralization among Catholic parents. Quite a number of Catholic families were easily converted to other beliefs due to the fact that they lacked basic Catechetical knowledge. The Parish Church of San Diego de Alacala in Polo where the barangay used to belong was quite far. When Polo Parish was divided to form the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Marulas, the question of distance was still an issue, Furthermore, some were being attracted to other faith denominations brought by the presence of a non-Catholic radio station managed by foreign Protestant missionaries in nearby Barangay Karuhatan. Although there were regular religious services done in Gen. T. De Leon, it seemed that the spiritual development of the people was much to be desired. Hence the establishment of a Parish was becoming more and more necessary as it became the unifying aspiration of everybody. A few concerned Catholics decided to do some concrete steps in order to expedite the realization of establishing a parish.
In 1985, the proposition of having a Parish in Gen. T. De Leon was submitted to Bishop Cirilo R. Almario. Being convinced of the need to establish a new parish in order to guide the people in their spiritual life, he advised the group to wait for the schedule of assignments of priests, due to the insufficient number of active clergy in the Diocese of Malolos.
On June 22, 1988, Fr. Mar DJ Arenas, son of former Vice Mayor of Valenzuela, Isidoro F. Arenas and Estela B. de Jesus arrived in Gen. T. De Leon and was warmly welcomed by the residents of Gen. T. De Leon. The welcome party was held in the “old” chapel in the presence of Monsignor Iniguez and hundred people led by the Barangay leaders. On that day, after reciting the Apostles Creed in front of Msgr. Iniguez, Fr. Mar was formally designated “Priest-In-Charge” of the new “Quasi-Parish”, with a mission to prepare the people of God in Gen. T. De Leon and the adjacent Barangays into full fledged Parish.
Fr. Mar started consulting the people about the name for the new parish. There was a need to identify with whom the faithful can adhere to as their patron. Since the original devotion of the people was centered on the Crucified Christ, some suggested “Sto. Cristo Parish”.
However, there were objection to this name for the reason that the adjacent Barangay Marulas has already the title “Sto. Cristo” for its parish. Another suggestion was “Holy Rosary Parish” but again this was disapproved for the same reason as that of Marulas because Maysan has already “Or Lady of the Holy Rosary” as its patron. What was left then was to focus on what its nearest to the Crucified Christ, the Senior Fr. Mar suggested that the “Crusified” presupposes the Cross and “By the Holy Cross, Christ redeemed the world. “The people unanimously agreed to the idea as this had been the devotion of the residents of Barangay Gen. T. De Leon whenever they celebrate their fiesta every May 20. And so the name given was the “Quasi-Parish of Holy Cross”. This was the name submitted to the Malolos Chancery as the official name of the Quasi Parish.
In line with the Diocesan policy on creating Quasi-Parishes limiting the pastoral preparation within two years, the final recommendation by the assigned Priest-In-Charge was submitted to Bishop Almario for proper action. The council of Priest headed by Bishop evaluated the recommendation and found out the creation of new parish under the name, PARISH OF THE HOLY CROSS. And to designate the priest-in-charge in the person of Fr. Mario DJ Arenas as it’s new Parish Priest.
To formally and canonically establish the Parish of the Holy Cross, a big celebration was held on December 7, 1990, coinciding with Fr. Mar’s birthday and anniversary of his sacerdotal ordination. In the Mass presided by Bishop Cirilo R. Almario, Jr., together with quite a number of priests, Rev. Fr. Mario DJ Arenas was also installed as the first Parish Priest of the Parish of the Holy Cross and First Priest Administrator. By July of that year, two committees were formed: one committee to supervise the church building and the other was assigned the task of gathering funds for the project. On August 14 of the same year, a Groundbreaking Ceremony was held beside the old chapel that would be the foundation of the new church.
During the year 1989, several activities were held to jumpstart the organization of the new parish. This includes the creation of new zoning areas or Purok 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B. Then, a community-wide formation program called the Basic Orientation Seminar (B.O.S.) was conducted at each “Purok” now called “Kawan”. Also, a “Million Signatures for a Cause” and “pledges” was started as a fund raising program to start the building of the church.
On October 30, 1990, a church blessing ceremony was held to formalize the creation of the new Parish of the Holy Cross and Bishop Cirilio Almario Jr. Appointed Fr. Mar DJ Arenas as its First Parish Priest. On the same year, the Parish of the Holy Cross Credit Cooperative was also instituted.
Fr. Arsenio “Ato” Tuazon Jr. was appointed as the First Parochial Vicar of the Holy Cross parish on July of 1992. December 7 of the same year marked the Dedication and Solemn Consecration of the Holy Cross church officiated by Bishop Almario.
On the year 1994, a Parish Research Center (now known as Parish Research and Development Center) was created. It is a 3-story building that now houses the Parish Office at the 1st floor, the PASKA Office where Sunday Classes are held at the 2nd floor, and at its 3rd floor is where the Parish Commission on Youth (PCY) and the Legion of Mary holds its meetings.
An authentic relic of the cross where Jesus Christ was crucified was brought from Rome and was placed at the newly built Glass Altar specially made to house the Holy Cross most priced collections on the year 1998. On the same year, A new 3-story Formation Center was blessed by Bishop Deogracias Iniguez. It is where the PREX classes are held and also the Parish Pastoral Council and most of the Church Organizations hold their meetings here.
After serving the Parish of the Holy Cross for almost 15 years, Fr. Arenas was transferred to another parish and Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga was appointed the Second Parish Priest of the Holy Cross Parish on June 2003 and served for 7 years. On July 1, 2010, Rev. Fr. Danilo C. Bermudo was assigned as 3rd Parish Priest of the Holy Cross.
Past Parochial Vicars of the parish after Fr. Tuazon includes (in order of appointment) Fr. Rolando “RJ” Joson, Fr. Dennis Pascual, Fr. Gboi Samonte, Fr. Ted Esguerra, Fr. Jose Ariel Ramos, Fr. Joselin San Jose, Fr. Rolando “Boyet” Atienza, Fr. Roger Cruz, Fr. Melchor Ignacio, Fr. Leonard Hernandez, Fr. Edward Pecson, Fr. Jonathan Lazaro and Fr. Jose Arturo Batac.