Historical Sketch
The Most Holy Redeemer Parish is a Roman Catholic Church under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao. It is located at the corner of Malac and Inaman Streets of Barangay Masambong, San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City.
It began as a small chapel in Manresa and through the initiative of its first catholic residents it was transferred to the corner of Mabitoan and Inaman Streets. Due to its uncertainty of its location, the chapel was moved to its present site. Through the efforts of SAMAHANG KATOLIKO NG MASAMBONG ( SMK) the chapel underwent series of renovations. In the early 60’s , the chapel was merely a place to celebrate its annual fiesta masses. With the advent of the cursillo movement in 1971 , SKM was renamed to Masambong Catholic Action (MCA). The active involvement of the lay leaders paved the way to the request to hold a regular Sunday mass at 8:00 AM which was granted by San Pedro Bautista Parish, its mother church. A Mini School of Leaders through the cursillo movement was established spearheading series of cursillo for the youth and adults coming from various parishes within and outside Metro Manila. For this reason, the chapel earned its name as the Holy Redeemer Cursillo House.
Due to a significant increase of churchgoers, the chapel underwent series of expansions via additional of left and right wings. In 1990, Dona Susana Yao assisted in another renovation of the chapel. Through the untiring efforts of the leaders of MCA and Fr. Jimmy Giron, OFM then Parish priest of San Pedro Bautista, their request that Most Holy Redeemer become a parish was granted by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila.
On April 8, 1994, the parish of the Most Holy Redeemer was created with the Most Rev. Nereo P. Odchimar, DD as its first parish priest. It included 2 barangays, namely Barangay Masambong and Barangay Apolonio Samson. Its canonical erection was held on May 1, 1994 adopting every first Sunday of May as its Feast Day and Christ the Redeemer on the Cross as its patron. Meanwhile the facilities of the Cursillo movement gave way to the residence of the parish priest and the parish office. He also started Parish Renewal experience PREX in our parish and street masses to be able to reach out to the community.
With Rev. Fr. Reynaldo J. Adalid, OP, its second parish priest together with its Parish Pastoral Council , the church underwent a major renovation providing better facilities for its priest and parishioners. Being the Vicar Forane of San Pedro Bautista, the Most Holy Redeemer Parish Church made its name to the different parishes nearby . Through his unfailing leadership he created Santatlo an approach that bonded the clergy, the religious and the laity of the vicariate of San Pedro in its spiritual growth. He also introduced the devotion to St.Lorenzo Ruiz, for which he was named the 2nd patron saint of our parish
The third parish priest of the Most Holy Redeemer Parish (MHRP) , Rev. Fr. Michell Joe B. Zerrudo, spearheaded the construction of an altar equipped with icons that at a glance may facilitate a better perspective of the parish Patron, the Redeemer. Under his shepherding, the liturgical celebrations were made alive and integrated in the local culture of the parish. Worship as his priority , he built the adoration chapel and opened it to all parishioners for 24 hours. He introduced the Parish Renewal Experience (PREX) to convince more parishioners to take active participation in the various church ministries and organizations. He initiated The Saint Philomena Devotion and opted that the parish be also the Sanctuario de Santa Philomena. After serving the MHRP for two terms, he was replaced by Rev. Fr. Jose Glenn V. Orocio.
Being the fourth parish priest , he continued the thrust that Fr. Jojo Zerrudo began. He made the church’s surrounding greener and more refreshing to stay by way of beautifying it with plants and orchids. The grotto of our Lady of Lourdes was enlivened and tiles replaced the church’s interior vicinity. The laity was given more participation as various ministries were created and church organizations reactivated with the support of the 3 Councils: Planning, Implementing and Finance. The BEC continued to support the church growth in all aspects.
Due to a new call where his service is much needed, the second term of Fr. Glenn V. Orocio was cut short. He was replaced by Rev. Fr. Clod V. Bagabaldo in November 2009.
From a place were a chapel once stood, now has risen the Most Holy Redeemer Parish Church, a solid testament of its parishioners’ undying faith, perseverance and love for God.
