The Parish of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila

“WELCOME TO THE CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE.” Seconds after you finish reading this road sign on board a moving vehicle, you’d have crossed over to the province of Bulacan.  At the first junction from the border you will see the Shell Station – a landmark that leads to our destination:  the Parish of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila in Brgy. San Manuel, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Located along the border of Pleasant Hill Subdivision, the parish church stands as the seat of the healing ministry for the Bulakeños, particularly for the residents of San Jose del Monte.  With its parish priest, Fr. Mario Jose Ladra or Fr. Mar for short, the parish has grown and become well-known for its “SAMBUKLOD Festival” celebrated annually every last week of September in honor of its patron saint.

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish started in 1986 as a sub-parish of St. Peter in Tungkong Mangga with Rev. Fr. Manuel M. Manicad as the parish priest.  In 14 years, under the administration of Fr. Mar as priest-in-charge, the sub-parish grew steadily with a good number of parishioners playing significant roles in liturgical and pastoral activities.  On September 24, 2000, it became a quasi parish with six sub-parishes: Pleasant Hill, Diamond Crest, Rosanna Heights, Marcela V, De la Costa IV, and Ciudad Real.  Finally on March 14, 2004, it was canonically erected as San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish with Fr. Mario Jose Ladra installed as its first parish priest.

What is the connection between this parish and the Camillians?

The link originates from the Camillian element in Fr. Mar’s priestly formation.  Fr. Mar is a former Camillian scholastic.  He and Fr. Manny Tamayo, MI were classmates in Theology.  Though he left the Order after third year Theology, the influence of our Founder St. Camillus never left him.  This is why the healing ministry is part of his parish and receives high regard from the parishioners.  Every Tuesday evening, the parish celebrates a healing mass, in which the intercession of San Lorenzo, San Jose, and, of course, St. Camillus de Lellis is invoked for the healing of the sick.

Direct Camillian involvement in the parish began when Fr. Mar requested the assistance of Camillian scholastics for the Holy Week services in 2008.  In response, Scholastics John Jay Magpusao and Andi Suparman were sent to the place.  Their initial experience led to the decision to carry out a formal apostolate in Fr. Mar’s parish.

Scholastic Benny and yours truly formed the first team that went to San Lorenzo Parish regularly every weekend.  After a few months, we passed on the apostolate to Scholastics Bernard and Ignas who are still assigned there to date.  The duo leave the scholasticate on Saturday afternoon and return on Sunday after lunch.

During their brief stay in the parish, they strive “to preach the Gospel and heal the sick.” On Saturday afternoons, they help facilitate the Bible sharing among the parishioners.  On Sunday mornings, they do the house to house visitation of the sick.  At present there are around 15 parishioners to whom they bring Holy Communion.

A parish priest’s schedule is understandably hectic.  Thus, for Fr. Mar, the Camillian scholastics are of great help in concretizing his desire to bring the ever present love of Christ to his sick parishioners.

As the scholastics mingle with the people and move around in the parish in their Camillian habit, unmindful of the scorching heat, the parishioners cannot help but take notice.  “They are like salt; few but strongly felt,” commented some parishioners.  “They do inspire us as we witness how they visit and care for the sick.”

We will complete a full year of service in San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish this coming Holy Week.  The hope is that we would remain welcome to San Jose del Monte and to the parish and be allowed to continue doing a work that is not ours but Jesus’.