ST. JOSEPH PARISH

ST. JOSEPH PARISH PROFILE

I. Henrietta Parish: St. Joseph Parish (F.: 1972; E.P: March 19, 1994)

II. Address: Henrietta Village, Bacolod City 6100

III. Lot:   250 sq.m. lot was donated by Mrs. Henrietta Torres and Family

IV. Feast Day: March 19

V. Vicariate: Bacolod South

VI. Chronology of Assigned Priests at St. Joseph Parish:

As Community Area of San Antonio Abad, priests who celebrated Mass here were:           1. Fr. Danilo Paderna

            2. Fr. Ramon Terana         

      Chaplaincy (1972):

1. Fr. Norman Segovia                          1972-1975
2. Fr. Vicente Secondes                         1975-1979: was assigned as Parish Priest                                                                 of Manapla.
3. Fr. Felix U. Herrnaez                        1979-1981: was assigned as Parochial                                                                      Vicar of  Sipalay parish.
4. Fr. Dominador Dumagat                  1981-1983: was assigned as Parochial                                                                      Vicar of San Sebastian Cathedral                                                                               Parish, Bacolod City. 
5. Fr. Casimiro B. Lladoc                      1983-1985: was assigned as Parochial                                                                      Vicar  of  San Sebastian Cathedral                                                                             parish, Bacolod City.
6. Fr. Norberto Chavez                          1985-1987: was assigned to Payao                                                                            Parish, Binalbagan.

Parish (E.P: March 19, 1994):

7. Fr. Brendan O’Connel, SSC             1987-1994

8. Fr. Eamon Gill, SSC                         1994-1997
9. Fr. Orlando Gargar                           1997-2001:  was assigned as Parish Prist of                                                  Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, Brgy.                                                                           Ma-ao, Bago City.
10. Fr. Julian N. Bermejo                       2001-2005: was assigned as Parish                                                                            Priest  of  La Carlota parish, La Carlota                                                                    City.
11. Fr. Gerson Balitor                              June 7, 2005-February 28, 2009: went                                                                     on a sick leave and taught Martial Arts                                                                       at the Sacred Heart Seminary School of                                                                   Philosophy.
12. Fr. Serafin Nava III                           March 1,  2009-(as of April 2009)

VIII.       Religious vocations of men and women from San Sebastian Parish:

                       In the parish record there seems to be no one among the                                parishioners of  St. Joseph Parish who has accepted a religious vow.

Introduction

            The story of the St. Joseph Parish began with the desire of the residents of the a new subdivision to have their own chapel and a regular celebration of the Eucharist. And the willingness of the Subdivision owner to provide them a parcel of lot for a chapel.

            Formerly the residents of Henrietta village were used to church hopping on Sundays and holy days of obligation.  They also attended Mass at the near by Block 14, where Masses were held regularly.  But with the approval of Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich for Henrietta Village to have a resident priest, the community was ecstatic. The story continued with a wonderful twist and turn, all towards the same direction.

The Phenomenological Church

            1972-1980. 1972, declaration of Martial Law, was tagged as a deplorable date in the history of our nation but not in the history of St. Joseph Parish.  Fr. Norman Segovia volunteered to live with the congregation at the area where the present (May 2009) church stood. To save money for the church, Fr. Segovia even sponsored baile (benefit dance).  Some mothers even had an innovative way of giving their share by holding Ma Jong games.

            1981-1990.  Fr. Dominador Dumagat put up the fourteen Stations in the Village. In later time the use of this was stopped because the people from other puroks felt that they were displaced because the Stations did not include their puroks.

            Fr. Chavez made the celebration of the Mass important because he would always sked parishioners to put fresh flowers o the altar.  Fr. Brendan O’Conell,SSC had a different art.  He was fond of taking videos and selling the video footages he made and edited and shared his income to the church.  The two Columbans , Fr. O’ Connel  and Gill were loved dearly by the parishioners due to their total dedication.   But sometimes they were taken advantage of by the people.  There was even a fiesta of the  parish when the food and cooking utensils  were stolen to the dismay of Fr. O’Conell.

            1991-2000. The Church was renovated through the initiative Fr. Orlando Gargar.  The industrious priest would always have his hands full doing menial tasks in the parish.  He continued on the activities started  by the Culombans.

            2001-2009. The Gerson Balitor organized the non-permanent settlers of the parish and educated them with their basic social and human rights. He reached out to the neighboring Areas of the parish. The parishioners welcome the coming in of a younger priest in the person of Fr. Serafin Nava.  This unassuming priest opened the church to the people.  His love of doing menial jobs in the parish endeared him to the Nanays.

The Church of the Poor

            The community was approved by Bishop Fortich with the intention of servicing the greater number of simple folks  among the Subdivision duellers.  Indeed this intent was fulfilled when the good number of the ordinary people feel and witness their being a part of this parish community.  The community of the church of the poor.

SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ST. JOSEPH PARISH:

      A. Primary Sources

     

      A.1.  Unpublished Documents:

      1. Books of Baptismal Records of St. Joseph Parish

      2. Books Marriage Records of St. Joseph Parish

      3. Books of Death Records of St. Joseph Parish

      4. Books of Appointments of Priests of the Diocese of Bacolod

      5.  Books of Profile of Priests of the Diocese of Bacolod

            A.2.  Interviews:

      1. Fr. Rolando Gargar at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Victorias City on March 28,                 2009.

      2. Fr. Gerson Balitor at Sum-ag on March 3, 2009.

      3. Fr. Serafin Nava III at Henrietta Parish Convent on February 28, 2009. He is                     the present (May 2009) Parish Priest of Henrietta Parish.

            4. Mrs. Dolores Libunao over the phone on May 13, 2009.

            B. Secondary Sources:

            Memoirs and Articles:

            1. Handurawan, 2006

            2. 2008 Catholic Directory of the Diocese of Bacolod

            C. Websites:

            1. Diocese of Bacolod website: http://home.catholicweb.com/BacolodDiocese