ST. ROCH PARISH PROFILE
I. St. Roch Parish (F. 1975;
E.P. 2002)
II. Address: Brgy. Tanza, E.B. Magalona, Negros
Occidenrtal 6124
III. Titular: St. Roch
IV. Feast Day: August 16
V. Vicariate: Victorias
VI. Chronology of Assigned
Priests at St. Roch Parish:
Chaplaincy(1975):
- Fr. Rodolfo M.
Gargantiel 1976-1979:
was
assigned as Parish Priest of San Enrique:
- Fr. Roberto B. Gustilo 1979-1986: was assigned as Chaplain of Cansilayan,
(d. April 2, 1988)
- Fr. Rodolfo J. Tan 1986-Dec. 2, 1994: was assigned as Parish Priest of
- Fr. Dominador V.
Dumagat March 31, 1994-1999 : was assigned as Chaplain of
5.
Fr. Farley S.A. Santillan 1999-2001: was assigned as Chaplain of
Central La Carlota.
Parish(2002):
- Fr. Jexon Davao 2001-2007:
was
assigned Parish Priest of
- Fr. Henryk J.
Villanueva July
7, 2007- as of April 2009.
VIII.
Religious vocations of men and women from St.
Roch Parish:
Priest:
Fr. Joy Gimera
Brother:
Bro. Philip Belleza
Introduction.
Bgry. Tanza being
the biggest barangay in E.B. Magalona was an important Community area of E.B.
Magalona. The parish consists of six puroks,
two sitios and fourteen haciendas.
After the second world War, catechism classes during the Flores
the Mayo were held already in the houses of some residents. Novenas and Masses were held in the private
residences as well. In 1950 a smallish
chapel of nipa and wood was
constructed on a place where the present (April 2009) church stood.
In 1962, with the
prodding of the Parochial Vicar of E.B. Magalona, Fr. Dominador Zaragoza Jr.,
the Catholic community built a bigger chapel. Most of the materials of the
chapel was donated by the Hawaiian Sugar Central.
The
Phenomenological Church
1976-1980. In May 1976, Fr.
Leopoldo Gargantiel initiated the construction of a convent and stayed in the
Chaplaincy. In 1979, Fr. Roberto Gustilo was assigned in place of Fr.
Gargantiel who was transferred as Parish priest of San Enrique Parish. The
highly spirited Fr. Bert carried out the repairs of the chapel in 1984,
expanding the floor area and replacing the wooden trusses with the steel
trusses. Most of the materials of the chapel was donated by the Hawaiian Sugar
Central. The building materials were the
salvage materials from the demolished chapel of the sugar central which gave
way to the Central’s durable chapel which still existed today (April 2009). The
lack of funds impeded in the construction and worked slowed down and later
terminated which left the chapel gapingly unfinished.
1981-1990. In 1986 when Fr. Rodolfo Tan arrived in this parish,
he observed the scarcity of kitchen utensils thus he resolved the situation.
The confusion of where to get the baptismal documents from church members who
had their baptism in church came to his attention. He, therefore, pioneered the
keeping of Baptismal Books in the Chaplaincy.
This helped the congregation in having easy access to the baptismal
records and save money from going to and fro Talisay , E.B. Magalona or even
Central Hawaiian to get their baptismal documents. Due to necessity, Fr. Boy Tan was forced to finish
the construction of the church which was yet on its initial stage of pillars
and trusses. He was able to have an aide
through Fr. Werenfreid Van Strattan based in West Germany
He was responsible
of establishing a chapter of Samaria Movement in this ministry. Fr. Boy Tan had
wonderful memories in this community because despite the simple existence that
he had he was provided with ample space and time to express his
1991-2000. Fr. Farley
Santillan initiated the laying of the corner stone for the new church and
started its preliminary structures. Fr. Jexon Davao continued the construction
of a new church when he was assigned in this parish in 1999. The new church was not yet done when a
reshuffling was done. Fr. Davao continued traditional scheduled Masses in the Areas outside the barangay proper.
2001-2009. Fr. Henryck
Villanueva continued the construction of the new church building at the back of
the old church. He initiated the
construction and tiling of the altar as well as installing insulating panels. In
February 2009 he transferred the celebration of the Mass at unfinished new
church. The construction of the church was ongoing and the support of the
congregation for this endeavour was continuing but Fr. Hynryck surmised that
without help from outside of the parish, the construction would take a very
long while.
The Lay
Associations which are still existing as of April 2009 are Barangay sang
Virgen, Legion of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The
Church of the Poor
The
simple lifestyle of the congregation had to be also the lifestyle of the
assigned priest. The present (May 2009) physical condition of the convent and
the unfinished church literally will make one think that it indeed is the
church of the poor. But this is not so, the continuous concern of the assigned
priests for the physical, social and spiritual development of the congregation
especially the faithful in the far-flung community Areas is the one that fits
the concept and the doctrine.
Despite
the sparse contribution of the rural members of the parish, the priests assigned did continue on their
pastoral care of the faithful. The
faithful, despite their limited resources still respond to the needs of the
members of the congregation.
SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ST.
ROCH PARISH:
A. Primary Sources
A.1. Unpublished
Documents:
1. Books of
Baptismal Records of St. Roch Parish
2. Books
Marriage Records of St. Roch Parish
3. Books of
Death Records of St. Roch 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. Rodolfo Tan at Bata Parish Convent on
March 11, 2009. Fr. Tan is a former Parish Priest of Parish Priest
of St. Roch Parish, E.B. Magalona.
2. Fr. Henryk Villanueva Jr. at St. Roch Parish Convent on April 24, 2009. Fr. Villanueva is the present (May 2009) Parish
Priest of St. Roch Parish, E.B. Magalona.
4. Mr. Benhur Diesto St. Roch Parish
Convent on April 24, 2009. He was a close friend and companion of Fr. Roberto
Gustilo and still active in the parish activities.
5. Mr. Hernando Gacuma at St. Roch Parish Convent on April 24, 2009. He has been an active member of St. Roch Parish.
B. Secondary Sources
Memoirs
and Articles:
1. Handurawan, 2006
2. 2008 Catholic Directory of the
Diocese of Bacolod
C. Websites:
1.
Diocese of Bacolod
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