Bathed in the warm Manila sunlight stands Santa Teresita Parish Church. This church is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a testament to faith and community in Makati City.
Santa Teresita Parish was established on June 18 1992. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila founded it. The church is located in Barangay West Rembo.
Imagine West Rembo before 1992. The Chapel of St. Therese of the Child Jesus was under the Military Vicariate. West Rembo was part of Fort William McKinley now Fort Bonifacio. Mass was celebrated only every second Sunday of the month. Sometimes the priest did not arrive. People would go to other churches or return home.
The Montfort Missionaries ended the waiting. They established Santa Teresita Parish. The parish became a mission station. It assisted the Archdiocese of Manila. It brought the sacraments closer to the people.
The Parish Fiesta is a highlight. It is celebrated every first Sunday of October. The patron saint is St. Therese of Lisieux also known as Sta. Teresita.
Many activities take place here. In 2015 Santa Teresita Parish Church was used for shooting “Once Upon a Saint”. This is a TV program on Radio Veritas. The parish also hosted a vicariate meeting in August 2015. Priests and lay leaders from seven parishes attended.
The church celebrates the Month of the Rosary in October. A generous benefactor donated a statue of Mary. It is similar to the statue in Manaoag Shrine.
Santa Teresita Parish held a Montfortian Consecration of TTJ Batch 2. St. Louis Marie de Montfort said “Mary is the safest way of approaching Jesus”. The parish also organizes Basic Ecclesial Community Night. This strengthens the “Church of the Poor”. Kasalang Bayan a mass wedding was also held in 2015.
Roses are significant here. The parish distributes roses to devotees on the Feast of St. Therese. St. Therese said she would let fall a shower of roses. Roses symbolize her intercession and God’s response.
A Mass for the Sick is celebrated on the Feast of St. Therese. Cures and miraculous experiences are attributed to her intercession. People find inner peace and warmth.
The Santa Teresita Parish Church continues to be a beacon of hope. It is a center for community and faith. Remember the story of its establishment. Remember the dedication of its people. Remember the showers of roses that symbolize divine grace.