Mater Dolorosa Parish

Amidst the bustling cityscape of Makati, the Mater Dolorosa Parish stands as a testament to faith and resilience. Mater Dolorosa Parish, established on September 8, 1987, by Jaime Cardinal Sin, has a unique origin story. It was born from the Amigonian Fathers and Brothers’ mission. Their initial goal was to help street children. However, their path led them to establish this parish. The church is located along J.P. Rizal Extension in East Rembo. Initially, Mater Dolorosa Parish served a large area. This included the barangays of Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, and Pembo. These areas were known as the Enlisted Men’s Barrios within Fort Bonifacio. The vastness of the parish made it challenging for the priest to minister effectively. Therefore, over time, Cembo, Pembo, and West Rembo became separate parishes. This allowed Mater Dolorosa Parish to focus on East Rembo and Comembo. The original church building was a dilapidated chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. Construction of a new building began in 1992. Progress was slow due to limited funds. The growth of the spiritual community mirrored the construction. Both faced hurdles but persevered with patience. In 1994, Mater Dolorosa Parish played an active role in preparing the youth for World Youth Day. This included conducting formation seminars. The following year, a five-year pastoral plan was developed. This focused on establishing Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). Fourteen mission areas were designated within East Rembo and Comembo. Recognizing the challenges in building a strong spiritual community, weekly BEC formation sessions were organized. This provided support to lay leaders and workers. Various ministries and committees were also formed to support the church’s mission. The BEC program initiated a scholarship grant for underprivileged students residing in the mission areas. This exemplified its pro-poor stance. Mater Dolorosa Parish has seen several parish priests guide its community. Fr. Donato Gatto was the first, followed by Fr. Francisco Javier Cabezas, Fr. Ralf Winterberg, Fr. Jacob Thottappallil, Fr. Paulson Panakal, and Fr. Joel Mosura. The parish has weathered many storms over its 25 years of service. It continues to thrive. Today, Mater Dolorosa Parish carries the theme: “Faith in God, Fidelity to My Mission”. It continues its mission of re-evangelization under the guidance of its current priest.