SACRED HEART OF JESUS, THE CHAPEL

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Morning Breeze started as a chapel in 1963 with the community then originally a part of Our Lady of Grace Parish. Every Sunday, Holy Mass was celebrated by the Oblate Fathers led by the late Most Rev. Antonino F. Nepomuceno, D.D., OMI. Oblate scholastics assisted the priests in their pastoral work in the community. Some of them were the late Most Rev. Benjamin de Jesus, D.D., OMI and Most Rev. Orlando Quevedo, DD, OMI, of the Archdiocese of Cotabato.

In August 1963, His Eminence the late Rufino Cardinal Santos, D.D., established the Sts. Peter and John Parish. The community of Morning Breeze became a part of the new parish along with the baranggay of Bagong Barrio, a portion of Baranggay Potrero within the east side of McArthur Highway and the Araneta University campus.

Still a part of the St. Peter and St. John Parish, the Sacred Heart Chapel was inaugurated by Most Rev. Pedro N. Bantique, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, on December 13, 1964.

SACRED HEART OF JESUS, THE PARISH

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish was finally established by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, D.D., Archbishop of Manila, in 1984, culminating twenty long years of fervent hopes and prayers of the people of Morning Breeze. Rev. Fr. Francisco Bagadiong was the first Parish Priest.

Thereafter, under the leadership of the Parish Priest and the Parish Pastoral Council, the kind and religious people of Morning Breeze initiated the construction of a new and imposing Church in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On April 1, 1990, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, D.D. blessed and dedicated the altar of the new Church under the title of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Morning Breeze Subdivision, in the Ecclesiastical District of Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas, Archdiocese of Manila.

Rev. Fr. Igmedio A. Caborrubias was installed as the second Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish on June 4, 1990, replacing Fr. Bagadiong.

On August 1, 2001, Rev. Fr. Rufino “Gigi” P. Yabut assumed administration of the Parish and his pastoral duties as incoming Parish Priest, replacing Fr. Caborrubias, and on December 1, 2001, he was formally installed as the third Parish Priest by His Excellency Most Rev. Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., D.D., District Bishop of the Ecclesiastical District of Kalookan, Malabon and Navotas.

MAJOR RENOVATION OF CHURCH AND CONVENT BUILDING

During the period from September to November 2001, Fr. Gigi initiated major repairs and renovation of the Church and Convent buildings and premises of the SHJ Parish which were visibly called for in the 12-year old facilities.

With generous help and encouragement from the archdiocese, friends and benefactors from other parishes, and the ever–loyal SHJ parishioners, the completion of this first project for the enhancement of the SHJ Parish Church was completed on December 1, 2001 by way of the repainting and renovation of the Church, the Sanctuary and the Adoration Chapel, and provision for a new Parish Office, Parish Priest’s Office and Parish Function Rooms.

As space and funds permitted, additional facilities, adjuncts to the Church building, were added in 2002 and 2003. Such as, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Pastoral Center which provides a venue for Parish activities, Council meetings, livelihood programs, and social events; furthermore, the St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Hall, the San Lorenzo Ruiz Multi-purpose Hall, the Medical-Dental Clinic and the Parish Ossuary which address the immediate personal needs of the parishioners.

The pastoral program thrusts have been directed not only on building the Church but more importantly, on building up the community: the strengthening of the faith-life of the individual, the family and the community, returning to the sacraments, increasing lay involvement in Parish activities and church organizations, reviving Street Masses, developing awareness and a sense of responsibility and united action in community affairs, e.g. peace and order of surroundings, etc.

The devotion of the Sacred Heart has blessed the parish over the last twenty years with many active and vibrant lay organizations which made the celebration of the liturgy and parish life truly vibrant and re-invigorating. Moreover, new devotees from the office workers, in the schools and hospital, around the Church have been drawn closer to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in every home is a continuing campaign drive. Activities in honor of the Sacred Heart include the Novena, special imposition of the Sacred Heart Scapular, First Friday Holy Hour, and the annual celebration of the Solemn Feast of the Scared Heart, in June.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish be a haven to the weary…to the troubled…and the wounded heart. The Sacred Heart invites one and all to confide in Him for “His burden is light and His yoke is easy.”