t was in the year 2007 when Rev. Fr. Reu Jose Galoy, OFM was sent by his Provincial Superior to a mission at Barangay North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas City and Barangay Longos, Malabon City.

He rented a small room in NBBS and, together with some Franciscan Brother-Seminarians, visited, talked with, and befriended people from the two barangays. From this friendship with the people, he discovered some who offered themselves to help and assist them in their endeavour. They assisted in distributing and gathering questionnaires to determine the desires and dreams of the people. Fr. Reu and his fellow missionaries gave their newfound friends, servant leaders, trainings and formations to strengthen their faith, heighten their spirituality and dedicate themselves to the service of God and their fellowmen.

The First Eucharistic Celebration in the mission community was led by Bishop Deogracias Yniguez at the City of Malabon University, Pampano St., Brgy Longos, Malabon City. That first mass was attended by many people, and which was followed by weekly masses held at basketball courts, school grounds, street corners and interior open grounds. Simultaneous to these were short small meetings with the people.

Fr. Reu and his brother-seminarians selected potential leaders from the people of the mission community. They were given a two-day Basic Ecclesial Community Orientation-Seminar held at the Our Lady of the Angels’ Franciscan Seminary at Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City. The formation-seminar was facilitated by Fr. Reu and Bro. Pete Batangan. The formation of BEC groups in each of the twenty blocks, ten in Brgy NBBS and ten in Brgy Longos started. They were assisted by the Franciscan brother-seminarians in their weekly meetings, sharing and living-out of the gospel and responding to the needs of the community and their fellowmen. The weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist in each of the blocks continued with the assistance of the appointed BEC coordinators per block and their members.

BEC meetings, activities and formation-seminars continued. In one of the seminars held in Batangas, the people selected St. Clare of Assisi to be their Patron Saint. This was followed by the formulation of the Vision and Mission of the Sta. Clara Mission Community.

In 2010, Rev. Fr. Christopher G. Tibong, OFM took over the position as Priest Administrator of the mission community from Rev. Fr. Reu Jose Galoy, OFM who was sent by their Provincial Superior to another mission. The assigned Assistant Priest Administrator was Rev. Fr. Robert John Abada, OFM. With the assistance of Rev. Fr. Abada and the newly assigned Franciscan Brother-Seminarians, they continued the formation and strengthening of the BEC groups in the mission community. In a general assembly of BEC members of the Sta. Clara Mission Community, members of the Layforce Executive Committee (LEC) was elected. Officers and members of the three commissions – Commission on Worship and Liturgy (COWL), Commission on Education and Lay Formation (CELF) and Commission on Social Services and Development (CSSD) were also selected. These servant leaders actively joined activities and services not only in the mission community but also in the Vicariate of San Jose de Navotas and the Diocese of Kaloocan.

In May of 2016, the Franciscan Provincial Superior sent Rev. Fr. Cesar C. Malasa, OFM (Priest Administrator), Rev. Fr. Wilfrfedo T. Benito, OFM (Assistant Priest Administrator) and Bro. Aaron Batistis, OFM to take over the administration of the Sta. Clara Mission Community. Just like their predecessors, they faced several difficult tasks and problems of the community that challenged their resolve to serve God and the people. They have to work hard to guide many of the people in their temporal and spiritual needs like poverty, health and sanitation problems, failure to receive the sacraments, peace and order problem, extra-judicial killings. etc.

More formation-seminars were given to the people – street masses, school masses, vigils, pabasa during Lenten season, praying of the Angelus, regular praying of the holy rosary before each Sunday mass, etc.

Last August 15, 2017, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, D.D. elevated the mission community into the St. Clare of Assisi Quasi Parish. This elevation inspired the members of the community to work harder and pursue their tasks with greater vigor and resolve. The community continued participating in most of the activities of the Vicariate of San Jose de Navotas and the Diocese of Kalookan. In fact, two of the church servant leaders joined the Diocese of Kalookan in their Exposure-Immersion to BEC communities or Gagmay na Kristiyahanong Katilingban (GKK) last April 26 – May 6, 2018 (one week in Matti City and one week in Tagum City).

Another activity that was found to be effective was the Pilgrimage last May 26, 2018 to Franciscan Churches in Tanay, Rizal – San Ildefonso de Toledo, Padre Pio, and Regina Rica. About 40 people joined the pilgrimage.
Another pilgrimage was held last September 4 – 9, 2018 to visit Catholic Churches in Bicol. This activity was participated in by 29 servant-leaders of St. Clare of Assisi Quasi Parish.

Last Sunday, September 22, 2018, St. Clare of Assisi Quasi Parish sent 40 delegates to the BEC Big Day and General Assembly and participated in the whole day activities. Also present were delegates from other parishes, quasi parishes and mission communities in the Vicariate of San Jose de Navotas. The activity was also attended by the commissioners and head of the Diocese of Kalookan Basic Eccesial Communities.

Another activity worth mentioning is the training by TESDA given to sixty (60) unemployed mothers in the quasi parish to learn livelihood projects that will help them gain additional income and raise their status not only in their family but also in the whole community. They will receive their certificate of graduation on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

The task of building community and serving the people is difficult and daunting, but because God is with us, the task becomes easy, so we will succeed and prevail.