Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (OLGP) was started when members of the Council of the Xaverian Missionaries, namely Fr. James Rigali,SX, Fr. Eugenio Pulcini, SX and Fr. Javier F. Mexicano, SX had a meeting with Bishop Gabriel Reyes, DD, with an intention to help the Diocese of Antipolo. The Bishop agreed and offered the Xaverians two possibilities by choosing between Tumana-Malanday of ICP and Baras. These two areas were offered because they need a better pastoral service, especially in consideration of their large population. After a dialogue among the 14 Xaverian Missionaries, the choice fell on Tumana-Malanday, Marikina.
Our Lady of Guadalupe’s future parish will serve some communities or chapels which are part of Immaculate Conception Parish. Thus, on March 2009, hearsay on the division of the Immaculate Conception Parish started to spread among servants and was later on confirmed when Fr. Javier Mexicano, SX, Fr. Emanuele Borelli, SX, and Fr. Alejandro, SX, attended the ICP-PPC meeting the following month, and were introduced by Fr. Bienvenido Guevarra to the body as he officially announced the chapels that would be separated from the parish.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish’s name was decided after taking some considerations and suggestion from Fr. Bienvenido Guevarra. Then, it was decided to name this new parish, “Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.” This name was chosen because of the historical connection of Mexico and the Philippines, and of the fact that Our Lady of Guadalupe was crowned as Reina de Mexico y Emperatriz de las Islas Filipinas. Naming this parish after the Blessed Virgin Mary is also in consideration of the warm attachment of the Marikeños to her as shown in most of the chapels in this area.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish was erected simultaneously to the installation of Fr. Javier F. Mexicano, SX, as the first Parish Priest. This installation took place on May 10, 2009, and the celebration was presided over by Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, DD.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, at the present moment, under Fr. Emanuele Borelli, SX, as parish priest, and in collaboration with the vicars parish priest, Fr. Purnomo, SX and Fr. Justin, SX, Xaverian Missionaries continues its mission of announcing the Good News. The openness of the local people to the Gospel remind us constantly that “mission is not only to go and tell others about the risen Lord, but also to receive that witness from those to whom we are sent.”
