57 YEARS OF FAITH, NOW SOLEMNLY DEDICATED: The Solemn Dedication of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church and Altar (PART I)
September 7, 2026, became a historic milestone in the 57-year journey of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish as the parish community gathered for the Solemn Dedication of its Church and Altar, presided over by Most Rev. Elias L. Ayuban, Jr., CMF, DD, Bishop of Cubao.
For 57 years, this church has been a place where generations of the faithful have gathered in prayer, celebrated the sacred mysteries, received the Sacraments, and lived out their Christian faith and missionary vocation. On this historic day, the church and altar were solemnly dedicated according to the Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar, marking a significant new chapter in the parish’s continuing life of worship, communion, and mission.
The Church Is Presented to the Bishop
The celebration began with the formal presentation of the church to the Bishop, in keeping with the entrance rite of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar.
At the threshold of the church, Mrs. Elaine G. Urbano, Parish Pastoral Council Coordinator, presented the church plans, carried by Mr. Emmanuel Enciso. Sr. Jerline Bahian Husain, ADC, presented the official documents related to the church, while Mr. Adrian Rodrigo presented the symbolic key.
The presentation expressed the parish community’s gratitude for the church placed under its pastoral care and its communion with the Diocese of Cubao. Within the entrance rite, it also acknowledged the continuing pastoral responsibility of Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF, as Parish Priest, in caring for the church and shepherding the parish community. This was a ceremonial presentation, not a new canonical entrustment. The rite then proceeded into the solemn celebration of the church’s dedication.
The Assembly Is Sprinkled with Holy Water
Following the introductory rites, the assembly was sprinkled with holy water, recalling the Baptism of the faithful and their incorporation into Christ and his Church. Bishop Eli was assisted in this sacred rite by fellow Claretian missionaries:
Sprinkling with Holy Water
• Rev. Fr. Ronaldo Epifanio Banaria, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Julius Boado, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Louie Guades, CMF
The sprinkling also recalled that the Christian community is itself the living temple of God. As the church building was solemnly dedicated, the faithful were reminded that they, as living stones and temples of the Holy Spirit, are called to holiness and worship. Thus, the sacred building points beyond itself to the living Church and the baptismal vocation of all the faithful.
The Liturgy of the Word
The community then listened to the Word of God, which proclaimed God’s dwelling among his people and the identity of the Church as his living temple. The readings included 1 Kings 8:22–23, 27–30; Psalm 84; 1 Corinthians 3:9c–11, 16–17; and Matthew 16:13–19.
The Liturgy of the Word placed the celebration within its proper theological context: the dedication of a church is ultimately ordered not simply to the building itself, but to the worship of God and the sanctification of his people.
The proclamation of the Word was followed by the homily of Bishop Eli, who invited the faithful to deepen their understanding of the significance of the dedication and of their vocation as a community built on Christ and gathered in his name.
The Litany of the Saints
After the Liturgy of the Word, the dedication proper continued with the Litany of the Saints.
With the entire Church—heavenly and earthly—united in prayer, the assembly invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Apostles and saints, St. Anthony Mary Claret, and the holy Claretian martyrs.
The Litany expressed the communion of the Church across time and eternity and entrusted the parish’s continuing life and mission to the intercession of the saints.
The Relic of St. Anthony Mary Claret Is Deposed in the Altar
The celebration then reached one of its most solemn moments: the deposition of the relic of St. Anthony Mary Claret in the altar. Rev. Fr. Amador C. Tumbaga, CMF, carried the relic and reverently presented it to Most Rev. Elias L. Ayuban, Jr., CMF, DD, who then placed it in the designated repository within the altar according to the rite. Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF, assisted Bishop Eli during this sacred act.
The relic was placed in the altar according to the prescribed rite, recalling the ancient Christian tradition of celebrating the Eucharist over the tombs or relics of the saints, especially the martyrs.
The presence of the relic of the Founder of the Claretian Missionaries also gave a particular missionary character to this moment for the parish community entrusted to the Claretian Missionaries.
The deposition was followed by the Prayer of Dedication, the central prayer by which the Church solemnly dedicated the church and altar to God.
The Prayer of Dedication
With the altar and sacred space prepared for dedication, Bishop Eli offered the Prayer of Dedication.
Through this solemn prayer, the Church gave thanks to God and asked that this place be permanently devoted to divine worship and that all who gather here may encounter God’s grace through the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the Sacraments, and the Eucharistic mystery.
The prayer also expressed the deeper reality that the church building exists for the sanctification of God’s people and the glory of God.
The Altar and Walls Are Anointed with Sacred Chrism
Following the Prayer of Dedication, Bishop Eli anointed the altar with Sacred Chrism.
The anointing signified that the altar is set apart as the altar of Christ’s sacrifice and the table of the Lord’s Eucharistic banquet. The altar, which stands at the center of the church, signifies Christ, the Living Stone, and serves as both the altar of his sacrifice and the table of the Lord’s Eucharistic banquet.
The walls of the church were then anointed with Sacred Chrism at the designated places marked by the dedication crosses. These anointings express that the church is set apart for divine worship.
The twelve dedication crosses recall the Twelve Apostles, upon whose apostolic foundation Christ built his Church.
Bishop Eli was assisted in this sacred rite by fellow Claretian missionaries:
Anointing with Sacred Chrism was assisted by:
• Rev. Fr. Desiderio Martin, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Amador Tumbaga, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Julius Jose Coching, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Eduardo Apungan, CMF
The Altar and Church Are Incensed
After the anointing, the altar and the church were incensed.
The incense rising from the altar and filling the sacred space symbolized the Church’s prayer ascending before God. It also signified the altar as a symbol of Christ and the church as a place of prayer and worship.
The incensation was assisted by:
• Rev. Fr. Mauricio Ulep, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Victor F. Sadaya, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Wigbert Papa, CMF
The ministers and faithful were likewise honored with incense, recalling that the baptized people of God are themselves a spiritual offering and a people consecrated to the worship of God.
The Church Is Presented to the Bishop
The celebration began with the formal presentation of the church to the Bishop, in keeping with the entrance rite of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar.
At the threshold of the church, Mrs. Elaine G. Urbano, Parish Pastoral Council Coordinator, presented the church plans, carried by Mr. Emmanuel Enciso. Sr. Jerline Bahian Husain, ADC, presented the official documents related to the church, while Mr. Adrian Rodrigo presented the symbolic key.
The presentation expressed the parish community’s gratitude for the church placed under its pastoral care and its communion with the Diocese of Cubao. Within the entrance rite, it also acknowledged the continuing pastoral responsibility of Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF, as Parish Priest, in caring for the church and shepherding the parish community. This was a ceremonial presentation, not a new canonical entrustment. The rite then proceeded into the solemn celebration of the church’s dedication.
The Assembly Is Sprinkled with Holy Water
Following the introductory rites, the assembly was sprinkled with holy water, recalling the Baptism of the faithful and their incorporation into Christ and his Church. Bishop Eli was assisted in this sacred rite by fellow Claretian missionaries:
Sprinkling with Holy Water
• Rev. Fr. Ronaldo Epifanio Banaria, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Julius Boado, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Louie Guades, CMF
The sprinkling also recalled that the Christian community is itself the living temple of God. As the church building was solemnly dedicated, the faithful were reminded that they, as living stones and temples of the Holy Spirit, are called to holiness and worship. Thus, the sacred building points beyond itself to the living Church and the baptismal vocation of all the faithful.
The Liturgy of the Word
The community then listened to the Word of God, which proclaimed God’s dwelling among his people and the identity of the Church as his living temple. The readings included 1 Kings 8:22–23, 27–30; Psalm 84; 1 Corinthians 3:9c–11, 16–17; and Matthew 16:13–19.
The Liturgy of the Word placed the celebration within its proper theological context: the dedication of a church is ultimately ordered not simply to the building itself, but to the worship of God and the sanctification of his people.
The proclamation of the Word was followed by the homily of Bishop Eli, who invited the faithful to deepen their understanding of the significance of the dedication and of their vocation as a community built on Christ and gathered in his name.
The Litany of the Saints
After the Liturgy of the Word, the dedication proper continued with the Litany of the Saints.
With the entire Church—heavenly and earthly—united in prayer, the assembly invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Apostles and saints, St. Anthony Mary Claret, and the holy Claretian martyrs.
The Litany expressed the communion of the Church across time and eternity and entrusted the parish’s continuing life and mission to the intercession of the saints.
The Relic of St. Anthony Mary Claret Is Deposed in the Altar
The celebration then reached one of its most solemn moments: the deposition of the relic of St. Anthony Mary Claret in the altar. Rev. Fr. Amador C. Tumbaga, CMF, carried the relic and reverently presented it to Most Rev. Elias L. Ayuban, Jr., CMF, DD, who then placed it in the designated repository within the altar according to the rite. Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF, assisted Bishop Eli during this sacred act.
The relic was placed in the altar according to the prescribed rite, recalling the ancient Christian tradition of celebrating the Eucharist over the tombs or relics of the saints, especially the martyrs.
The presence of the relic of the Founder of the Claretian Missionaries also gave a particular missionary character to this moment for the parish community entrusted to the Claretian Missionaries.
The deposition was followed by the Prayer of Dedication, the central prayer by which the Church solemnly dedicated the church and altar to God.
The Prayer of Dedication
With the altar and sacred space prepared for dedication, Bishop Eli offered the Prayer of Dedication.
Through this solemn prayer, the Church gave thanks to God and asked that this place be permanently devoted to divine worship and that all who gather here may encounter God’s grace through the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the Sacraments, and the Eucharistic mystery.
The prayer also expressed the deeper reality that the church building exists for the sanctification of God’s people and the glory of God.
The Altar and Walls Are Anointed with Sacred Chrism
Following the Prayer of Dedication, Bishop Eli anointed the altar with Sacred Chrism.
The anointing signified that the altar is set apart as the altar of Christ’s sacrifice and the table of the Lord’s Eucharistic banquet. The altar, which stands at the center of the church, signifies Christ, the Living Stone, and serves as both the altar of his sacrifice and the table of the Lord’s Eucharistic banquet.
The walls of the church were then anointed with Sacred Chrism at the designated places marked by the dedication crosses. These anointings express that the church is set apart for divine worship.
The twelve dedication crosses recall the Twelve Apostles, upon whose apostolic foundation Christ built his Church.
Bishop Eli was assisted in this sacred rite by fellow Claretian missionaries:
Anointing with Sacred Chrism was assisted by:
• Rev. Fr. Desiderio Martin, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Amador Tumbaga, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Julius Jose Coching, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Eduardo Apungan, CMF
The Altar and Church Are Incensed
After the anointing, the altar and the church were incensed.
The incense rising from the altar and filling the sacred space symbolized the Church’s prayer ascending before God. It also signified the altar as a symbol of Christ and the church as a place of prayer and worship.
The incensation was assisted by:
• Rev. Fr. Mauricio Ulep, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Victor F. Sadaya, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF
• Rev. Fr. Wigbert Papa, CMF
The ministers and faithful were likewise honored with incense, recalling that the baptized people of God are themselves a spiritual offering and a people consecrated to the worship of God.