57 YEARS OF FAITH, NOW SOLEMNLY DEDICATED: The Solemn Dedication of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church and Altar (Part II)
The Church Is Illuminated with the Light of Christ Then came one of the most visually striking moments of the dedication: the lighting of the altar and the church.
Bishop Elias handed the lighted candle to Fr. Dennis, who used it to light the seven candles placed on the altar. The light from the candles then illuminated the altar and the sacred space, while the church’s lighting was restored for the continuation of the celebration.
As a parish expression of its communion and missionary identity, Fr. Dennis then shared the light with representatives of the parish’s twelve Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). They carried the light to the candles placed at the twelve dedication crosses throughout the church.
At the same time, twelve BEC representatives brought flowers and placed them at the dedication crosses, adding a visible expression of the parish community’s joy and thanksgiving on this historic occasion. The representatives assigned to the twelve dedication crosses were:
Dedication Cross BEC Candle Bearer Flower Bearer
1 Botanical Rica Ruan Ederliza Quindoza
2 Forestry Flordelino Rey Regina Feliciano
3 Pechayan Fe Anquilo Marthalyn Engbino
4 OCS Anita Hernandez Aileen Rivera
5 San Vicente Robert Lumugdang Delia Ching
6 UP Village Cynthia Del Castillo Beth Sin
7 Barangay Central Nonong Reyes Zinta Bacani
8 TV West Cops Mercader Menchu Villamil
9 TV East Friland Fernandez Jenny Bandayrel
10 Maparaan Helen Jamelo Eufemia Cabagnan
11 Kalayaan Michelle Lumiano Cecille Lince
12 Malaya 1 & 2 Noli Pendon Relyn Paltep
Their participation beautifully manifested the role of the BECs as living communities of faith, joining in the solemn dedication not merely as witnesses but as active participants in the prayer and thanksgiving of the whole parish community.
The lighting of the candles at the dedication crosses beautifully expressed the missionary character of the Church: the light received from Christ is not kept to oneself but is carried and shared within the community and beyond it.
The light gave visible expression to Christ, the Light of the World, whose presence illumines the Church and whose Gospel is entrusted to his disciples. The candles shining at the dedication crosses also reminded the faithful of their own baptismal calling to walk in Christ’s light and to become witnesses of the Gospel.
After 57 years of prayer, worship, service, and missionary life, the church that had witnessed generations of faith was filled with light -- a fitting sign that the solemn dedication was not simply a celebration of a building, but a renewed call for the entire parish community to receive the light of Christ, live by it, and carry it into the world.
The Eucharistic Liturgy
With the rites of dedication completed, the celebration continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, celebrated at the newly dedicated altar. The gifts of bread and wine were brought to the altar by Mrs. Elaine G. Urbano and Mrs. Ligaya L. Abela, respectively, for the Eucharistic celebration. Flowers were likewise offered for the Main Altar and Sanctuary by the family of Atty. Anthonette Velasco-Allones. For the Lower Sanctuary, flower offerors were parish leaders: Edna Ranches, Che Avellana, Analyn Carandang, Malou Aquilizan, Marissa Ventura, Marissa Doctor, Joseph Vergara, Melrose Monfort Garcia, Nesty Acosta, Atty. Amado Genilo, Marilou Vegamora, Ditas Manaois Solomon, and Luz Evangelista. The Thanksgiving Envelopes likewise represented the prayerful and generous participation of parishioners, mission partners, donors, and benefactors -- many of whom remained unnamed but known to God.
The Eucharistic celebration brought the meaning of the dedication to its culmination. The church and altar are ultimately ordered toward the celebration of the Paschal Mystery of Christ: at the altar, the Sacrifice of Christ is made present under sacramental signs, and the People of God are nourished at the table of the Lord.
Thus, the newly dedicated altar became once again the place of Eucharistic sacrifice and the table of the Lord, around which the parish community gathered in faith, communion, and thanksgiving.
A Eucharistic Thanksgiving and a Community United in Gratitude
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Dennis expressed the parish community’s heartfelt gratitude to all who, through their prayer, service, generosity, expertise, time, and presence, contributed to the preparation and celebration of the Solemn Dedication of the Church and Altar. His thanksgiving embraced the Diocese of Cubao, the Claretian Missionaries, the Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council, ministries and organizations, the twelve Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), parish staff, volunteers, benefactors, donors, and parishioners, whose generous participation made the historic celebration possible.
The thanksgiving extended beyond those who served in visible roles, recognizing also the many individuals and institutions who worked quietly behind the scenes and generously shared their gifts and resources. Together, their contributions manifested the spirit of communion, participation, and shared mission, showing that the dedication of the church and altar was truly a celebration embraced and carried by the whole parish community.
Immediately after Mass, the faithful were given an opportunity to pray before the newly dedicated altar and to honor the relic of St. Anthony Mary Claret reverently deposited beneath it. This moment of prayer and devotion offered the community a fitting opportunity to remain in thanksgiving and reflect upon the missionary witness of St. Anthony Mary Claret before proceeding to the thanksgiving fellowship.
As a parish expression of its communion and missionary identity, Fr. Dennis then shared the light with representatives of the parish’s twelve Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). They carried the light to the candles placed at the twelve dedication crosses throughout the church.
At the same time, twelve BEC representatives brought flowers and placed them at the dedication crosses, adding a visible expression of the parish community’s joy and thanksgiving on this historic occasion. The representatives assigned to the twelve dedication crosses were:
Dedication Cross BEC Candle Bearer Flower Bearer
1 Botanical Rica Ruan Ederliza Quindoza
2 Forestry Flordelino Rey Regina Feliciano
3 Pechayan Fe Anquilo Marthalyn Engbino
4 OCS Anita Hernandez Aileen Rivera
5 San Vicente Robert Lumugdang Delia Ching
6 UP Village Cynthia Del Castillo Beth Sin
7 Barangay Central Nonong Reyes Zinta Bacani
8 TV West Cops Mercader Menchu Villamil
9 TV East Friland Fernandez Jenny Bandayrel
10 Maparaan Helen Jamelo Eufemia Cabagnan
11 Kalayaan Michelle Lumiano Cecille Lince
12 Malaya 1 & 2 Noli Pendon Relyn Paltep
Their participation beautifully manifested the role of the BECs as living communities of faith, joining in the solemn dedication not merely as witnesses but as active participants in the prayer and thanksgiving of the whole parish community.
The lighting of the candles at the dedication crosses beautifully expressed the missionary character of the Church: the light received from Christ is not kept to oneself but is carried and shared within the community and beyond it.
The light gave visible expression to Christ, the Light of the World, whose presence illumines the Church and whose Gospel is entrusted to his disciples. The candles shining at the dedication crosses also reminded the faithful of their own baptismal calling to walk in Christ’s light and to become witnesses of the Gospel.
After 57 years of prayer, worship, service, and missionary life, the church that had witnessed generations of faith was filled with light -- a fitting sign that the solemn dedication was not simply a celebration of a building, but a renewed call for the entire parish community to receive the light of Christ, live by it, and carry it into the world.
The Eucharistic Liturgy
With the rites of dedication completed, the celebration continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, celebrated at the newly dedicated altar. The gifts of bread and wine were brought to the altar by Mrs. Elaine G. Urbano and Mrs. Ligaya L. Abela, respectively, for the Eucharistic celebration. Flowers were likewise offered for the Main Altar and Sanctuary by the family of Atty. Anthonette Velasco-Allones. For the Lower Sanctuary, flower offerors were parish leaders: Edna Ranches, Che Avellana, Analyn Carandang, Malou Aquilizan, Marissa Ventura, Marissa Doctor, Joseph Vergara, Melrose Monfort Garcia, Nesty Acosta, Atty. Amado Genilo, Marilou Vegamora, Ditas Manaois Solomon, and Luz Evangelista. The Thanksgiving Envelopes likewise represented the prayerful and generous participation of parishioners, mission partners, donors, and benefactors -- many of whom remained unnamed but known to God.
The Eucharistic celebration brought the meaning of the dedication to its culmination. The church and altar are ultimately ordered toward the celebration of the Paschal Mystery of Christ: at the altar, the Sacrifice of Christ is made present under sacramental signs, and the People of God are nourished at the table of the Lord.
Thus, the newly dedicated altar became once again the place of Eucharistic sacrifice and the table of the Lord, around which the parish community gathered in faith, communion, and thanksgiving.
A Eucharistic Thanksgiving and a Community United in Gratitude
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Dennis expressed the parish community’s heartfelt gratitude to all who, through their prayer, service, generosity, expertise, time, and presence, contributed to the preparation and celebration of the Solemn Dedication of the Church and Altar. His thanksgiving embraced the Diocese of Cubao, the Claretian Missionaries, the Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council, ministries and organizations, the twelve Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), parish staff, volunteers, benefactors, donors, and parishioners, whose generous participation made the historic celebration possible.
The thanksgiving extended beyond those who served in visible roles, recognizing also the many individuals and institutions who worked quietly behind the scenes and generously shared their gifts and resources. Together, their contributions manifested the spirit of communion, participation, and shared mission, showing that the dedication of the church and altar was truly a celebration embraced and carried by the whole parish community.
Immediately after Mass, the faithful were given an opportunity to pray before the newly dedicated altar and to honor the relic of St. Anthony Mary Claret reverently deposited beneath it. This moment of prayer and devotion offered the community a fitting opportunity to remain in thanksgiving and reflect upon the missionary witness of St. Anthony Mary Claret before proceeding to the thanksgiving fellowship.