Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Mesa, Manila - The Lord and Protector of Santa Mesa, Manila

-
Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Mesa, Manila
In the busy district of Santa Mesa, Manila, behind its modern facade, it was in this place that the first parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was established and became the erstwhile center of the devotion next to Intramuros. The parish became a haven to the people of Santa Mesa, where most of its population are composed of emigrants from different provinces who are looking for better opportunities in the Capital.

The image

The venerable image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Mesa, Manila is presented in its standard iconography based from the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacocque: Our Lord Jesus standing presenting his Sacred Heart, his left hand on a gesture of blessing the beholder, wears a white robe and a red tunic. The face of the image is one of the most serene depiction of the Sacred Heart image in the country. The sculptor of the image was unknown.

Humble beginnings

The pioneering parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began as a humble chapel that a Jesuit priest used to celebrate Mass and administer some baptisms with the license coming from Msgr. Jeremiah Harty, the Archbishop of Manila in 1903. The Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was then formally erected on February 11, 1911, the care of which was entrusted to the Franciscan Capuchins.

Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Mesa, Manila
The superior of the Catalonian Capuchins, Fr. Marcelino de Solt, formally accepted “the direction and administration of the church of Santa Mesa” on March 18, 1911 priests from the Fransiscan Capuchin Order built the first edifice, repaired and renovated the church as needed and revolutionized the parish into action. They organized religious groups and formed lay leaders who later worked hard hand in hand with them in serving the needs of the people of Sta. Mesa. The Franciscan Capuchins served the Parish from 1911 to 1955.

The Sacred heart of Jesus Parish has a Parochial School which started offering elementary education in 1947 and in school year 2003-2004, it started offering secondary education. At present it has changed its name to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School. On March 31,1995, the administration of the parish was given to the Archdiocese of Manila with Msgr. Mario D. Enriquez as Parish Priest.

The Devotion

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Santa Mesa continues to flourish over the years. Aside from the residents of Santa Mesa, students from the parochial school, the surrounding college and university students, workers from different sectors located in the area flock the parish to find solace from the Sacred Heart of Our Lord as he promised to St. Margaret Mary and other saints whom he appeared for centuries.

Reference:

The History of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Retrieved from https://shjpstamesa.com/about/ on June 30, 2019.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Nuestra Señora de la Regla: Cebu's Gracious Lady

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Cebu Aside to the famed Santo Niño de Cebu, there is another devotion that flourished in the island that pilgrims visit through the centuries succor in times of great need - the felicitous Nuestra Señora De la Regla. The miraculous image is venerated widely by the Cebuanos who believe that the prosperity they enjoy is a blessing achieved through the strength of her maternal intercession. The image is currently venerated at The National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Regla in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. Features of the image The image of the Virgin is patterned to the original located in Chipiona, Spain. The Our Lady of the Rule image carved from the trunk of dark Philippine hardwood, was installed at the her own altar of Our Lady of the Rule Church in Lapu-Lapu City. The Brown Madonna holds the Infant Jesus in a form of offering and showing - as if she is presenting the Child Jesus to the people and telling them to worship his Son -
Read more

Nuestra Señora da la Salud: The Powerful Health of the Sick

-
Image
Nuestra Señora da la Salud Within the confines of modern Quezon City, there is a precious treasure that was once one of great importance of Old Manila's Glorious Past. This principal treasure is the dark image of the Blessed Virgin, under the title of"Nuestra Señora de la Salud" (Our Lady of Health) brought by the Recollect missionaries to the Philippines in 1634. In the olden days, the Virgen de la Salud is one of the most celebrated Marian images in the country with numerous miracles were attributed to this Dark Virgin of Old San Nicolas Church. So numerous and well known that even high government officials of the time are in attendance and one of most awaited in the summer and it somehow rivals that of the Virgin of the Santo Rosario of Old Intramuros (now will be venerated in her new Shrine in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.) However, after the ravages of World War 2, though the image was safe and kept by her custodians, the devotion her seemed to be forgotten by
Read more

The Regal and Miraculous Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor of Bacolor, Pampanga

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor (Church image) Bacolor, Pampanga, one of the most historic town one of the most populated in the province that was once the provincial capital of the province bearing the name "Villa de Bacolor" and dubbed as "Atenas de Pampanga" due to its significant role in the history, culture, economy and faith in Pampanga. Bacolor is also famous for its centuries old sunken San Guillermo Church where half of edifice was submerged by lahar during the Pinatubo eruption in the early 1990's and decades later as the church from the iconic ABS-CBN teleserye "May Bukas Pa". Bacolor is also known as one of the main Marian pilgrimage sites in the province and also of Central Luzon because it was in the famed Bacolor Church were the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor is enshrined. The Virgin of the Rosary of Bacolor became a silent witness of the colorful yet tra
Read more

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga - the Queen of Cavite

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga In the province of Cavite, located in Southern Luzon area, there lies a church in Cavite City, then known as Cavite Puerto where it has been, and still is, the center of pilgrimage in the whole province and outside, including Metro Manila and other provinces for the parish San Roque in Cavite City is the home of the famous Patroness of the Cavite - Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, the undisputed Queen of Cavite. For Caviteños, the Soledad will always be part of their lives for tremendous miracles were attributed through her intercession and it is no wonder that in almost every home in Cavite, altars and doorsteps are not complete without an image of the Soledad either in print, sculpture, reliefs and other media. The icon has received several titles in its history, including "Queen of Cavite" and "Exalted Patroness and the Celestial Guardian and Protectress of the Province of Cavite and its Port" (Spanish
Read more

Nuestra Señora de Barangay - The Mother and Protectress of the Barangay

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de Barangay Of all Marian images venerated in the country, there is a simple yet beautiful image of Our Lady that is very unique in our consciousness, the very Filipina image of the Virgin of the Barangay. The image of the "Virgen sang Barangay" gained much attention since its first public appearance in the 1950's as the Patroness of the Barangay sang Birhen Organization and began touring the nation for some years and numerous replicas of this image, whether it is a painting or a three-dimensional statue, this particular Venerada clearly shows how the Blessed Virgin became became our own Mother of the Filipino Nation and became a unifying force for centuries and still enjoys much love and veneration as time passed by.  The image The icon of the Virgin of the Baranggay depicts the Virgin presenting her Son to the barangay. The Virgin wears the traditional balintawak and wearing a red and yellow tapis on her waist while the Child is covered with
Read more