Jesus de la Peña Chapel

Jesús de la Peña Chapel or San Isidro Labrador Church is a historic visita in Marikina where the first Catholic Mass was held. Built by the Society of Jesus in the year 1630 with the permission of the reigning Archbishop of Manila, its establishment marked the beginning of the recorded history of Marikina, which was once a vast and mountainous area traversed by the Marikina River.HistoryThe construction of Jesús de la Peña Chapel marks the beginning of Christianity in Marikina. Before the Spaniards arrived, the area was settled by river-dwellers who relied on the Marikina River for their means of livelihood. When the Jesuits first came to the idyllic, fertile land now known as Jesús dela Peña, they brought with them a small image of Jesus. Fired with zeal to convert the natives to Catholicism, they held the first Mass in a former storage house on April 16, 1630. Afterwards, they immediately formed their order at the west bank of the river which was full of big rocks. Inspired by the site, the priests soon called the place as "Jesús de la Peña" (Jesus of the Rock) which was also the name of the new mission.Later, the Augustinians' control over Marikina spread from Santa Elena to Jesús de la Peña. When the Jesuits ceded the chapel to Augustinians, Governor Gabriel Cruz Elasque instructed the transfer of the order to Sta. Elena because the visita was prone to frequent flooding from the Marikina River.