San Roque de Alabang Parish - Diocese of Parañaque

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SAN ROQUE DE ALABANG PARISH

The Parish of San Roque de Alabang was formally founded on July 16, 1970 by virtue of DECREE OF ERECTION of the Late Archbishop of Manila, Rufino Cardinal Santos, DD.. With this decree, Barrio Alabang (as it was formerly called while under the Ecclesiastical District of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa (PLM)), became an independent Parish separated from it's mother Parish, the Our Lady of the Abandoned (Poblacion, Muntinlupa City), under the Patronage of San Roque de Montpellier. However, it was formally blessed and consecrated on August 10, 1980 by His Eminence, the Late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, DD.

On July 14, 1970, Fr. Augusto Pedrosa was appointed by Cardinal Santos as the first Parish Priest. After almost six years, Fr. Pedrosa was transferred to the Manila Cathedral as its new Rector. A young priest was appointed his successor on December 20, 1975, in the person of Rev. Fr. (Now Msgr.) Tomas T. Gonzalez. He also founded the now well known, San Roque Catholic School on February 13, 1981. He was replaced in 1985 by Rev. Fr. Stephen Villanueva who briefly served as Parish Priest for two years. A young, dynamic priest, Rev. Fr. Romerico Prieto, succeeded Fr. Villanueva and served as parish priest from 1986 to 1989. He also opened the door to the Daughters of Charity (DC Sisters) who managed the school from 1987 to 1989 and the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM Sisters) from 1989 to 2007.

Another energetic and young priest, Rev. Fr. Rolando De la Cruz, was assigned parish priest from 1989 to 1991. Msgr. Celso Ditan assumed office as parish priest after the transfer of Fr. De la Cruz to Navotas in 1991. Rev. Fr. (Now Bishop of the Diocese of Tandag, Surigao del Sur) Nereo P. Odchimar replaced Msgr. Ditan on April 21, 1996 serving up to January 5, 1997.

Rev. Fr. (Now Bishop) Odchimar was replaced by Msgr. Felipe E. Ocol on January 5, 1997 up to 2004. It is also through the efforts of Msgr. Ocol that the facade of San Roque de Alabang Parish was ably redesigned.

By then, on December 7, 2002, Pope John Paul II divided the Archdiocese of Manila thus forming the Diocese of Paranaque under its First Bishop, His Excellency, Bishop Jesse E. Mercado, DD.

Msgr. Ocol was replaced by Rev. Fr. Fidel Fabile for in interim period of one year. He also inaugurated the SRCS Annex Building in Ilaya Street, Alabang (2004 to 2005).

He was replaced by Rev. Fr. Jerico H. Habunal from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2011. Under his leadership, the Parish and the Parochial school underwent extensive renovations. He was replaced by Rev. Fr. Benjamin D. Molina (June 2011 to January, 2012)

At present, the Parish is under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Gerard Vicente B. Mascariña (May 20, 2012 to present) who acts as pastor of the Church in Alabang.

San Roque de Alabang parish covers the whole of Alabang and western portion of Barangay Cupang during its early years. (Being the second oldest Parish in Muntinlupa next to Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Shrine which is currently 150 years old). In October 1982, a big portion of its territory was cut to become the Parish of St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana (Church beside Alabang Town Center) and the parish of St. James the Great (within Ayala Alabang Village).
Then in January 1998, another portion was separated to become part of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chaplaincy (now Parish) in Hillsborough Subdivision, Cupang West.

In March 1998, another change to place. FILINVEST CORPORATE CITY was given to San Roque de Alabang Parish for its administration and St. Jerome Emiliani Parish took over the areas opposite Madrigal Business Park.