Blessing of the cornerstone by the late Cardinal Jaime Sin in August 15, 1977

Fr. Roozen with parishioners

Children participating in the Living Rosary

The boys of PUGAD with Bro. Tony

Dra. Sylvia Bueser at the medical clinic

The Balikatan Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the blind

Mass wedding
Free mass weddings.
Celebration of the Holy Eucharist

Variety show presentation during the Pearl Anniversary celebration
 

The History of
St. John Bosco Parish

It was in March 1976 when His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila saw the need of establishing a new parish for the zealous villagers of San Lorenzo, Salcedo, Legaspi and the residents of Dulo in Barangay Pio del Pilar. Before then, their spiritual needs were met through the St. Ildefonso Parish, the first Salesian parish in Makati with Fr. John Rizzato as pastor. St. John Bosco Parish was founded on March 2, 1976 with Fr. Godfrey Roozen, SDB as its first parish priest. Fr. Roozen, guided by the mission of the parish patron saint, St. John Bosco – The Father and Teacher of the Youth, .untiringly organized the parish to grow from the small community of mass-goers in the chapel next to the Don Bosco Technical Institute into a very active hub of prayer and service for the residents and office workers of Makati.

On August 15, 1977 the parish cornerstone was blessed by the late Cardinal Jaime Sin. The principal sponsors, the Ayalas, Barangay leaders, Mr. Victor Lim, Mr. Melencio and the late Mayor Nemencio Yabut graced the momentous affair of thanksgiving and praise. May of 1978 saw the completion of the parish church, offices and conference halls followed by the funeral parlor in January 1979. The parish became popular mainly for weddings, drawing from Fr. Roozen’s impressive track record of organizing beautiful matrimonial ceremonies in Pope Pius X.

Fr. Roozen’s initial primary mission was to unite the rich parishioners in the villages and the less affluent people of Dulo, including the urban poor living along the railroad tracks beside the South Luzon Expressway and by the creekside next to Makati Medical Center. Fr. Roozen patiently visited every home in the parish, getting to know and encouraging parishioners to become active. Through the years, the parish has been transformed into a very active church community, with the parish truly exuding a warm welcoming atmosphere of a home.

The different parish organizations grew in number and membership, and the family spirit has been very much alive during Eucharistic celebrations and numerous parish activities. The church has become known for constant availability of priests for the sacrament of reconciliation. The Adoration Chapel is always teeming with adorers who religiously and devotedly spend “quality and holy hour with the Lord”. Indeed, the church services never fail to nourish the lonely and lost souls thirsting for peace.

To the young, it has become a playground where they meet, enjoy and learn more about their faith with friends. The parish continuously keeps the legacy of Don Bosco alive: RUN, JUMP, PLAY, MAKE NOISE BUT DO NOT SIN. St. John Bosco Parish provides the young with activities that develop their talents like sportsfests, stage plays, concerts and outreach projects. These get that get them high on God instead of on vices.

PUGAD (Parish Urchins Gathered at Don Bosco), a center for male streetchildren aged between 7 and 17 was St. John Bosco Parish’s response to the call of PCP II to be the church of the poor initiated by Fr. Remo Bati, SDB in the late 80s. The project aims to provide a loving home for the young streetchildren who are victims of poverty, malnutrition, forced labor and child abuse. Here they eat regularly, are provided with other basic necessities, and more importantly, are taught moral values and experience love, care, and attention. The PUGAD has also provided the parishioners with the golden opportunity of helping provide the children with basic necessities and other needs. Many have volunteered to tutor or play big brother or sister to the PUGAD wards. The center grew and evolved into “TULOY sa Don Bosco” under the leadership of Fr. Rocky Evangelista, SDB. In the 90s, TULOY span off as an institution independent of the Parish, and was relocated to Alabang. It was in the early 2000s that then parish priest Fr. Gerry Battad, SDB revived the PUGAD within the parish premises. Now headed by Fr. Bong Javines, SDB as its Center Director, PUGAD provides a six-month processing program that empowers the kids before reuniting them with their families or referring them to the big centers, sending them to formal and non-formal educational institutions.

January 31, 2002 saw the birth of the new migrant youth apostolate. The migrant youth are poor young men, seventeen to twenty–one years old, who take technical skills at the Manpower Training Department of Don Bosco Technical Institute. Because most come from outside Metro Manila and other far-flung provinces, the place becomes a haven for them where they can study and work well

The parish operates medical–dental clinics every Sunday and Wednesday to provide health services to its needy parishioners, guided by the principle of preferential option for the poor.

When Fr. Gerry Battad, SDB took over a parish priest in 1996 he further deepened St. John Bosco Parish’s commitment to be a church of the poor. Among the projects he focused on were Bahay Pagmamahal, a learning and outreach center at Taylo St.; Bahay Pag-asa, a multi-purpose center; learning center cum chapel at Botanical; PNR; Magallanes apostolate, the Center for Family Ministries, Ateneo Satellite Counseling Center and the Balikatan massage clinic project for the blind. More recently, Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) have been established, with cell groups now organized into eight zones.

Most importantly, the parish takes good care of the spiritual needs of its parishioners through confessions during the daily and Sunday masses, regular visitation of the sick, counseling, and occasionally, in conjunction with social civic groups, free mass weddings.

Ever conscious of the upliftment of the quality of life for the poor, St. John Bosco Parish not only provides assistance to the poor parishioners particularly in times of calamities. It has become the voice involving moral, social and economic issues through peaceful rallies and protests.

Indeed the parish has gone a long, long way in bringing more and more people closer to God. Truly, St. John Bosco Parish is a community of believers recognizing response to the challenge of the times- the challenge of the new millennium and with the constant center of apostolic and pastoral animation.

The parish recently celebrated its Pearl Anniversary as a parish last January 28, 2006 which was marked by a year long celebration for the parish.  Activities included nights of praise and worship, living rosaries, fun run, song and dance competition for the youth, a variety show by parish organizations, and later culminating into a mass at the Legazpi Park coinciding with exhibits by the different parish organizations and ministries last March 10, 2007.  Over its 30 years of existing, the parish continues to bring more and more people to God through the different ministries and activities, living out Chirst's mission on earth.

Pastors: Fr. Godfrey Roozen, SDB, 1976-1988; Fr. Remo Bati, SDB 1988-1991; Fr. Rocky Evangelista, SDB 1991-1996; Fr. Gerry Battad, SDB 1996-2003; Fr. Bernie Carpio 2003-2005; Fr. Joey Paras, SDB Jan-April 2006; Fr. Manny Domingo, SDB, 2006-present.

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