Brief History of Santísimo Rosario Parish-UST

Serving as a spiritual haven for the Thomasian community, the Chapel of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomás, Santísimo Rosario Chapel (also a Parish Church), is the most appropriate place for the Thomasian practice of faith. The Chapel was among the earliest edifices in the campus of the University of Santo Tomás. It was completed on 13 November 1932. Since then, the Chapel has become the venue for various university religious activities which include the annual Misa de Apertura, a decades-old tradition of officially opening the academic year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit and the delivery of the academic lecture called the Discurso de Apertura; Eucharistic Celebrations in honor of St. Dominic de Guzmán and St. Thomas Aquinas; and the annual novena masses and grand procession in honor of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario, our mother and patroness. When the parish was established in 1942, this chapel likewise became the center of the liturgico-sacramental life of the parishioners.

Along the outskirts of Sampaloc District in the city of Manila is a unique Parish. The Santísimo Rosario Parish-UST is a special parish, not only because it is under the care of a religious community, the Dominicans; but also, by its very location, a parish church within a University (UST), covering two universities (UST and Far Eastern University) within its jurisdiction. The UST Chapel, in which the spiritual, moral and pastoral needs of the Thomasians administrators, faculties, support staff, students, alumni, and guests are cared for, and where religious (ie Misa de Apertura, Mass in Honor of St. Thomas Aquinas) and academic functions (ie Discurso de Apertura, Commencement Exercises of the Ecclesiastical Faculties, Installation of the Rector) are held, also became the same church where parishioners go for their spiritual nourishment (ie Prayer, Liturgy, Sacraments, Blessing). For the past 75 years, the Santísimo Rosario Parish-UST has been the spiritual haven for both the students of the University of Santo Tomás and its parishioners beyond the UST campus.

During the Second World War, the Japanese forces converted the Sampaloc campus into an internment camp for enemy aliens, mostly Americans, living in the Philippines. The original Intramuros campus was destroyed in 1944 by an arson created by the Japanese Kempeitai (military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army). More than 4,000 foreigners survived under difficult conditions in the internment camp for 37 months from January 1942 until February 1945 when the camp was liberated by American soldiers. During these turbulent months at the dawn of the Second World War, then Archbishop of Manila, the Most Rev. Michael O’Dougherty, DD (1874-1949) issued a decree on 21 March 1942, establishing the Santísimo Rosario Parish. A month later, on April 26, the Archbishop himself presided over a Pontifical High Mass at the UST Chapel, with which he canonically inaugurated the parish with Rev. Fr. Emiliano Serrano, OP (1942-1952) as its first pastor. 

Under the care of the Dominican Fathers, the parish continued to grow as a community of faith with a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and imbued with the spirit of St. Dominic. Through the decades, parish organizations were organized, each giving its contribution to the evangelical mission of the parish. 

On 28 September 1942, the image of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila, which was saved from the bombings that destroyed the Old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros, was transferred to the University of Santo Tomás and was enshrined at the main altar of the UST Chapel. Thus, the first fiesta celebration of the Santísimo Rosario Parish, set on October 7, the universal feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, was graced by the presence of the historic image of the Blessed Mother, and this went on for several more years until the year 1954. Rev. Fr. Honario Muñoz, OP (1952-1954) was the parish priest when the image of La Naval was solemnly transferred to her new shrine in Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. As the historic and miraculous image approached the new Church, preceded by a long line of bishops and archbishops, the bells began to toll.

Rev. Fr. Santos Galende, OP (1954-1958) restored the original parish image to its former place at the high altar, until the implementation of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council when Rev. Fr. Patricio Rodrigo, OP (1958-1969) became the fourth parish priest. The Parish celebrated its 25th anniversary under his care. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that the vocation of the present Archbishop of Cáceres in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Most Rev. Rolando Octavus Tria Tirona, OCD, DD [SEE Photo on the Right] was discerned in the Santísimo Rosario Parish, his home parish where his mother served as President of the Parish Pastoral Council for many years.

The pastoral care of the parish was under Rev. Fr. Guillermo Tejón, OP (1969-1970); Rev. Fr. Lamberto Pasión, OP (1970-1971); Rev. Fr. Pedro Escudero, OP (1971-1972); and Rev. Fr. Ramón Perez, OP (1973-1985) during the political upheaval before and during the time when the Philippines was placed under Martial Law (1972-1981) under the authoritarian rule of President Ferdinand Marcos (1917-1989). Proclamation No.1081 (“Proclaiming a State of Martial Law in the Philippines”) was signed on 21 September 1972 and came into force on 22 September. The official reason behind the declaration was to suppress increasing civil strife and the threat of a communist takeover, particularly after a series of bombings (including the Plaza Miranda incident in 1971) and an assassination attempt on Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile in Mandaluyong in 1972.

The 80’s was a decade of many changes. This time, the parish was concerned in establishing a vibrant presence within its territorial jurisdiction after the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986. Processions began to be held outside the campus. Parish activities were brought to the streets. All these were the initiatives of Rev. Fr. Gallardo Bombase, OP, who served as parish priest from 1985-1992. The Parish celebrated its 50th anniversary under his care. 

After Fr. Bombase’s term, he was succeeded by a Dominican fresh from missionary work in Maco and Tagum in Davao. Rev. Fr. José Salazar, OP (1993-1996). Fr. Salazar’s thrust was to further strengthen the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the Parish. As a true missionary pastor, he tirelessly visited every area of the parish, celebrating mass in the streets and visiting the sick. Fr. Salazar’s term was cut short when Pope St. John Paul II appointed him Bishop-Prelate of Batanes. He was consecrated bishop on 7 June 1996.

In 1996, the Santísimo Rosario Parish welcomed a new pastor in the person of Rev. Fr. Eugenio Cabillon, OP (1996-2003). He carried over the advocacy of his predecessor to strengthen the BECs. He likewise initiated the revisiting of the parish mission-vision statements. The Church sanctuary was renovated in 1999, and on December 7 of the same year, His Eminence, Jaime Cardinal Sin (1928-2005), consecrated the altar.

In the year 2003, another Dominican missionary became pastor of Santísimo Rosario Parish, Rev. Fr. Jaime Alamillo, OP (2003-2009). He continued to look after the strengthening of the BECs, and at the same time improved the facilities of the parish, in particular, the parish office. A mezzanine was constructed to cater to the needs of the various parish organizations.

The next pastor of Santísimo Rosario Parish is a long-time University administrator who also served as Prior of the Dominican Fathers in UST. He likewise worked as a missionary in Ethiopia and in the United States. The Parish celebrated its 70th anniversary under the care of Rev. Fr. Franklin Beltrán OP (2009-2015). It was under his care when the new challenge of the increasing number of transient parishioners with the growing number of high rise condominium units around UST became evident. 

At present, the Parish is headed by Rev. Fr. Louie Coronel, OP (2015-Present), a Dominican historian who was installed on 12 January 2016 by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, DD. He oversees the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Parish which includes the intensification of the four (4) core programs: The Basic Ecclesial Communities (which includes the Feeding Program, Scholarship Program, Medical Services, Kalyeserye); Catechetical Program (which includes the Formation of a Core Group of Grades IV, V and VI pupils from various elementary schools, Promotion of the Bible, Promotion of the Rosary; Iskulserye, Social Media Apostolate); Youth Formation (which includes programs for the Youth Ministry); and Liturgico-Sacramental Program (which includes Mass Baptism, Mass Confirmation, Mass Wedding, Pastoral Ministry for the needy, the sick, the aged, and the disabled; and a more active, creative and participatory prayer life of the parish). 

A key program of the parish is the intensification of the BEC’s of the parish, especially that 2017 coincides with the Year of the Parish as Communion of Communities. It is highlighted by the “Kalyeserye” program. The term is not just inspired by a local love team but of deep pastoral implication. “Kalyeserye” includes catechism on the street, praying of the rosary, Confession on the street, and street masses. Beyond its terminology, Fr. Coronel is personally influenced by the life and ministry of His Holiness Pope Francis who regarded himself as a “callejero” when he was still serving the local Church of Argentina. It is our endeavor to proclaim the Good News in the streets where the people are. 

Beginning October 1, 2017, we are launching the Diamond Year of the Parish until Fiesta 2018. This will intensify the core programs of the parish and underscore the collaboration of the parish with the University.