Paco parish marks 412th year

His Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales, D.D., will be the main presider at the 10 a.m. Mass on August 21, at the San Fernando de Dilao Parish in Paco, Manila.

The Mass marks the parish’s 412th anniversary.

Concelebrants are Msgr. Rolando R. dela Cruz, parish priest; Fr. Celso R. Alcantara, Fr. Wilfredo C. Talavera, Fr. Carlo P. del Rosario, Parochial Vicars and Fr. Luke Moortgat.

Preceding the fiesta is a novena of Masses, with the following celebrants: Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., Fr. Dennis Soriano, Fr. Genaro O. Diwa, Fr. Lazaro Abaco, Fr. Carmelo P. Arada Jr., Fr. Alexander O. Thomas, Fr. Jesus Joey C. Bustillo, Fr. Domingo P. Farnacio, LRM, and Fr. Nolan A. Que.

The Paco parish was first set up by the Franciscan missionaries who came with the Spanish conquistadores under the leadership of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1571.

Subsequently, the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, or CICM, took over.

Its longest serving head was Fr. Godofredo Aldeinwisen who also set up the Paco Catholic School.

In 1990, the Filipino clergy took over, starting with Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani Jr., D.D.