Saint Andrew the Apostle Church explained

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish
Map Caption:Location in Metro Manila
Coordinates:14.566°N 121.0236°W
Location:62 Constellation Street corner Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel-Air II, Makati, Metro Manila
Country:Philippines
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Dedication:St. Andrew the Apostle
Status:Parish church
Functional Status:Active
Architect:Leandro V. Locsin
Architectural Type:Church building
Style:Modern architecture
Years Built:1967–1968
Deanery:Vicariate of Saints Peter and Paul[1]
Archdiocese:Manila
Priest:Pedro Gerardo O. Santos
Asstpriest:Enrico Emmanuel A. Ayo

The Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish is a Roman Catholic church in Bel-Air Village, Makati, Philippines. It is one of the known modern edifices designed by Leandro V. Locsin in Makati. It is dedicated to Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of Metro Manila and Bel-Air Village. Its parish territories are Bel-Air Village and Salcedo Village in Barangay Bel-Air, Rizal Village and Santiago Village in Barangay Valenzuela, and San Miguel Village in Barangay Poblacion.

History

The proposal of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish began in 1965 when a group of residents belonging to the villages of San Miguel and Bel-Air dreamed of having a parish that they could call their own.

The community did not have to wait long. Don Andrés Soriano Jr. offered to have a church built in honor of his late father, Don Andres Sr., who was loved and respected by the people of San Miguel Corporation. Thus, the parish was named after the patriarch's namesake, Andrew the Apostle.

With the approval of the establishment and formation of the parish by Manila Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos came the appointment of Emilio Bularan as the first parish priest.

On February 8, 1967, the 69th birth anniversary of the late Don Andres Soriano, the cornerstone was laid at the 3494sqm lot donated by the Ayala family through the Makati Development Corporation.

On November 30, 1968, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish was opened. At half past eight in the morning, the community gathered to witness the unveiling of the church marker by the people whose generosity made the occasion possible: Andres Soriano Jr., president of San Miguel Corporation; Jose Ma. Soriano, chairman and president of A. Soriano y Cia; Enrique Zobel, president of the Ayala Corporation; and other donors from Roxas y Cia.[2]

In 2002, Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Sunga, the then-parish priest, made some various redevelopments in the parish such as the improvement of flooring, air-conditioning, building of parish office annex, refurbishment of halo chandelier, the altar of the church, and building of the carillon bell tower.

Church description

Built by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin in 1968, the design of this parish church is symbolic of the manner the martyr died crucified on an X-shaped cross. The butterfly shaped floor plan emanates from this cruciform.Many other symbolic features mark the tent-like structure, including the giant chandelier over the altar which serves as a halo over the copper cross by National Artist for Visual Art Vicente Manansala.[3]

Pastors

Name Years of pastorship Present assignment
Emilio Bularan 1967 to 1969 deceased priest of the Diocese of Antipolo
Wilfredo Ipapo 1969 to 1972 deceased
Jesus Arcellana 1972 to 1982 deceased
Severino Pelayo 1982 to 1986 deceased Military Ordinary of the Philippines
Leoncio Lat 1986 deceased Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
Jose "Chito" Bernardo Jr. 1986 to 1991 deceased
1991 to 1993 Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Antipolo
Claro Matt Garcia 1993 to 2002 Parish priest of Santa Clara de Montefalco Parish in Pasay
Emmanuel V. Sunga 2002 to 2011 Attached priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine Our Lady of Loreto in Sampaloc, Manila
Eymard Dennis Peter Marcelino S. Odiver 2011 to 2022 Rector and parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Espiritu Santo in Santa Cruz, Manila
Pedro Gerardo O. Santos 2022 to present

Other present priests

Name Year started Present assignment
Ryan Jamemar A. Belono-ac 2022 Parochial vicar/assistant parish priest
Enrico Emmanuel A. Ayo 2024 Attached priest[4]
Rodolfo San Pedro Visiting guest priest
Ryan B. Diño 2022 Resident guest priest
Nestor C. Cerbo Attached priest

Former priests

Name Previous assignment
Erwin B. Blasa Resident guest priest
Jeffrey T. Jamias Parochial vicar/assistant parish priest
Peter Trong Tran Resident guest priest
Stephen K. Jantuah Resident guest priest
Dennis Sudla Resident guest priest
Patrick B. Paraiso Resident guest priest
Victor Allan B. Dichoso Parochial vicar/assistant parish priest
Parochial vicar/assistant parish priest

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vicariate of Saints Peter and Paul. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. February 26, 2021.
  2. Web site: St Andrew the Apostle History . May 11, 2010 . St. Andrew the Apostle Parish . SAAP Media Ministry . https://web.archive.org/web/20100707234736/https://www.saaparish.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=34 . July 7, 2010.
  3. Web site: Reposo Street Makati . August 15, 2009 . Traveler on Foot . Church of San Andres.
  4. Web site: Circular No. 2024 - 27. April 22, 2024. June 8, 2024. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila.