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The Beginnings
by Zaldito C. Isidoro

It is something worthwhile to look back at the early seventies when a new urban subdivision in Quezon City, 50 kilometers from the heart of Manila, rose and named by the original owners, the Regalado Family, as “Fairview Park”. It was composed of five (5) areas, namely; Central Fairview, South Fairview, East Fairview, West Fairview and North Fairview. People described the subdivision as a village of cows and carabaos because these animals outnumbered the residents inside the subdivision. It was seemingly far from Manila, that it was then fondly called “Far View”. Public transportation vehicles entered the subdivision. There was no daily mass. A Sunday mass was celebrated by a Carmelite Dutch priest, Fr. Nico Hofstedes in a motor pool and garage of the Regalado Corporation at Consul St. It was then under the Parish of Mt. Carmel, Project 6, Quezon City.

A New Parish Was Opened

The community in Fairview Park was then growing and it was the dream of the residents that a new parish be founded within the subdivision. The dream came true on August 18, 1975, when Jaime Cardinal Sin proclaimed a new parish in Fairview Park. He appointed and installed on the same day Fr. Fidelis Ruben Limcaco as the first Parish Priest. Fr. Fidelis named the Parish as “The Good Shepherd Parish”. It had a wide area of jurisdiction; Tala & Bagong Silang (Caloocan) in the north; part of Novaliches in the west; Luzon Avenue in the south; and Marikina River in the east.

The Good Shepherd Church was first housed in a small chapel at the crossroads of Fairview Avenue (now Commonwealth Avenue) and Regalado Avenue, loaned by the Bonifacio C. Regalado family. As the community grew bigger, a need for a bigger church was imperative. This was the vision of Fr. Fidelis that he relentlessly pursued. The Regalado family donated a 3,650 square meter property at the corner of Regalado Avenue and Omega Street. Architect Raoul Sotto began to draw plans for a “Christopolos”: a church that would cater to the people’s needs. From there, a dream of a bigger church to honor Jesus, the Good Shepherd was curved in the minds and hearts of Fr. Fidelis and the parishioners. It was a vision that would entail great sacrifices, commitment and dedication from the parishioners; a mission to be nurtured by time, talent and treasure from numerous parishioners. It was an undertaking that required leadership from the Parish Priest to the lay leaders.

A New Church

In 1977, the dream of a bigger church started to come in view. On December 10, 1977, the Papal Nuncio of the Philippines, Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani led the celebrations during the monumental ground breaking ceremony and cornerstone laying. From that day, Fr. Fidelis vigorously pursued the construction. He made the parishioners realized that they have the responsibility as a member of the church. It is not enough that they go to church even daily. They have to share their time, talent and treasure. Simultaneous with the construction of the church, Fr. Fidelis developed the spirituality of the parishioners and devoted all his time teaching them to grow in a deeper understanding of the Holy Trinity. Such effort and dedication did not go unnoticed. In 1978, Cardinal Sin appointed him as Papal Chamberlain and from then he was lovingly called by all as “Monsi”.

For several years, the construction of the new church was the biggest challenge and most ambitious project of Msgr. Fidelis and the parishioners. There were many fund-raising affairs, social activities and solicitations that took place just to generate funds to continue the construction of the new church. These included “Gabi ng Harana”, “Dinner Dance”, “Raffles”, “Bingo Social”, and “Alay Envelop”. The biggest source of funds was the “Miss Good Shepherd Parish” and “Santa Elena Contests”. The new church was blessed, consecrated and dedicated to Jesus the Good Shepherd by Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila on August 19, 1984. Also on that day, three distinguished parishioners, Inocencio F. Fallaria, Ismael D. Quiambao and Rene R. Isidoro, were awarded the title of “Papal Knights of the Pontifical Order of St. Sylvester” by the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani.

The ever-dynamic Msgr. Fidelis, did not end his vision and mission in the construction of the church building. The formation of a true church, nurtured with spiritual teachings was his final goal. But temporal facilities were needed to house these programs. It was at that time, the lot near the creek consisting of 1,635 square meters more or less was purchased from the Rural Bank of Tagaytay. After that, the lot where the Parish Center and Retreat House was constructed, consisting of more than 2,000 square meters was claimed from the government. And then the lot at the back of the church consisting of 5,000 square meters was purchased from the United Coconut Planters Bank. The total land area of the church premises is more than 1.2 hectares. From these properties, a Parish Center and Retreat House which is named after Msgr. Fidelis was also constructed. This serves as a venue for the various seminars and activities of the parish for its continuous programs of spiritual renewal. Other edifices were built through the unending effort and sacrifices of the parishioners and countless generous benefactors outside the parish. Likewise, within the said area, four pavilions, a school house, a beautiful Adoration Chapel, a covered basketball court (now called the Parish Gym), Ascension Chapel, a swimming pool and other various buildings for the occupancy of church workers, were constructed. What makes the church premises more beautiful are the ecological garden surrounded by trees and ornamental plants which delight pilgrims and visitors alike. The church was proclaimed the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Good Shepherd on April 28, 1985.

Spiritual Center

The Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd stands majestically within Fairview. It is the center of faith and evangelization for parishes all over the Philippines due to its contributions as the center of Parish Renewal Experience (PREX) Seminars nationwide. It has provided outreach programs to more than 600 parishes all over the country for PREX alone. Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar (CLSS), Corinthian Youth Seminars and Parish Marriage Enrichment (PME) are also being conducted nationwide by the parishioners.

The parish has helped produce sixteen (16) priests: Bishop Mylo, Fr. Sheldon, Fr. Coco, Fr. Sabban, Fr. Mike, Fr. Louis, Fr. Julian, Fr. Eddie, Fr. Val, Fr. Felix, Fr. Tom, Fr. Nick, Fr. Lyran, Fr. Elver, Fr. Chris and Fr. Aris . Aside from the priests, 10 religious congregations who were founded by Msgr. Fidelis and other religious congregations are being helped financially by the parishioners. The generosity of the parishioners toward the favored children of God, the priests and religious, touched the heart of God that today the parish and parishioners are blessed with abundance and fullness in life. God cannot be outdone in generosity. The more you give the more the Lord rewards the giver seven fold.

The parish through Msgr. Fidelis also helped in the formation of four (4) vicariates and twenty (20) parishes in the Diocese.

Parish Pastoral Council

The Parish Pastoral Council was first created in 1975 led by the late Col. Inocencio Fallaria. Due to health reasons, he had to step down in 1977 and Bro. Val Ilo was appointed as the second president. However, on that same year, he resigned and Bro. Maeng Quiambao, a retired diplomat became the third president of the council. It was during his presidency, that the new church began to be constructed. Due also to failing health, he had to step down in 1985 and Bro. Asterio G. Rea was appointed as the fourth president of the council. It was during his term, that the other lots aside from the donation of the Regalados were acquired; the church building was finished, the Parish Center began its construction, the school was opened, the Gym and Pavilions also came to exist. In 1993, Bro. Rene and Sis. Imelda Isidoro became the fifth president of the council. They continued the program of the parish and installed the finishing touches of the church building. They continued the construction of the Parish Center and Retreat House. During their term, much have been done to make the Good Shepherd Parish as the Center of Spirituality. It became the center of evangelization, by way of PREX throughout the country. In 1996, Bro. Guiller and Sis. Fe Pecache were appointed the sixth president of the council. It was in their term that the Miraculous and Healing Adoration Chapel was constructed. They also continued the programs of the parish and worked hard for the completion of the Parish Center and Retreat House. In 1997, Bro. Asterio and Ate Sally Rea became the seventh president. During this time, the Parish Center and Retreat House was completed though it continues to be re-furnished and re-structured to give way to its need as the House of Spirituality.

Assisting Priests

The Good Shepherd Parish we know now could not have been realized, if not for the selfless spiritual offerings of the assistant parish priests and assisting priests. The first assistant parish priest was Fr. Val Tugade who served in the parish for five (5) years. He went thereafter to the United States and served in a parish in California. Fr. Efren Dato was once an assisting priest and concurrently then a broadcaster for Radio Veritas. The next assistant parish priest was Fr. Fidel Palisoc. He was transferred to another parish after one year. He was replaced by Fr. Biboy Figura, who was then taking his masters in Theology at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST). After serving one year with exemplary humility, he was recalled by his bishop to assume the position of Dean of St. Joseph Regional Seminary of Jaro, Iloilo. Fr. Celso Alcantara was the next assistant priest but just like the others ahead of him, he was appointed as Parish Priest of one of the parishes of Taguig, Metro Manila, after his incardination in the Archdiocese of Manila. The assistant parish priest who stayed the longest was Fr. Remegius Saw Htoo Lay from Burma, fondly called as Fr. Remy. He was a very patient, hardworking holy man but in obedience to the call of his Bishop, he had to go back to Burma. He left with teary eyes for, as he loved the parishioners, they loved him too. There were many visiting priests who served the parish, namely: Fr. Anthony Crowe and Fr. Francis Lam Dau, both from Burma; Msgr. Peter tai and Fr. John from Vietnam; Fr. Bonaface, Fr. Gaspar, Fr. Robin and Fr. Sebastian from India. Fr. Nestor Watin of the Diocese of Romblon also served the parish for several years. Msgr. Reyes, a retired parish priest used to celebrate the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass. Fr. Rey Flores, who was once an assistant parish priest of the Good Shepherd Parish, and now the Parish Priest of Sta. Lucia, is still helping the parish.

After the Diocese of Novaliches was founded, the Good Shepherd Parish was proclaimed the Cathedral Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd, the seat of the Diocese and the residence of the Bishop.

Msgr. Fidelis Limcaco, after 27 years of hard work and dedication to the Good Shepherd Parish, retired on August 1, 2002 during his 75th year of a favored life. Msgr. Jesus Romulo C. Rañada, a young priest, full of wisdom and knowledge, is now the second Parish Priest and Rector of the Cathedral Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd. The parishioners look forward for a continued spiritual growth and formation through his shepherding. The parishioners know that the Holy Triune God loves them so much that they feel the good Lord chose Msgr. Romy for them.