Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish
Poblacion, Muntinlupa City
History
In the year 1818,based on the Spanish document , Muntinlupa was a pueblo belonging to the province of Tondo and was part of the Sta Ana Parish, when Taguig was established in 1587. It was on February 14, 1863 when the Archbishop of Nabila nby the name of Most Rev. Gregorio Meliton Martinez, a diocesan priest, issued a Decreto Superior creating a new Parish in El Pueblo de Muntinlupa, a place more developed and big enough to serve as center of worship and adoration on April 3, 1863. Rev. Fr. Mariano Umali was designated as acting parish priest; next to him was Rev. Fr. Jose Dionisio de Mendoza.
Ever since the establishment of the Parish of Muntinlupa, the parishioners did not have an idea on what was the ancient name of the Parish Church. However, there were already devotees of Our Lady of the Abandoned, and they had considered her as the primary Patroness of the place. During the year 1863-1920, the parish church was located along Amparo Street (then known as Calle Nueva) and was built of light materials. In 1920, Fr. Cardon, the parish priest at that time, transferred the church to its present site.
The Our Lady of the Abandoned may have been considered the Patronessof Muntinlupa Parish from the beginning but nobody dared to call its name as it is today. In fact, Rev. Fr. Antolin Mendoza, a native of Muntinlupa who became parish priest of his hometown in 1957-1982, has said that when he was still a small boy, the present image of Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados was already venerated at the altar. Obviously, the populace believed that Nuestra Snora de los Desamparados in Spanish and Our Lady of the Abandoned in English is certainly the name and the Patroness of Muntinlupa Parish.
As time went by, many changes and innovations on the part of the church occurred. In 1994-1995, the Church Façade was built and the interior of the whole church was renovated. The dedication was solemnized by his Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin on May 29, 1995.
It was fortunate and probably destined by Divine Providence that the Jubilee Cross, the Official Pilgrim Cross of Pope John Paul II for the 1995 World Youth Day Celebration held in Manila, was brought to this Church on December 18, 1994 as part of the preparation of the said event. It was in 1994 that the Archdiocese of Manila celebrated their quadricentennial anniversary. And on that eventful year, the Our Lady of the Abandoned was declared a pilgrim church. On May 31, 1997, the Feast of Mary’s Visitation, The parish church was proclaimed as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary, Our Lady of the Abandoned. His Eminence, Jaime Cardinal Sin, graced this important event.
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Muntinlupa went to become part of the Diocese or Paranaque upon its erection on December 7, 2002. The Diocese comprises the cities of Paranaque, Las Pinas, and Muntinlupa which formerly belonged to the Archdiocese of Manila. Bishop Jesse Eugenio Mercado, an Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, was appointed as its first Bishop. The Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew in La Huerta, Paranaque City, serves as the seat of the Diocese.
Further improvements have been made in the Church in the succeeding years. Fr. Rustico Cruz enhanced the interior of the Church in 2009, especially the altar, which was designed to fit the Spanish vintage façade. This is the present altar.
As time went on, territorial changes also took place. In 1970, a new parish comprising of Alabang, Cupang, Buli, and Sucat, was created with San Roque as its Patron. Since then, ten more parishes, and one quasi-parish were established. At present, there are twelve parishes and one quasi-parish in Muntinlupa that comprise the Vicariate of Our Lady of the Abandoned.
There are two significant achievements of the Parish: First, was the establishment of the Parochial School, Our Lady of the Abandoned Catholic School in 1982 for immediate access to Catholic Education of the children of the parishioners; and Second, was the founding of Mapag-ampon Parish Multipurpose Cooperative in 1997, which aimed to help the needy members of the parish.
These milestones in the journey of the faithful in the Parish of Muntinlupa clearly manifest the people’s love of God, whose abundant grace and blessings have molded them to be a community of believers as they are today. Mary, being a disciple of her Son, Jesus Christ, has a role of a Mother who never lets anyone of her children be left behind, no one is abandoned.
Muntinlupa is now one of the bustling cities in the Metropolis, and the state is ever on hand to support the evnt that involve the people of the city. On February 14, 2013, on the occasion of the 150th Jubilee of Our Ldy of the Abandoned, City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro and the City Council issued a decree stating that the Our Lady of the Abandoned is now the City Patroness.
Locally known as Inang Mapag-ampon, the Parish continues to rise up to the challenges of evangelization and apostolic works under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Our Lady.