MANILA: The Archdiocese of Manila will soon take over the administration of the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Barangay Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City.
In a statement Wednesday, the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) said the parish would be turned over to the archdiocese in simple rites on June 16.
‘The turnover marks a significant change in the structure and operations of the Monasterio de Guadalupe Community and the Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish,’ it said.
The event will end the OSA’s over five-decade administration of the parish.
Aside from handing over the parish to the Manila archdiocese, the Monasterio de Guadalupe Community, a domus formata or religious house of the OSA and a seminary for late vocations will also be ceded.
Prior General of the OSA Very Rev. Fr. Alejandro Moral Anton said the order also formally approved the dissolution of the community which takes effect on the day of the turn over.
Rev. Fr. Aimark Asor, OSA, the current and last Augustinian Parish Priest of Nuestra Señora de
Gracia Parish, will formally hand over the administration to Rev. Fr. Joselito Martin, the incoming Parish Priest with Rev. Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia as Parochial Vicar.
The transition will continue until Aug. 1, 2024, when the new parish priest will formally take over as mandated by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.
In 1601, the Augustinians founded the monastery and the baroque style church, and they remained until the Philippine Revolution. They eventually left in 1899 during the Philippine-American War.
Upon their return, they rebuilt the church as a parish and the monastery after nearly 75 years since they left.
Source: Philippines News Agency
