About the parish

Originally dedicated to Our Lady Queen of China, Sacred Heart Parish was founded in 1952. A group of fervent Chinese Catholics in Cebu City in the Philippines, with the permission of the late Archbishop of Cebu—then Julio Cardinal Rosales, requested Rev. Fr. Paul O’Brien, S.J., then Superior of the Jesuits of the China Mission, for a Jesuit priest to minister to their pastoral needs.

Fr. Miguel Pardinas, S.J., a jovial Mexican priest who had been expelled from China by the communists, was sent to Cebu to become the first parish priest of Sacred Heart.

Assigned to assist him was Fr. Eugene Lauzon, S.J., a French-Canadian missionary who was also expelled by the communists from China. Fr. Pardinas organized the Cebu Chinese Catholic Association (CCCA) with Mr. Francis Lim as its first president. The community renovated the ground floor of the Convento of the Cebu Cathedral, turning it into a chapel where Masses for the Chinese Cebuanos were offered.

Fr. Arthur Baur, S.J., the second parish priest of Sacred Heart arrived in 1956. He saw a rapidly expanding community. Together with Fr. Lauzon, he acquired the property on which the parish structures now stand from Dr. Hildebrando Jurado who sold it to the Fathers at half the prevailing market value. They worked zealously on the construction as contributions poured in from generous friends.

On the Eve of Christmas of 1960, the bells of Sacred Heart Church rang in joyous tidings to invite the faithful to offer to God Almighty the first Mass ever to be celebrated there.

Fr. Peter Ignatius Li, S.J., became the third parish priest of Sacred Heart in 1977. He was followed by Fr. Albert Ricard, S.J., in 1983. Fr. Juan Andechaga, S.J., took over the position in 1989 and Fr. Regis Wan, S.J., the sixth parish priest stayed from 1990 until Fr. Ramon Mores, S.J., became the seventh in 2001. Fr. Benjamin Sim, S.J,, held the position afterwards and in 2015 Fr. Vidal Gornez, Jr. S.J., arrived to be the ninth. It is 2020 and Fr. Roberto Archie Carampatan, S.J., has assumed the office of Sacred Heart’s tenth parish priest.

Sacred Heart had been known as the personal parish for the Chinese in the Archdiocese of Cebu until the late Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal declared it as a territorial parish as well in 1983. Ever since its founding up to the present, however, all the Jesuits assigned here have served both Chinese and non-Chinese nationals. A testimony to their dedication is their having encouraged members of the chapel communities to involve themselves in parish initiatives, ministries and celebrations.

On May 10, 2012, Archbishop Jose S. Palma designated the parish as the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The entire Archdiocese of Cebu rejoiced at this development. Proof of this is the growing number of devotees to the Sacred Heart who offer Masses at the Shrine on First Fridays. Requests for the imposition of the Scapular of the Sacred Heart have increased ever since the declaration and the number of people who spend the night in vigil on the First Friday of the month is also growing. It is notable that these devotees do not come from the parish territory alone. Many pilgrims who stay the night until morning of the First Saturday come from barangays outside of Cebu City. That the parish has helped in the growing interest in the Apostleship of Prayer is just as noteworthy.

As a part of civil society, Sacred Heart Parish has always been quick to respond to the needs of the civic community. The Jesuits are always on hand to assist the community at large at critical times. Storms, floods, fires and other forms of emergencies have seen how they unite with the laity to help alleviate the sufferings of their fellow citizens, parishioners or otherwise – all in answer to the call of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – to love their neighbors as they love themselves.

May more of us grow in the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer.