This year the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, UP Diliman commemorates the 65th anniversary of the completion and blessing of the UP Diliman Chapel, now the Parish Church of the Holy Sacrifice. In 1954, Fr. John Delaney, SJ, the first Catholic chaplain of UP Diliman, initiated and supervised the building of a chapel in the campus.
Fr. Delaney commissioned up and coming artists, engineers and an architect to create one of the structures of Philippine modern architecture. These men would eventually be honored as National Artists of the country.
Upon completion in 1955, it was blessed by the Archbishop of Manila, Rufino Cardinal Santos, on December 20, 1955.
To celebrate this commemoration, current parish priest Fr. Jose “Bong” Tupino III announced that there will be a special Thanksgiving Mass today at 7 p.m. at the Parish Church of the Holy Sacrifice, UP Diliman. Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, Bishop of Cubao, will preside the celebration. Very Rev. Primitivo Viray Jr., SJ, Provincial of the Society of Jesus will co-preside. This is also the 6th day of Simbang Gabi which is streamed live on the FB Page, UP Parish of the Holy Sacrifice.
The Local Government of Quezon City, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), has allowed religious gatherings of 30 percent of the venue’s seating capacity. With the proper protocols in place in the church and necessary coordination with Barangay UP Campus and UP Diliman, the Parish Pastoral Council assures the safety of all those who will physically attend the celebration.