The Shrine

In this small town of Ramos, located in the heart of Poblacion Center stands a magnificent structure, which inspired anyone who lays a sight on it.

How the church became a Shrine is a story of a very long way of inspiration and courage of the priest who was installed in this humble town.

Standing severely on its type of grandiosity and strength on an L-shared lot is the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

At the break of war in the year 1944, a small chapel was built. The visiting priest then was a Dominican priest from Paniqui, Tarlac, and not yet permanently installed, so the Mass was held only one Sunday a month because of the war. In the year 1945, it was liberation time, and the church was under the management of Rev. Fr. Jose Gonzales and Rev. Fr. Edgar Guerrero of the Dominican Order of the Diocese of Pangasinan.

Year 1946 at Peace Time, still church was managed by different priests from Dagupan City. This data was given and narrated by some old folks of Paniqui like Miss Cordada Tiangsing, Miss Nelly Navarro, Mrs. Elena Estanislao and some records from the office of St. Rose Catholic School Chancellor.

From September 1951 to April 1954, the church was under the supervision of Fr. William Mahoney, and American Missionary. From December 1954 to January 1955, for a month, Rev. Fr. Luis Llama became the assistant priest of Fr. Chysinski, a priest who had also served the same parish.

On February 1955 came Rev. Fr Montero, a missionary who stayed in the parish until April 1955, then again, Fr. William Mahoney was assigned to be the parish priest up to May 25, 1955. Rev Fr. Bienvenido Mapili followed from May 1955 to June 25, 1955. On June 26, 1955 to May 25, 1960 Rev Fr. Eleuterio Itliong was the parish priest who named the church as ‘St. Therese of the Child Jesus’ and composed the Hymn entitled “Teresita Nasanta” in honor of St. Therese of the Child which is now regularly sang and made familiar to the parishioners. From 1960-1962, Fr. Capitli unselfishly gave his services to the Ramos Parishioners.

In the years between 1962-1964, Fr. Mapili was assigned again in the parish and 1964-1967 Rev Victor Prado followed.

From 1967 to 1991, Rev. Fr. Lucio Ortiz managed the church for almost 20 long years until December 2, 1991, when a new young vibrant priest was installed by Bishop Florentino F. Cinense, DD as the new Parish Priest of St. Therese of the Child Jesus – Rev. Fr. Ronald Thomas “Archie” Cortez. Upon assumption of his duty as a parish priest, with the great desire to make the parishioners the best in the province, he initiated to make the church conducive place to worship God and make the parishioners more comfortable. He made a plan to construct a new church through thru unstinted support of the generous Hon. Jose Cojuangco Jr. & family, Mr. & Mrs. Alfonso Chu, Engr. & Mrs. Arnold Duay and the unending support of the people of Ramos. The new church was blessed by Bishop Florentino Cinense, D.D., and the former President Corazon C. Aquino was present as the Principal Sponsor on December 2, 1995.

Behind hind humble and soft-spoken character lives a dreamer. The new priest envisioned a state of the art church structure designed by a meticulous and exceptionally creative mind. He dreamed the Garden of Eden and the Paradise, dreams that were eventually realized after surpassing many hurdles and challenges. He continues to bring his plans into fulfillment for both in the church structure and the church community with dedication and enthusiasm.

The St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church was elevated into a Shrine Category on October 3, 2004 by virtue of the Decree of Elevation by the Diocese of Tarlac. Some pilgrims from he neighboring towns and provinces came to visit the place. Devotees of the Saint from all walks of life came to venerate the miraculous patroness and continue to come to ask for her intercession, which according to them were granted. During the later seasons, countless pilgrims visit the Shrine almost everyday and this made the Shrine famous from among the Catholic faithful, and was known to be the “Wedding Church of Tarlac.”

The Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Ramos also became the birthplace of the Congregation of the Servants of the Risen Christ Community, founded by its benevolent priest founder, Fr. Ronald Thomas Archie A. Cortez, on September 14, 1998. The Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community is an apostolic-contemplative community of religious men who consecrated themselves to a life of prayer and work (Ora et Labora), to live a life of silence, prayer, contemplation and adoration following the spirituality of the Risen Christ with the charism to give hope to the hopeless; an Easter message of hope and joy. This town of Ramos is truly blessed to become the cradle of the SRC.

Following is the list of priests who were ordained in this Community and Holy Church:

Fr. Vincent Romuald Saavedra, SRC
Fr. Giovanni Paolo Manalac, SRC
Fr. Joseph Albert Bustalino, SRC
Fr. Ignatius Arsenius Balmaceda Jr, SRC
Fr. Mark Mary Raphael Castro, SRC
Fr. Moses Angelo Namalanta, SRC
Fr. Patrick Anthony Cerdeno, SRC
Fr. Ezekiel Augustine Ocampo, SRC
Fr. Samuel Leonard Garcia, SRC
Fr. John Henry Domingo, SRC
Rev Fr. Josaphat Alphonsus Taborada, SRC
Fr. Jude Simon Ramos, SRC
Fr. Stephen Raymond Roque, SRC
Fr. Jose Miguel Herrera, SRC
Fr. Jeremiah Lawrence Mon, SRC
Fr. Eleazar Joseph Morales, SRC
Fr. Michael Camillus Gelizon, SRC
Fr. Charles Gregory Carlos, SRC
Fr. Philip Isidore Guivencan, SRC
Fr. Alfred Nicolas Bonifacio, SRC
Fr. Gabriel Sebastian Vidanes, SRC
Fr. Benjamin Philip Minion, SRC

Priority projects were planned cooperatively by the lay leaders headed by Judge Martonino R. Marcos, Dr. Diosdado Latosquin, Mr. Fromencio M. Jonatas, Mr. Faustino F. Mauricio, Mr. Pedro Manlansing, Mr. Benjamin Tawatao, Mr. Benecio Gubac and other lay people.

In the site of the old church, there stood a multi-purpose Pavilion which is intended to serve as a venue to some social gatherings, meetings, conferences, etc. The new convent was constructed thru the joint effort of the parishioners and friends of the parish priest.

There were lots of activities made to raise funds for the construction of the projects such as Dinner for a Cause, Bingo for a Cause, Signature Campaign, Dance for a Cause and others.

Some congregation of the nuns were also organized, such as the Oblates of the Risen Christ, Handmaids of the Risen Christ, Tertiaries of the Risen Christ, and Contemplatives of the Risen Christ.

Today, the Shrine is under the care of the newly installed Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Ezekiel Augustine C. Ocampo, SRC (April 6, 2014) who is also willing to share his life with the people of Ramos in enriching their faith amidst the intricacies of this contemporary life.

This history and research was made possible through the inspiration of the present parish priest and the researchers: Mr. Virgilio M. Gonzales, Mrs. Consolacion G. Mangabat, Mrs. Janice M. Cabatbat and other resource persons who envisioned and dreamed of producing a ‘historical background’ that will be of an information for the present and future generation of the parishioners and the parish looks forward to its true nth foundation and parish fiesta.