STORY BEHIND ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PRAYER GROUP

Sometime in September, 1997, a group of encountered couples originally from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer Group was inspired by the Lord to organize a new prayer group. They are the following: Willy-Tess Abcede, Manny-Meldy Baylon, Joey-Mitos Doydora, Rolly-Vicky Enesio, Louie-Nini Guerra, Gil-Jo Salvador, Rocky-Beloy Tatlonghari, Alma Gonzalez, Marichi Ambagan and Ponching(+) & Linda(+) Gorecho. Since these couples are office workers in Makati, they scouted for possible prayer meeting venue within the area. But just like St. Joseph, they also experienced rejection as they approached several parishes such as the Greenbelt Chapel, St. Andrew’s in Bel-air, Sts. Peter and Paul in Burgos and some other parishes in the Bangkal area. It was not an easy task but the group never gave up. Organizational meetings were held in various places such as, the Street Life Café in Glorietta, the canteen of Tito Ponching(+) & Tita Linda (+) in Buendia, the office of Tito Willy in Campos Rueda Bldg. The Lord finally led them to their home at Don Bosco Parish Church in Pasay Road, when its then Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Gerry Battad approved their request. A new prayer group was then born. Upon the recommendation of Tita Meldy Baylon, it was named after St. Joseph to give identity to its members who are mostly office workers in Makati.

The St. Joseph The Worker Prayer Group (SJWPG) was formally launched with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist officiated by Rev. Fr. Paul Marquez of the Society of St. Paul on October 7, 1997. It marked the first formal prayer meeting of the new group. The following year, the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Prayer Community approved the application of SJW to be a regular prayer group. Its inaugural mass was held on December 1, 1998. Since then, regular prayer meetings are held every Tuesday at Room 206, St. John Bosco Parish Building, Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.

After its launching, the original members of SJW were joined by the former members of God’s Little Instrument Prayer Community, namely:

1. Mon – Sylvia Laqui
2. Ben – Tita Manlangit
3. Paul – Shirley Tiangco
4. Diony – Gigi Unson

The interim pastoral team was composed of the following:

Shepherd Couple: Orly & Jessica delos Santos

Pastoral Head: Joey & Mitos Doydora

Secretary: Alma Gonzales

Finance: Louie & Nini Guerra

General Services: Ponching (+)& Linda Gorecho (+)

Pastoral Team 1: Mon & Sylvia Lacqui

Pastoral Team 2: Ben & Tita Manlangit

Family Life: Marichi Ambagan

Pastoral Team 3: Rollie & Vicky Enesio

Growth: Willy & Tess Abcede

Pastoral Team 4: Gil & Jo Salvador

Music: Rocky & Beloy Tatlonghari

The LORD has given the following the special tasks of taking good care of HIS lambs at SJW, as pastoral heads and shepherd couples, since its conception to the present:

Year	Pastoral Head	Shepherd Couple
1997 – 1998	Joey – Mitos Doydora	Orly – Jessica Delos Santos
1998 – 1999	Joey – Mitos Doydora	Orly – Jessica Delos Santos
1999 – 2000	Joey – Mitos Doydora	Sammy – Alice Flores
2000 – 2001	Joey - Mitos Doydora	Joji – Rose Beltran
2001 – 2003	Alma Gonzalez	Ernie – Tess Hernandez
2003 - 2005	Rolly – Vicky Enesio	Dong – Joy Lara
2005 – 2007	Boy – Ijo Clamor	Art – Doris Beltran
2007 – 2009	Gil – Jo Salvador	Rolly – Vicky Enesio

Since its inauguration, SJWPG has been guided by its Spiritual Director, Fr. Domie Guzman of the Society of St. Paul. He is undeniably a blessing to SJWPG as he continues to give the group his unselfish advice and guidance. His homilies have certainly inspired and molded them to be better Christians with stronger faith and deeper commitment in serving the LORD.

To carry out its primary objective, that is, to help married couples’ improve their relationship as husband and wife with God in their midst, SJWPG had its first Marriage Encounter Seminar in July, 1998 at Tahanang Sta. Monica in Tagaytay, with five (5) couples as candidates. Since then, it has sponsored twenty seven (27) Marriage Encounter Weekend Seminars. Though initially its goal was to recruit married couples in the Makati area, it was so blessed to have broadened membership who came from the nearby provinces of Laguna, Bulacan, Tarlac, Rizal and Isabela.

Over the years, SJWPG’s members have actively participated in various seminars conducted by its mother community, the HJM Prayer Community for their spiritual nourishment. Cognizant of its social responsibility, SJW has also sponsored several gift-giving and medical missions for the benefit of our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Further, it presently participates in the Sunday feeding program of the Don Bosco Parish Church.

For almost ten (10) years of existence, SJWPG has indeed grown into a great vine with big branches that support and nourish its members. It is a venue where the spirit of love, warmth, understanding, cooperation, camaraderie and openness prevail.

We at St. Joseph the Worker Prayer Group keep our hands in ardent prayer that the LORD will constantly strengthen, unite, lead and shield us as remain with our commitment to be HIS instrument in touching the lives of more couples and individuals who long for HIS love and protection.

ALL FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD!!!

ALLELUIA!!!