MASS SCHEDULE:
Sunday - 9:00AM (Live Streamed)
SACRAMENTS:
BAPTISM
By appointment
Funeral Mass / Blessing
By Appointment
Blessings
By Appointment
Sick Call
Anytime
Confession
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HISTORY
St. Helena of Constantinople, also called Helena of the Cross, is a Roman empress who was believed to be the discoverer of Christ's cross. It was in 324 when Constantine, her son, and
the emperor at that time after Constantius, had a great desire to find the True Cross. With this, Helena, 80, led a group to the Holy Land to search for the Cross. She learned that the Cross was reputed to be buried at the Temple of Venus. Helena ordered the pagan temple be demolished and throughout the process, the tomb of Jesus was uncovered, as well as three crosses close at hand. To know which cross the Savior had been crucified on, she took the crosses to a woman stricken with an incurable disease and had her touch each cross. One of the crosses instantly cured her and it was pronounced the True Cross. Helena is known to have performed a variety of good works and charity to the church, prisoners, and the poor, as well as ordering places connected with the life of the Lord and His Mother to be free of all traces of paganism and directed those churches be built at each of these places. Helena used her high position and wealth in service and helped build churches throughout the empire. She died in 327, while the church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ was being built and was completed in 335. She is the patron saint of new discoveries, divorce, difficult marriages, and archeologists. In the Philippines, around the 1800s, the tradition of Santacruzan started. This is a religio-historical beauty pageant held in different towns and cities during the month of May. Santacruzan depicts the search for the True Cross by Reyna Elena, who commemorates St. Helena, and her son, Emperor Constantine. It is said to be rooted in the joyous thanksgiving celebrations following the discovery of the Holy Cross. This tradition has been passed on through the centuries and continues to thrive in the present time. Helena gave the Youth of a small community in Manila, Nagtahan, hopes and ideas to have a patron saint in their community to honor during the month of May and have a feast. The year is 1959 when St. Helena came to Nagtahan. Fiestas were celebrated in commemoration of her, with the help of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, under the leadership of Mgsr. Street masses were observed, and these were sponsored by the humble families who honor St. The barangay fellows and people from other places would visit ‘’Sta. Elena’’ as it is the oldest image of St. Helena in the district of Sta. Moreover, it was around 1969 to the mid-70s when the image of St. Helena was placed on a piece of land in A. Vitan Street is owned by the Rico family. Soon enough, it came to a time when St. Helena’s image needed to be transferred because of the place's re-establishment by the owner. She then was moved under the Nagtahan Bridge by the year 1978, and from there, ‘’Nagtahan Chapel’’ was built. However, during the Martial Law Period, MetroComm took over the chapel's location. The Barangay Chairman at that time, who used to be the Youth leader who led St. Helena into their community, former Chairman Virgel Manahan, had a special request to former Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin, if ever there is a chance of acquiring a small place in the location of the Housing project for the PSG (Presidential Security Group) during a meeting in Malacañan Palace. Gazmin replied as if there was nothing to worry about because it has Imelda Marcos' blessing, and the people will also benefit from it. The chapel was finalized by the year 1981, with the help of the families and sponsors, and still stands today. The community celebrates three times annually. First is every 3rd of May, the feast of the Finding of the Cross, which is also the feast of the whole community of Nagtahan. She is also celebrated on the 18th of August, as this is her Feast Day in the Old Liturgical Calendar of the Church. Last is every 14th of September, the Feast of Exaltation of the Cross. As of May 3, 2021, the image of St. Helen and its devotion is now 62 years. Making her the oldest and only image of St. Helena in Manila. Over the years, Nagtahan Chapel stands firm and loved by the surrounding communities. Always been a great companion to Nuestra de Señora de Salvacion Parish which became its mother parish. From the celebrations, formations, seminars, plannings, and Youth gatherings, the Nagtahan Chapel wholeheartedly welcomes us all. The chapel also became a temporary parish for almost 2yrs when Nuestra Senora De Salvacion Parish was being reconstructed. Last October 13, 2022, Sta. Elena Chapel - Nagtahan was elevated by the current Archbishop of Manila, H.E. Jose Fuerte Cardinal Advincula, D.D. as a ‘’Mission Station’’ of the Archdiocese of Manila which will now be called ''Sta. Elena Chapel Mission Station - Nagtahan'' and has appointed a priest to take charge and shepherd the community and its vicinity, Rev. Rodolfo ‘’Jun’’ Abanes Jr. Effective, November 14, 2022. As Mission Station, the chapel will now be detached from its parish to become independent and will now have the same function as a parish. Therefore, all sacraments can now be performed in the mission station which will also have its own areas of jurisdiction.
