PARISH HISTORY: The parish had its humble beginnings from the bosom of F.B. Tenement Housing as early as 1965. A portion of the basement was allotted for classrooms and a chapel for the parishioners. It was a sub-parish of St. Martin de Porres Parish, Parañaque. The rapid increase of the population on account of the occupancy of Bagong Lipunan Condominium and the industrial growth of the Food Terminal, Inc. and the Veteran’s Complexes created an urgent need for the construction of the bigger church. In 1982 the National Housing Authority (NHA) approved a new site for the construction of the new church. The actual construction of the present parish started in 1984. A great spiritual transformation took shape among the youth and the parishioners. The parish was formally established on December 29, 1993 under the district of Pasig. It belongs to the vicariate of Sto. Niño. In February 1994, the church was declared an independent parish with Rev. Fr. Nick Blanquisco as the first Pastor. The Parish Center and Convent were inaugurated on October 15, 1995. In August 1999, Fr. Joselito I. Jopson succeeded as the second Pastor and created Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) on May 20, 2000. The parish is geared towards rapid growth in the third millennium. In the light of the teachings of Vatican II, PCP II, and PCM 2, the first Parish Congress was held on March 3-4, 2001 at St. Michael’s Retreat House, Antipolo City with 150 delegates to formulate the vision and mission and to redefined the direction of the parish. The Feast day of the parish is celebrated every Second Sunday of January. In 2003 the NHA has donated the lot to the church where the present parish now stands for the future construction of a new and modern church.

LAND AREA/ BOUNDARIES: The total lot area where the parish church, and convent stand is 1,480 square meters. The parish boundaries are as follows:

NORTH: From Maricaban Creek, passing thru Pasong Tamo Ext. until Lawton Avenue, southward thru creek until C-5 Avenue until Rotonda (National Road connecting Forth Bonifacio to Signal Village)

EAST: From the junction of the C-5 Avenue and National Road, passing thru National   Road until     the eastern and southern limits of EP Village I

SOUTH: Eastward thru the peripheral walls of Active Gas Corp, Rainbow and Sunshine    Marketing Corp., southward thru Langka Road, eastward thru DBP Avenue, southward thru FTI Avenue, eastward thru Cocumber Road

WEST: East Service Road until South Superhighway

POPULATION: The population of the parish in roughly estimated around seventy thousand (70,000) Catholics as of 2001.

SUBDIVISIONS: There are no subdivisions in the parish but instead the population is divided into villages. However, these villages have been transformed ecclesiastically into BECs or kawans.

SCHOOL: Our Lady of the Poor Parish Learning Center

School Vision: God oriented learning center where the children are equipped with Christian values, academic skills and social awareness that build a solid foundation for physical, mental, social and spiritual growth.

School Mission: We commit ourselves to provide high quality education and produce morally upright, healthy, peaceful and God-loving children responsive to the needs of the community.

HOSPITAL: There is only one (1) hospital near the parish, namely: Taguig-Pateros Hospital located at East Service Road.

INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS: There are 261 industrial establishments within FTI, 20 within Veterans Complex, and 3 along East Service Road under the pastoral care of the parish.

CHAPELS: There are six chapels under the pastoral care of the parish, namely:

1. San Antonio de Padua Chapel, BCDA

2. St. Joseph the Laborer Chapel, EPH Village I

3. San Agustin Chapel, Katipunan Village

4. Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, Masagana Village

5. Sto. Nino Chapel, Sitio 3

6. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel, PNR

BASIC ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES (BECs): There are twenty-seven (27) BECs also called as KAWANS in the parish. Each kawan has its own corresponding coordinator who implements the plans and activities of the parish. Street masses, bibliarasal, Christmas party, tipanan seminar for married couples, medical-dental missions, choirs assigned in Sunday masses, etc. are done by kawan. The idea of BECs brought spiritual transformation in the life of the parishioners, and even their perception of the church really changed into a community of disciple. The people became more aware of their active participation in the Liturgy and have increased their knowledge in Catechism.

MANDATED ORGANIZATIONS AND MOVEMENTS: The following are the mandated organizations of the parish: Commentator/ Lector (Senior & Junior), Mother Butler Guild, Ushers Ministry, Legion of Mary, Knights of the Altar, Lilies of the Altar, Special Ministry of the Holy Eucharist, and Knights of Columbus. The movements of the parish are as follows: Couples for Christ, Singles for Christ, El Shaddai, Apostleship of Prayer, Charismatic Community, Christian Family Movement, and PREX.

PARISH VISION AND MISSION

Parish Vision: Isang Parokya ng Ina ng mga Dukha na binubuo ng mga nagkakaisang pamilya na may matibay na pananampalataya at namumuhay ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos.

Parish Mission: Kami ang Parokya ng Ina ng mga Dukha ay:

• Nagtatalaga na maimulat ang mga parokyano sa kahalagahan, kahulugan ng mga sakramento, at maisabuhay ang Salita ng Diyos. (Spiritual Formation Ministry)

• Manguna sa mga gawaing makapagpapataas sa kamalayang panlipunan tungo sa aktibong paglahok sa panlipunang pagpapaunlad at paglilingkod. (Social Services & Development Ministry)

• Akayin ang mga kabataan sa buhay ispiritual at palakasin ang kamalayang panlipunan at kristiyanong paglilingkod. (Parish Youth Ministry)

• Imulat ang bawat parokyano sa tunay na kahulugan ng pagbabahagi ng kanilang panahon, talento o kakayahan at kayamanan sa gawaing pang-parokya. (Finance Ministry)

• Palakasin ang aktibong paglahok ng bawat pamilya sa mga gawaing pananampalataya, panlipunan at programang pang-parokya. (Family Life Ministry)

PARISH MAJOR PROGRAMS: The vision of the parish is carried out and implemented thru the various ministries with its own corresponding mission. The major program of the parish is centered in these ministries, namely: Spiritual Formation Ministry, Social Services & Development Ministry, Parish Youth Ministry, Family Life Ministry, Finance Ministry, Worship Ministry, and Music Ministry. These ministries do the planning of activities to be implemented by each kawan.

PARISH PRIESTS: The following are the parish priests assigned to the parish ever since it was established:

1. Rev. Fr. Nicardo P. Blanquisco, 1993 -1999

2. Rev. Fr. Joselito I. Jopson, August 1999 - present