After the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Prayer Community (HJMPC) was organized in 1992 came the inspiration to establish a solo parent group. Tito Noel and Tita Beny Allarde concretized this inspiration by requesting Tita Malou de Chavez to attend the Solo Parent Encounter (SPE) of the Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD) Covenant Community.  In 1977, a group consisting of Tita Glecy Dayapan, Tito +Alberto Orallo, Tita Chinita Co and Tita Fe Viola attended the BLD SPE, with the view to conduct an SPE in HJMPC.

 

In 2002, Tita Chinita Co and Tita Fe Viola took up the challenge to conduct the first SPE in HJMPC with the support of BLD and Tita Rose Valdez, who was their classmate in BLD SPE Class #4.    The first HJMPC SPE Weekend was held in November 2002, with 22 participants, including Tita Josie Guanco, who was later to become Ministry Head for several terms.  Fr. Edjie Ebona acted as the Spiritual Director, with Tito Dong and Tita Joy Lara as the Shepherd Couple.  The procedures and guidelines for conducting the seminar found in the Solo Parent Manual of BLD were used and followed.  Since then hundreds of solo parents have attended the Solo Parent Encounter Weekends, initiated by the Solo Parent Group of HJMPC.

 

The Solo Parent Group became the Solo Parent Ministry (SPM) in 2003, after it fulfilled the requirement set by HJMPC Board of Servant Leaders that, to be considered a ministry, it should have conducted a seminar to at least a hundred participants. The confirmation of its status was noted in the HJMPC Circular of 2004.

The first Ministry Head was Tita Chinita Co, followed by Tita Fe Viola, Tita Josie Guanco (3 times), and the late Tita Jolly Kudera (2 times).  The present Ministry Head is Tita Let Habitan.  The past Shepherd Couples were Tito Jojie and Tita Rose Beltran, Tito Jun and Tita Elma Valdez, (twice), Tito Sam and Tita Alice Flores, (twice), Tito Jun and Tita Malou Cruz, and Tito Mel and Tita Norma Fajardo.  The present Shepherd Couple is Tito Abe and Tita Mavic Gomez. 

 

Central to the duties of the SPM (Resolution No. 139-2000 dated December 11, 2000 and SPE Manual of Bukas Loob) is to conduct a Solo Parent Encounter Weekend. The SPE weekend begins on a Friday and ends on a Sunday. This is held twice a year and has an average of 15-30 participants who are invited by members of the prayer groups and other prayer communities. To date, the SPM has conducted 34 SPE Weekends. 

 

The SPE was regularly evaluated by the SPM Core to find out its strength, limitations and weaknesses.  The common issues that constantly emerged from these evaluations led to the revision of the SPE Manual in 2013.  The revised manual, which was unique, responsive, adaptable and relevant to the needs of the HJMPC Solo Parents, resulted in a more efficient and smooth conduct of the seminar, and consequently, in  the candidates having a more profound experience that touched deeply their lives as they aspired for more knowledge and deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Thus, much of the success of the SPE Weekend Seminars over the years has been attributed to the faithful adherence to the procedures described in the SPE Manual.

ACTIVITIES:
* SPE Weekend Seminar, twice a year (on hold since the pandemic)
* Monthly General Assembly via zoom and FB since the pandemic * Monthly Core Meeting via Zoom
* Pilgrimage (on hold since the pandemic)