history of san dionisio the lord's warrior (SDW)
Focus on the evangelization of the Marriage Encounter Program and
the advancement of Spiritual Growth and Personal Development of
leaders and members was the premier goal and mission for the
establishment of San Dionisio the Lord’s Warrior Prayer Group
(SDWPG) for members and parishioners living in Parañaque, Las
Piñas and parishes within the immediate vicinity.
Initiated by forerunners from Jesus of Nazareth Prayer Group (JONPG) based at PSG Compound, Malacanang, the original group of 25 couples from Parañaque, composed of its founding members: Bengee-Roselle Villamin (as lead liaison and coordinator with HJM), Leo-Loret Austria (First Pastoral Head), and covenanted members - Rolly-Nedy Marquez, Nick-Merly Ganzan, Ernie-Lumen Sangrador, Toto-Elma Dela Cruz and other covenanted members, was formed with the celebration of its first Mass presided by guest priest Fr. Pogi from Our Lady of the Airways Parish.
The first prayer meeting of the group, which had in the meantime affiliated with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Prayer Community (HJMPC), was held in October 1998, at the San Dionisio Chapel (Tata Dune) located at Quirino Avenue, San Dionisio, Parañaque City, Metro Manila.Appreciated and accepted by the Parish, the leaders and members adopted the name San Dionisio the Lord’s Warrior Prayer Group, and St. Denis (Tata Dune) became the patron saint.
Through the efforts of Fr. Jun Interno, Sto. Niño Parish Priest, SDWPG was
transferred and continued its prayer meetings at the Cathedral
Parish of Saint Andrew, located at Quirino Ave., La Huerta,
Parañaque City. With the
full support of the then Elders of HJMPC Tito Naning-Tita Mila
Alinea and Tito Orly-Tita Jessica Delos Santos and all the members
of the Board of Servant Leaders (BSL), and having complied with all
the HJMPC membership requirements, SDWPG’s status was finally
formalized in November year 2000, and SDWPG became the 10th regular
prayer group of HJMPC. Since
that time, SDWPG has continued its Marriage Encounter Weekend
Seminars, Growth Seminars and Prayer Meetings activity under the
guidance of HJMPC until the present day.
San Dionisio or St. Denis
ST. DENIS was a Bishop of Paris and a martyr. Born in Italy, nothing is definitely known of the time or
place, or of his early life. His feast is kept on 9 October. He is
usually represented with his head in his hands because, according to
legend, after his execution, the corpse rose again and carried the
head for some distance.That,
however, while still very young he was distinguished for his
virtuous life, knowledge of sacred things, and firm faith, was
proved by the fact that Pope Fabian (236-250) sent him with some
other missionary bishops to Gaul on a difficult mission. The Church
of Gaul had suffered terribly under the persecution of the Emperor
Decius and the new messengers of Faith were to endeavour to restore
it to its former flourishing condition. Denis with his inseparable
companions, the priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius, arrived
in the neighbourhood of the present city of Paris and settled on the
island in the Seine. The earliest document giving an account of his
labours and of his martyrdom (Passio SS. Dionsyii, Rustici et
Eleutherii), dating from the end of the sixth or the beginning of
the seventh century and wrongly attributed to the poet Venantius
Fortunatus, is interwoven with much legend, from which, however, the
following facts can be gleaned.
The
history of SDWPG’s patron, San Dionisio, is tied to the
establishment of its namesake visita or chapel south of La Huerta.
The visita was named after its patron, Saint Denis, whose headless
image is enshrined in the brick stone chapel on Elpidio Quirino
Avenue (formerly Calle Real), which was originally a wooden chapel
built in 1640. Tata Dune, as the saint is fondly called by residents
and devotees, is also the patron saint of Paris and all of France
who was martyred by means of being beheaded by a sword for his
faith. Community life revolved around religious events during the
Colonial Period when residents also engaged in traditional
industries such as fishing, saltmaking and embroidery. This changed
with the development of gated communities and expansion of Nichols
Field into a civil international airport in the mid -20th century.
Although the feast of St. Denis falls on the 9th of October,
SDWPG celebrates its anniversary every first Wednesday of November
to commemorate its recognition as a regular prayer group of HJMPC.
San
Dionisio Chapel is an old Spanish chapel.
Surrounding the edifice are a belfry tower, a concrete
platform for comedy performances, an aged tree providing shade to
afternoon congregations, and a mortuary.
The entire compound depicts a distinctive sense of the San
Dionisio community.
While it is a spiritual sanctuary for the elders, San Dionisio
Chapel extends its support to different communal activities, hosting
cultural events including the annual Moro-Moro or “Komedya” and the
biennial Sunduan held in San Dionisio’s honor.
It has a long history of promoting civic campaigns and
cooperative-sponsored programs, all in dedication to the residents'
well-being and economic security.
The headless image of St. Denis, the Italian saint, serves as
an attraction to both pilgrims and tourists.
The SDWPG Emblem
Concept:
