history of st. gabriel the archangel (SGA)
St. Gabriel the Archangel Prayer Group (SGAPG), formerly known as St. Gabriel the Annunciation Prayer Group, was organized on July 20, 1992 by couple-graduates of the Marriage Encounter Weekend Seminars under the Pag-Ibig sa Diyos Catholic Community, who opted to join the newly-established Hearts of Jesus and Mary Prayer Community (HJMPC). These couples were residents of Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela. Barely a month later, on August 19, 1992, SGA was recognized as the fourth prayer group of HJMPC, a record achievement attained through the guidance of Tito Naning and Tita Mila Alinea, one of the founders of HJMPC, and the help of its first Shepherd Couple, Tito Jovy and Tita Lulu Torres and its first Pastoral Head, Tito Carding and Tita Mercy Wycoco.
Since then, SGAPG has grown and been transformed into a community of love committed to the spiritual development and well-being of the members, which now include Solo Parents as well as the Youth. The years of growth, both in spirituality and numbers, were sustained through the love, hard work and dedication of a succession of faithful Pastoral Teams, led by the following Pastoral Heads: Tito Totoy and Tita Lina dela Cruz, Tito Ino and Tita Nenet Tan, Tito Ed and Tita Lena Alba, Tito Jimmy and Tita Beng Lee, Tito Ruben and Tita Tuding Roque, Tito Chito and Tita Edna Reyes, Tito Tygs and Tita Mila Alvarado and Tito Jim and Tita Jo Anselmo. The Shepherd Couples whose firm but loving staff and rod contributed to the prayer group’s development, in order of succession, were: Tito Vic and Tita Naomi Orocio, Tito Ernie and Tita Thess Hernandez, Tito Lito and Tita Sally Ojeda, Tito Jacy and Tita Zeny Diquiatco, Tito Sam and Tita Alice Flores, Tito Mel and Tita Norma Fajardo, Tito Jim and Tita Jo Anselmo, (again) Tito Mel and Tita Norma Fajardo, Tito Jun and Tita Malou Cruz, and Tito Jojo and Tita Hazel Genteroy.
SGAPG whose members are dreamers and doers and with determination and faith in God helped in the formation of two other prayer groups: St. Andrew the Apostle Prayer Group in Norzagaray, Bulacan in May 1996, and San Roque Cathedral Prayer Group in Caloocan in August 2000. The theme song of HJMPC, “One Community” may be properly ascribed to SGAPG, because its composer Tito Benny del Mundo and arrangers Tito Jonathan “Tano” Santiago and Tito Reden Sta. Maria are members of SGAPG.