Last May 12, 2025, Parokya ng Banal na Krus in Barangay Tandang Kutyo, Tanay, Rizal, celebrated its 9th fiesta with joy and community spirit. The event featured a Holy Mass led by Rev. Fr. Moises D. Villamayor, the Vicar Forane of San Ildefonso de Toledo from the Diocese of Antipolo, along with SCJ and diocesan priests, highlighting unity in the Church.

This annual celebration is more than a festive tradition—it is a living expression of the parish’s deep faith in Christ and its commitment to communal worship. Throughout the day, parishioners, both young and old, gathered in gratitude and prayer, giving witness to the spiritual vitality that continues to flourish in the heart of this growing Christian community.

The Parokya ng Banal na Krus was officially established on June 26, 2016, and has since been entrusted to the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SCJ)—commonly known as the Dehonians. Their presence in Tanay is a part of their broader mission of bringing the love of the Heart of Christ to the peripheries, especially through parish ministry, social action, and evangelization. The SCJ’s charism of love and reparation is lived out concretely in their pastoral care for this community.

The parish’s first shepherd, Fr. Marcial C. Aguirre, SCJ, laid the foundations of faith and service, helping build the parish into a center of prayer, formation, and social outreach. Today, under the guidance of Fr. Donald S. Longno, SCJ, the parish continues to grow in faith and service, supported by dedicated lay leaders and the wider Dehonian family.

A unique feature of the parish is its deep devotion to the Holy Cross, which it honors each year on the second Monday of May. This tradition is rooted in a meaningful local story—the mysterious loss and eventual rediscovery of the cross, a symbol of God’s enduring presence and faithfulness. For many parishioners, the cross serves as a reminder of hope in times of uncertainty and strength in the face of hardship.

As the community marked its 9th year of celebration, it also renewed its commitment to the mission of the Church: to worship God, to build fellowship, and to serve with compassion. The presence of SCJ and diocesan priests during the fiesta celebration underscored the unity of the wider Church and the strength of collaboration in pastoral ministry.

Indeed, the fiesta of the Parokya ng Banal na Krus is not just an event—it is a manifestation of a living Church, where faith is celebrated, nurtured, and shared. As the community looks forward to its 10th year, it does so with hearts full of gratitude and renewed zeal to continue walking together in the love of Christ.

Viva La Cruz! Viva ang Parokya ng Banal na Krus! Viva ang Pusong Misyunero!