San Pablo Parish: Faithful Stewards of God’s Creation

One quiet afternoon, while walking home after our parish service, Eric and I were admiring the beautiful improvements made in San Pablo Parish. It was like a mini history tour talking about the dedication and leadership of the past priests who shaped our parish into what it is today.

From the architectural design of the church to the belfry structure under the term of the late Monsignor Leonardo “Nards” Vicente, everything tells a story. It was said that, after carefully reviewing the plan, it was discovered that there was a designated space for the belfry. Because of Msgr. Nard’s determination, that plan came to life. Today, the belfry magnificently stands and can even be seen from Bolton Bridge on the way to Sandawa road.

During Bishop George Rimando’s term, the parish installed its rainwater catching system, a project recognized at the 6th Lunhaw Awards under the Water Conservation category. The parishioners also saw meaningful improvements during the term of Fr. Allan T. Rodriguez. The installation of solar panels marked another recognition and earned the parish the 11th Lunhaw Award for Energy Conservation. Today, under the leadership of Fr. Dioscoro R. Saniel, our parish community continues to live out its commitment to being faithful stewards of God’s creation.

When I asked Alvin Lambunao, one of our dedicated SoCCom core members, to prepare photos and captions for our entry, he didn’t hesitate. Under the heat of the sun, he captured the best shots that told our story of synodality and stewardship.

Allow me to take you on a literary tour of the sustainable architectural design and beautiful improvements in our parish. Through these initiatives, the parish was recognized during the 11th Lunhaw Award for Energy Conservation last September 26 at the Grand Menseng Hotel.

San Pablo Parish embodies a tropical modern architectural style that emphasizes passive ventilation and environmental sustainability. The raised ceiling with a skylight, perimeter glass ventilation strips, and open grill wall system all contribute to natural airflow and daylighting, significantly reducing the need for artificial cooling and lighting. To further lessen reliance on traditional energy sources, the parish utilizes solar panels as a renewable energy source, effectively lowering electricity costs and promoting ecological responsibility.

At night, our solar-powered LED posts light up the tree canopy shed parking area, ensuring both safety and sustainability. The parish also proudly features a dedicated bike parking space, encouraging eco-friendly transportation and promoting a healthier lifestyle among parishioners. In addition, the use of permeable pavement allows rainwater to naturally seep into the ground, helping reduce rainwater flows in waterways.

Through these efforts, the community has envisioned a more beautiful and sustainable San Pablo Parish. These initiatives reflect our shared commitment to caring for our common home, in response to Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si. The church is not only a place of worship, but also a model of ecological conversion, putting faith into action by serving as faithful stewards of God’s creation. (Karen V. Sison | San Pablo Parish-SoCCom)