How It Came About

Jesus Christ was born in a manger... a most humble beginning for the KING of KINGS and the LORD of LORDS.

Like Him, the Risen Christ Chapel started with its most humble beginning. The chapel was just a "sawali" then, a small bungalow-type "nipa hut" which can accommodate less than a hundred people. This place used to be an office of the contractors of Legacy Homes Inc. during weekdays. During Sundays, it is a holy place while the Sunday Mass is being held. Religious activities ends when catechism for children ends.

The first Sunday of July 1993 is a memorable day for the first 100 families in Villa de Calamba. Why? It was on that day when the first Holy Mass was held in the "sawali". From then on, a Mass is being held every Sunday in that same "sawali" until a concrete chapel was built sometime June of 1994. Villa de Calamba is truly blessed for having a generous developer, the Legacy Homes Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Properties Philippines Incorporated, since not all subdivisions have a chapel built by developers.

Before 1994 ends the name "Risen Christ Chapel" was adopted. The choice of the chapel's name was made through a survey among homeowners who were already residing at Villa de Calamba. There were about 4 names of the saints which were given as choices. The fifth name was Risen Christ, as suggested by one of the homeowners, a frequent church-goer, since the image in the chapel is the risen Christ. But even before the suggestion came from that homeowner, the first 3 priests who visited the chapel had already mentioned that if we shall choose a name for the chapel, "Risen Christ" is the most appropriate because the image on the cross is not the Crucified Christ, rather it is the Resurrected Christ. We consider it God's choice since the survey revealed that Risen Christ got the most number of votes. Since then, the chapel was called, the RISEN CHRIST CHAPEL.

The first celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Villa de Calamba was held last April 6, 1995. It was truly an Easter Sunday's celebration, and every Easter Sunday thereafter, the community of the Villa de Calamba will be with Jesus Christ, in his triumphant victory as He conquered death. Every time that we meet the Risen Lord, we remember that we must all live a "risen" life by setting our mind on the "things above". We must try to stay in God's grace and do our daily duty. And so we are moving steadily towards the fulfillment of all that Christ has promised us.