Fr. Paul Lu, PME was the first parish priest. The parish was also constructed through the assistance of the first parish pastoral council headed by Mr. Reynaldo Sorongon Sr. With the cooperation and assistance of the Bo. Obrero Civic Organization headed by Mr. Alberto Gelbolingo who facilitated the requirements for the new construction of the church from a smaller chapel on February 5, 1967 to the new site where the parish church now sits. The new church was initially constructed in 1969, then continued in the later part of 1977 and the whole church was completed in 1980. Thus, the parish church was blessed on April 25, 1980 by Archbishop Antonio Mabutas, D.D. Archbishop of Davao.
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Sacred Heart Parish
Davao City
The Sacred Heart Parish for the Filipino-Chinese Apostolate was established in 1967 by the initiative and vision of Archbishop Clovis Thibault, D.D. It humbly began with just a chapel pioneered by Fr. Paul Lu, PME. The location of the parish is adjoining the Stella Maris Academy of Davao and during that time, the place was still part of the territorial jurisdiction of Sta. Ana parish. It sits around 5,000 sq. meters bordering the school and it is strategic place for the Filipino-Chinese apostolate because of several Filipino-Chinese residents nearby.
Stella Maris Academy of Davao
The vision of having a new school for the Filipino-Chinese in Davao City began in 1950 when two nuns namely: Sr. Tecla Chao and Sr. Magdalena Yang together with three Chinese priests namely: Fr. Peter Wang, Fr. Francis Han, and Fr. Paul Han came to Davao and saw the necessity of having a school for the Filipino-Chinese. Fr. Peter Wang and the two nuns began to organize a Chinese Catholic Association. It prompted them to rent a a hall to start with. It included a small chapel and an office which was located at Villa Abrille St. just near St. Ana parish.
It was only in 1953 that the kindergarten began. It was realized through the approval of Archbishop Clovis Thibault, D.D., Archbishop of Davao. The locus of the school was just near Sta. Ana parish with the help of Fr. Gaudiose Gagnon, PME. The school was initially named as Davao Chinese Catholic Kindergarten. Four years later, with the growing population of Chinese pupils enrolling, there came a need for a gymnasium and classrooms for grades 1 and 2. So, the vacant lot just near the bishop’s residence was utilized and henceforth, the Davao Chinese Catholic Kindergarten was changed to Stella Maris Academy of Davao.
In 1959, the management of Stella Maris Academy was transferred to the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. It was during this time that a new location of 15,000 sq.m. was sought for the construction of a new church and the school. It is now located at Nicasio Torres St. Barrio Obrero, Davao City. The plans, perspectives, and construction of the school were assisted by Fr. Charles Tschou, Fr. Gaudiose Gagnon, Mr. Alano Chiu and Mr. Jose Locsin. It was on October 10, 1959 that Archbishop Clovis Thibault, D.D. presided over the laying of the cornerstone. The construction began on October 1, 1960 and was completed in 1962. The Stella Maris Academy of Davao was blessed and inaugurated by Bishop Juan B. Velasco on March 25, 1963. In 1977, the Hijas de Jesus took over its management.
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