29/04/2026
St. Joseph the Worker Parish is a Catholic community in Capas, located at Villa San Jose Subdivision, Brgy. Cut-cut 1st. It belongs to the Diocese of Tarlac. The parish is named after St. Joseph the Worker, whose feast day is celebrated every May 1, the same day as Labor Day.
Before the parish was formed, Villa San Jose Subdivision was developed by the late Mr. Romeo Cayanan even before the 1990s. The land was owned by the Aquino family. Many people living in the area were Catholic, but there was no Catholic church, even if other religious groups already had their own places of worship. Mr. Cayanan himself was a faithful Catholic, and the people in the community hoped to have a church of their own.
The Villa San Jose Homeowners’ Association, together with nearby residents, asked Mr. Cayanan to donate land for a chapel. He agreed and gave a circular lot for this purpose. Later, under the leadership of then Mayor Hon. Reynaldo Catacutan, three petitions were sent to Bishop Florentino Cinense to request that the place become a parish.
The first request was not approved because there were not enough recorded Catholic members. The second request led to a study to see if the area was ready to become a parish. During this time, the chapel started to be built. Even without a roof, people already gathered there for weekly Mass. When it rained, Mass was held at the home of Mayor Catacutan.
The third request was finally approved, but with a condition. The people had to show that they could support a parish priest. The community worked together to make this possible. Because of their effort and unity, the chapel was finished and became a parish on April 27, 2015. Rev. Fr. Ruben Espinosa was assigned as the first parish priest.
A few days later, on May 1, 2015, the parish celebrated its first fiesta in honor of St. Joseph the Worker. This day is special because it reminds the people of both their faith and the value of work.
Today, with Fr. Romel Vergara as the present and outgoing parish priest, the parish continues to serve the people and grow in faith. Its story shows how a community can come together, stay strong, and make their dream of having a church come true.
📍 Saint Joseph the Worker Parish - Villa San Jose Subdivision
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