By Nancy Cesar, DOSJFM
His Excellency Kevin Vann, J.C.D., D.D., Bishop of Orange, will officiate at the solemn dedication of the church and altar of the Poong Jesus Nazareno at the Filipino Catholic Center. The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 5 p.m.
The dedication of churches and altars is among the earliest liturgical traditions of the Catholic Church. It is an integral rite through which a newly built or acquired church and its altar are consecrated as a place of worship.
The Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center, or PJNFCC, was inaugurated by Bishop Vann exactly one year earlier, on July 21, 2025. It is described as the first and only Filipino Catholic center of its kind in the United States.
The Center property was purchased by the Alagad ni Maria, or Philippine Disciples of Mary, with assistance from the Diocese of Orange San Jose Filipino Ministry, or DOSJFM.
The partnership with the Alagad ni Maria will help the DOSJFM pursue its goal of providing cultural experiences for younger generations of Filipino Americans while enriching their Catholic heritage.
The DOSJFM was established at the initiative of the Alagad ni Maria. It was formally recognized as part of the Diocese of Orange’s Ethnic Ministries through a decree issued by the Bishop of Orange in June 2021.
The Alagad ni Maria priests obtained a replica of the Poong Jesus Nazareno (the Black Nazarene) from Quiapo, Manila, which was eventually housed in the Alagad ni Maria chapel on Magnolia St. in Anaheim when it arrived in March 2024. The image was visiting various parishes in Southern California for some time, but the idea of finding a suitable permanent home for the Poon soon became a priority. The Poon’s home was also envisioned to become the Filipino Catholic Center for the cultural programs and activities of the DOSJFM. And so the search for a suitable property site began. The search ended in February 2025 and escrow closed on the property in Anaheim three months later in May 2025.
Finding the erstwhile Vietnamese Christian Church at 3700 W. Orange Avenue in Anaheim was literally a Godsend. Being able to raise almost 50% of its asking price was another blessing.
On June 1, 2025, Fr. Peter Lavin, on behalf of the Alagad ni Maria priest community in the Diocese of Orange, received the keys as the property’s new owners.
Life-size replicas of the Poong Jesus Nazareno and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, popularly known as Our Lady of Antipolo, now permanently reside in the church.
Necessary repairs and improvements were made to convert the building into a Catholic place of worship. The church has a seating capacity of 200.
The existing pews were recently refurbished with new upholstery, and kneelers were added.
Masses are regularly held every day except Mondays, when the Center is closed. English Masses are held Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m.
Tagalog Masses are held Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The Center’s facilities also include a fellowship hall with a capacity of 200 people, as well as three classrooms.
These spaces are used for folk dance and rondalla rehearsals, retreats, seminars, language classes, fellowship activities, social and cultural events, and other religious gatherings.
The Alagad ni Maria priests serving the Diocese of Orange also call the Center home.
Please join us in this milestone event. As many devotees are expected to attend the Dedication ceremonies, parking may be an issue; therefore carpooling is highly encouraged.
