WHEN BISHOP KEVIN Vann blessed the new Poong Jesus Nazareno Filipino Catholic Center (PJNFCC) in Anaheim on July 21, more than 1,000 attendees were on hand to celebrate the fulfillment of a long-held dream and a miracle. They were, in fact, celebrating many miracles.
In September 2024, Ike Quiaoit, chair of the Diocese of Orange San Jose Filipino Ministry (DOSJFM) and its board thought they should start looking for a place to call home that was large enough to accommodate their growing community, events, liturgies and cultural programs. They had a few thousand dollars in the bank, and the thing Filipino Catholics are most famous for – great faith.
POONG JESUS NAZARENO, SOMETIMES CALLED THE BLACK NAZARENE, IS A LIFE-SIZE 17TH-CENTURY MEXICAN CARVING MADE OF VERY DARK WOOD DEPICTING JESUS CARRYING THE CROSS. PHOTO BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
By Feb. 23, 2025, their realtor had found an ideal location: a small Vietnamese Christian church that was moving to a larger space. The church is in a good neighborhood, accessible to not only Orange County, but also LA County and the Inland Empire. The asking price was $4.9 million, but there were many potential buyers, including developers hoping to use the site to build luxury homes.
Quiaoit with wife, Tess, and their 2-year-old grandson, Ezra, went to look at the property on an afternoon on Feb. 24. Three people were there, standing in a prayer circle near the door of the Fellowship Hall. When they finished, they looked up and saw the couple and their grandson and graciously agreed to give them a tour.
The site was perfect.
Ironically, the sellers were praying that day that God would show them to whom they should sell their beloved church.
IKE QUIAOIT, CHAIR OF THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE SAN JOSE FILIPINO MINISTRY POSES WITH ITS VICE CHAIR BECKY TAMONDONG. PHOTO BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
When they looked up, there was Quiaoit, and they knew, even though they would receive higher offers, that the Catholic Filipino community was the answer to their prayers.
However, to secure the property, they were required to make a $138,000 non-refundable down payment to open escrow in early March 2025. Upon closing, they needed a total of $2.1 million within approximately 12 weeks.
“We began selling raffle tickets at $5 each and prayed, said Quiaoit. The board members drew on their resources for larger pledges. Within the community, we found a few more major donors who shared our passion for a permanent home for Filipino culture, faith and education.”
By May 27, they experienced another miracle – they had raised $2.1 million in about 90 days, closed escrow and began to move into their new home on June 1.
Fr. Peter Lavin, A.M., is the Spiritual Director of DOSJFM, a native of the Philippines and high school classmate in Don Bosco of Ike Quiaoit. He heads the religious congregation of the Alagad Ni Maria, an order of priests founded in the Philippines. The Order has served in the diocese for the past 17 years, as parochial vicars in parishes and as chaplains in schools such as Mater Dei, Rosary, Santa Margarita High School and Cal State Fullerton (CSUF).
The center is blessed with replicas of two Catholic images, which are deeply rooted in Filipino Catholic culture. Poong Jesus Nazareno, sometimes called the Black Nazarene, is a life-size 17th century Mexican carving made of very dark wood depicting Jesus carrying the cross. The other treasure is a replica of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, a 17th-century dark wood carving of the Virgin Mary imported from Mexico a few years after the Poong Jesus Nazareno.
“These images are like the Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to Filipinos, said Fr. Lavin. “Our spirituality is most similar to Mexico because both countries were under Spanish rule for more than 300 years. However, after the Philippines became an American protectorate, the United States encouraged education for the native people. Consequently, our faith deepened. For us, to touch the image is to encounter God.”
The long-term vision is to support the faith that the Filipinos brought to this country and teach their children about their heritage.
The task of implementing the vision is managed by Ike Quiaoit and Becky Tamondong, chair and vice chair, respectively, of DOSJFM and Belle Ibañez, director of Cultural Programs. Tamondong worked for Catholic Charities for years before transitioning to the DOSJFM.
“There are at least 90,000 Filipino Catholics in Orange County – many more in the surrounding counties. Filipinos are adaptable and easily assimilate into American culture, we speak English, so after a few years we feel Americanized,” said Tamondong. The center is an opportunity to teach our children the Filipino culture, food, music, dance and most importantly, our faith.”
While the center is not intended to replace parishes, members are encouraged to bring what they learn and experience back to their local parish.
The center, located at 3700 W. Orange Ave. in Anaheim, will also offer Mass in Tagalog, the native language of the Philippines. Mass is celebrated daily at 6 p.m. in English (closed on Mondays), Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., both in Tagalog. Confessions are also offered at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday.
For more detailed information and programs, visit www.dosjfm.com, or call (657) 214-2507.