Parish of the Holy Sacrifice
A History of Faith, Art, and Community
The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, more popularly known as the UP Chapel, stands at the heart of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus. It is a place of worship, a landmark of Filipino modern architecture, and a living witness to the faith of generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni, parishioners, and visitors.
Chapter 1
Brief History
The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice is located inside the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City and belongs to the Diocese of Cubao, under the Vicariate of Saint Joseph.
The parish traces its beginnings to the late 1940s, when Fr. John P. Delaney, S.J., of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) became chaplain of the University of the Philippines after its transfer from Manila to Diliman.
At first, Mass was celebrated in a small nipa hut that served as a chapel, but the growing Catholic community of faculty, students, and residents soon envisioned a larger church. In 1954, construction of the UP Chapel began, funded through faculty donations (many gave portions of their salaries) and student initiatives and sacrifices.
On December 20, 1955, the chapel was inaugurated and blessed, marking the birth of the iconic circular church designed by Leandro Locsin, with artistic contributions from Arturo Luz, Vicente Manansala, and Napoleon Abueva.
On May 30, 1977, Cardinal Jaime Sin canonically established UP Chapel as a parish, naming it the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. Its first parish priest, Msgr. Manny Gabriel, celebrated the first Mass as a parish on June 29, 1977. He initiated the establishment of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) and strengthened campus ministry. The parish was placed under the titular devotion of Jesus of the Last Supper, emphasizing the Eucharist as the center of parish life.
On May 30, 2024, the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice celebrated the solemn dedication of the Church and Altar, a milestone affirming its enduring mission.
Since then, the parish and its community have continued to grow, both in faith and in service. The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice has stood as a monument to faith and sacrifice, built through the collective efforts of the UP community. It is unique in serving both the academic community and the surrounding urban poor, while embodying the symbolism of the Oblation—self-offering for others—reflected in its name, Holy Sacrifice.
Chapter 2
Fr. John Patrick Delaney
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Chapter 3
BECs and Monsi Manny
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Chapter 4
Dedication & ARCAM
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