About
A home for prayer, sacrament and service
Mater Dolorosa Parish gathers the families of Barangay Dolores and greater Capas around the Eucharist. Named for Our Lady of Sorrows, we take our patroness as our model: standing faithfully with those who suffer, and holding on to hope.
The devotion began when Mrs. Maria Alzadon Caguiran brought the first image of the Sorrowful Mother to Dolores and enshrined it in a small nipa chapel where Mass was celebrated. In November 1954 Mr. Pablo Tsuseco Pineda, a landowner from Concepcion, donated a portion of his land to the barangay for a proper chapel, and the Tsuseco family gave the community the image we venerate today. The chapel grew with the barangay and was completed in February 1989; on 17 July 1998 it was canonically erected as a parish under the patronage of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Our beloved image, the Mater Dolores of Capas, was episcopally crowned on 15 September 2018 by Bishop Enrique Macaraeg — the barangay's sixtieth year and the parish's twentieth. In 2020 Pope Francis granted her a pontifical coronation, and on 5 June 2021 she was canonically crowned at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Tarlac City by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles John Brown. That same day the Provincial Board declared her Mother and Protectress of the Province of Tarlac.
From daily Mass to catechism classes, from the Friday devotions to the silent Viernes de Dolores procession, the life of the parish is carried by volunteers who give their time each week. Whether you have been here all your life, are returning after time away, or are visiting for the first time — you are welcome. There is a place for you here.
What we hold to
Our values
Who serves here
