The Beginnings of the Redemptorists in Jaro and the Birth of St. Clement’s, Iloilo
The Redemptorist presence in Iloilo traces its roots to the early 1900s, when Bishop Denis O’Dougherty, then Bishop of Jaro from 1908 to 1915, first approached the Redemptorist Fathers in Cebu with the hope of establishing a house in his diocese. His desire stemmed from the growing reputation of the Redemptorist missionaries, whose mission work in Negros Oriental had deeply impressed both clergy and laity alike.
Years later, Bishop James McCloskey, who succeeded Bishop O’Dougherty and served the Diocese of Jaro from 1920 until his death in 1945, renewed this invitation. Sharing the same admiration for the Redemptorists’ missionary zeal, Bishop McCloskey formally invited them to establish a foundation in his diocese. Responding positively, he and the Redemptorist Vice-Provincial, Rev. Fr. W. Byrne, wrote to the Father General in Rome to secure approval. The awaited cable of acceptance arrived on October 17, 1927.
Bishop McCloskey immediately took steps to prepare for their arrival, securing a residence at No. 9, Calle E. Lopez, in Jaro, Iloilo, and personally funding its repair. From Ireland, the Provincial, Fr. John Fitzgerald, appointed Fr. Raymund Cleere as the Superior of the new community, with Frs. Joe Wright, Patrick O’Connel, and Joe O’Gorman, along with Brothers Jarlath and Charles, as members.
The Redemptorists arrived in Jaro on January 13, 1928, taking possession of the house and celebrating their first Mass there that same day. The altar used for the Mass was a gift from Bishop McCloskey—an altar with its own history, having previously served the Carmelites in their first convent in Molo.
At the request of Msgr. Luis Capalla, the newly arrived Redemptorists began assisting in the Jaro Cathedral, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Within a month, they were already hearing confessions in three languages—English, Spanish, and Ilonggo. True to their missionary charism, their focus from the very beginning was the giving of missions. Their first parish mission took place in Dumangas in June 1928 at the invitation of Fr. Vicente Militar, who, pleased with their work, soon invited them to another mission in Lublub that November. Their next mission followed in Pototan.
During their early years in Jaro, the missionaries also gave retreats to priests, sisters, and students. On August 31 of that same year, Fathers Cleere, O’Connel, and Wright embarked on missions in Negros, serving communities in Saravia, Silay, and Talisay for three months.
Recognizing the growing scope of their apostolate, the Redemptorists decided to establish a permanent foundation in La Paz, Iloilo. The contract for the construction of St. Clement’s Monastery was signed on January 15, 1931. The community became actively involved in pastoral care, especially for the students of the Provincial High School and Normal College (now West Visayas State University), while maintaining regular Mass schedules for the faithful.
As attendance grew steadily, the need for a larger worship space became evident. This led to the construction of St. Clement’s Church, which was inaugurated on February 23, 1941. The Redemptorists’ mission work continued to flourish until it was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.
In the post-war years, the missionaries turned their attention to fostering Filipino vocations. Under the leadership of Fr. John Ryan, then Vice-Provincial, a minor seminary—St. Clement’s College—was established in October 1946. The seminary became known for its discipline, high academic standards, and strong sports tradition. Many future Filipino Redemptorists, including Fr. Ramon Fruto, Bishop Ireneo Amantillo, Fr. Willy Jesena, Fr. Filomeno Suico, Fr. Emerardo Maninggo, Fr. Gerry Loarca, Fr. Tommie Tancinco, Fr. Fernando Yusingco, Fr. Luis Hechanova, and Fr. Rudy Romano, began their formation there.
After the war, St. Clement’s Church once again filled with the faithful. Among those who attended were American soldiers stationed in Iloilo—many of them Irish-American Catholics from Boston. Delighted to find Irish Redemptorists serving in La Paz, they expressed one disappointment: the absence of the Perpetual Help Novena, a devotion flourishing in the Redemptorist church in Boston. Their suggestion inspired the Redemptorists of Iloilo to begin the same devotion.
Thus, on May 13, 1946, the first Perpetual Help Novena in the Philippines was held at St. Clement’s Church, led by Fr. Patrick Nulty. The devotion quickly grew—by October 21 of that year, 500 people were attending the novena, and by August 18, 1947, the number had risen to 1,000.
With the growing demand for retreats and spiritual renewal, the Redemptorists built a new Retreat House near the church, completed in 1967.
From humble beginnings on Calle E. Lopez to the vibrant community in La Paz, the Redemptorists’ journey in Iloilo stands as a testament to their enduring mission: to bring the Good News of Redemption to all, especially the most abandoned. St. Clement’s remains not only a monument to their perseverance but also the birthplace of a devotion that continues to touch millions across the Philippines—the Perpetual Help Novena.