St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church | |
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13°37′15″N 123°10′08″E / 13.620789°N 123.169022°E | |
Location | Camaligan, Camarines Sur |
Country | Philippines |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Website | |
History | |
Status | Parish church |
Founded | 1795 |
Founder(s) | Franciscan Mission [1] |
Dedication | St. Anthony of Padua |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Architectural type | Church building |
Style | Baroque |
Years built | 1856-1857 [2] |
Completed | 1857 [2] |
Closed | N/A |
Demolished | N/A |
Specifications | |
Materials | Stones, cement, egg whites, bricks made from ashes of freshwater clams, straws and clay [1] |
Administration | |
Province | Caceres |
Archdiocese | Cáceres |
Clergy | |
Archbishop | Most Rev. Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, OCD, D.D. |
Rector | Rev. Fr. Glenn C. Ruiz, SThL, M.A |
Vicar(s) | Rev. Fr. Serafin Amaro |
The St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church ( Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de San Antonio de Padua), originally known as Camaligan Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Camaligan, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is the one of the two parish churches of the Archdiocese of Caceres located in the town of Camaligan. [3] The parish was established in 1795. [1] The first church structure of Camaligan that was made of stones and woods was burnt in the year 1856. [2] The current church architecture was only completed in 1857, [4] a year after the original structure was burnt. The church is considered one of the oldest churches in Camarines Sur that is rich in religious and cultural history, [5] and a popular spot for Visita Iglesia. [4]
The church is under the Vicariate of St. John the Evangelist. [6] As of June 18, 2018, the current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Glenn C. Ruiz. [7]
Camaligan was under the ecclesiastical and civil jurisdiction of Nueva Caceres (now Naga City) for almost two centuries, from year 1578 to 1775. [1]
In the year 1775, the town became an independent political unit under the administration of Bishop Domingo Ollantes of Nueva Caceres. [8] However, it was only in 1795 when Fray Rafael Benevente, was appointed parish priest by the Franciscan mission. [9]
A church made of stones and wooden structures was built, but was burnt in the year 1856. [2]
A year after the burning of the original church, in 1857, during the term of Fray Juan Ontiveros as parish priest, [2] the present church structure was completed. [1] It is said that when this church was built, the real intention of the friars was to wipe out pre-colonial lifestyle and practices of the newly-colonized town from looking back to their pre-colonial lifestyle and practices. In fact, the land where the church stands is a former burial ground during pre-colonial times. [5]