Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church (Pagsanjan)

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church, designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo, is the only Roman Catholic Church in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines, and the oldest church in the Philippines under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is home to the patroness of Pagsanjan, Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose image was a gift from Mexico.[1][2]

Pagsanjan Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church
Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Santuario Diocesano de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Facade of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Pagsanjan Church
14.272819°N 121.456174°E / 14.272819; 121.456174
LocationPagsanjan, Laguna
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusDiocesan Shrine and Parish church
Founded1687
Founder(s)Fr. Agustin de la Magdalena
DedicationOur Lady of Guadalupe
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
Specifications
MaterialsAdobe, lime mixed with carabao milk
Administration
ArchdioceseManila
DioceseSan Pablo
ProvinceManila
Clergy
ArchbishopLuis Antonio Tagle
Bishop(s)Buenaventura M. Famadico
Priest(s)Ireneo Oliver

History

A former visita of Lumban, the parish church of Pagsanjan was founded on November 12, 1687, by Franciscan missionary Father Agustin de la Magdalena as its first pastor (parish priest).[3][4] The first church was originally made of light materials like bamboo, nipa and wood in 1688 by natives of Pagsanjan under forced labor.[2][5] A larger and more solid church constructed from adobe with a red-tiled roof was built in 1690 with the help of Chinese Miguel Guan Co and chief alguacil alferez Alonzo Garcia to replace the original church.[2][5]

Further renovations were conducted from 1847 to 1852 under Father Joaquin de Coria, who engineered the stone belfry and Romanesque dome.[5] In 1872, the church added a transept under the direction of Father Serafin Linares and Father Cipriano Bac.[2]

The church was heavily damaged by American and Filipino military bombers on March 15, 1945 during World War II.[2] A replica of the church was constructed over its ruins, without the original dome, with the help of Manila Pagsanjenos under the leadership of Engr. German Yia and Dr. Rosendo Llamas.[2] Serious restoration efforts after the war took place in 1965 under Lipa Archbishop Alejandro Olalia. On April 6, 1969, Bishop Pedro Bantigue blessed the rebuilt church and consecrated the main altar.[4] Due to the devotion of the people of Pagsanjan and nearby towns, the Diocese of San Pablo declared Pagsanjan Church as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2012. Under the term of Monsignor Castillo from 2013 to the present, further renovations were carried out, including the church patio and construction of the choir loft and church gate.

Features

The facade of Pagsanjan church is a three-level early Renaissance styled facade with a semicircular arched main entrance, choir loft window and a three-story bell tower.[1] A side chapel near the altar houses an image of San Juan Diego, a replica of the tilma of the Our Lady of Guadalupe and a stone relic from Tepeyac Hill, Mexico City in 1531, the site of the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The chapel is also a mini-museum containing liturgical vestments of Pagsanjeño priests.

Images of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Within the church of Pagsanjan, two images of the town patroness, Our Lady of Guadalupe, can be found. The original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was donated by Father Agustin when the parish was first established. The image was given to him as a gift from rich and pious Mexican families; it was installed at the main altar on December 12, 1688.[2][4] However, the original image was destroyed during the American and Filipino military bombings of 1945. In 1958, Mexican Catholics contributed a life-sized image of Our Lady of Guadalupe sculpted by Ramon Barretto of Toluca, which can be seen in the church today.[2][6] The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe placed on the main altar was sculpted by Maximo Vicente of Manila.[2]

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See also

Notes
  1. Layug 2007
  2. Zaide 1975
  3. Huerta 1865, p. 160
  4. "Laguna's old churches await pilgrims". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 24, 2005.
  5. Huerta 1865, p. 161
  6. Mapua 2008, p. 165

Bibliography
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