Balanga Cathedral
Balanga Cathedral | |
---|---|
Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral-Parish of Saint Joseph Santuario Diocesano y Catedral Parroquial de San José | |
Balanga Cathedral Location in Luzon | |
Location | Brgy. Poblacion, Balanga, Bataan |
Country | Philippines |
Denomination | Catholic |
History | |
Former name(s) | Cathedral-Parish of St. Joseph |
Founded | 1793 |
Dedication | San Jose |
Consecrated | 2005 |
Past bishop(s) |
|
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Architectural type | Church building |
Style | Baroque |
Administration | |
Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando |
Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga |
Clergy | |
Archbishop | Florentino G. Lavarias |
Bishop(s) | Ruperto C. Santos |
Priest(s) | Fr. Ernesto B. De Leon Fr. Regin Tenorio |
Balanga Cathedral, formally known as Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph in Balanga, Bataan, is the seat of the Diocese of Balanga which comprises entire of the civil province of Bataan. Since June 5, 2017, Fr. Ernesto B. De Leon and Fr. Regin Tenorio serve as the cathedral priests. On March 19, 2015 the cathedral was formally declared as a Diocesan Shrine.
History[]
During the Japanese invasion the cathedral was used as an artillery emplacement to bombard Mt. Samat, where the Filipino-American troops made their last stand. It was later renovated by the first bishop of the Diocese, Celso Guevarra DD and made its patron saint, Saint Joseph.
Bishops[]
Name | From | Until | Formerly Bishop of |
---|---|---|---|
Bishop Celso Nogoy Guevarra † Died Aug. 13, 2002, tomb in the Belltower of the cathedral | June 4, 1975 | April 8, 1998 (Retired) | Titular Bishop of Vannida (Titular See) |
Bishop Honesto Flores Ongtioco | June 18, 1998 | August 28, 2003 (Installed as Bishop of Cubao) | Priest of San Fernando, Pampanga |
Bishop Socrates Buenaventura Villegas | July 3, 2004 | November 4, 2009 (Installed as Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan) | Bishop of Nona (Titular See) |
Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos | July 8, 2010 | Priest of Manila, Philippines |
Inside[]
After the war Bishop Celso renovated the church. Its walls were white and a number of chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the largest before the altar. Behind the altar was a structure painted green with stripes of gold and a statue of Jesus in the left, Mary on the right, and St. Joseph holding the hand of Baby Jesus. Beside the altar, there were two statues, St. Lorenzo Ruiz in the left and Mary at the right. There was a group of bells lined together vertically by metal grilles, the usual bell design in almost all of the parishes in Bataan. There was a statue of Jesus of Nazareth near the main door, which was kept for rehabilitation, believed to be miraculous. People lined up and gave sampaguitas to its neck and cross, they would usually wipe its feet. When Bishop Socrates was appointed he saw that the decorations were in bad shape; he renovated the inside with a new design. When it was finished, the white walls were replaced by a wall of bricks, the structure behind the altar became marble white, the floors were higher and the chandeliers were replaced by ceiling lights.
In 2009, images featuring the ancestors of Jesus and image of Jesus Christ at the dome were added.
Feast of the Patron Saint[]
The Feast Day of St. Joseph is celebrated twice annually in the city of Balanga, on March 19 and the "pistang bayan" every April 28.
Image gallery[]
1940 Philippine Historical Committed Marker
Historical marker
Angels, Logo in the middle of the Center facade
Right facade
Facade of the Balanga Cathedral
Left facade
Center facade
Remote left facade
Left facade
Near left facade
Belfry
Rear facade of bell tower
Left facade of Cathedral
Right side of Cathedral
Frontage of right side entrance
Right half of main door
Left half
Schedule of Masses
The Cathedral Coat of arms (Ecclesiastical heraldry)
Dome
Choir loft
Confessional
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando - 1st Bishop Celso Nogoy Guevarra, D.D.+, Church grave
Grave
Ceiling
Ceiling
Interior
Interior
Tabernacle in the altar
Statue inside
Individual storage of cinerary urns
Facade of the columbarium
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
Priests' Residence
St. Joseph Formation Center
Fr. Mariano Sarili Hall
Parish Offices
Coordinates: 14°40′45″N 120°32′25″E / 14.679192°N 120.540239°E
See also[]
- Roman Catholicism in the Philippines
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga
References[]
External links[]
- CBCP Diocese of Balanga
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga
- Coordinates
- CBCP Website
- GCatholic
- GCatholic
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- Roman Catholic cathedrals in the Philippines
- Balanga, Bataan
- Tourist attractions in Bataan
- Roman Catholic churches in Bataan