Santa Cruz Church (Manila)

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Santa Cruz Church
Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament
Pang-Arkidiyosesis na Dambana ng Kabanal-Banalang Sakramento
Simbahan ng Nuestra Señora Del Pilar de Manila
Santa Cruz Church Main Facade.jpg
Façade and belfry of Santa Cruz Church
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
14°35′56″N 120°58′49″E / 14.599°N 120.9804°E / 14.599; 120.9804Coordinates: 14°35′56″N 120°58′49″E / 14.599°N 120.9804°E / 14.599; 120.9804
LocationPlaza Sta. Cruz, Manila
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusParish & Shrine
Founded
  • 1768
  • June 3, 2018 (as a Archdiocesan Shrine)
Founder(s)Jesuits
DedicationMost Blessed Sacrament
*Nuestra Señora Del Pilar de Manila
Relics heldPeter Julian Eymard
Charles Lwanga
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationNational Historical Commission of the Philippines
Architectural typeChurch Building
StyleMission Revival
Specifications
Number of domes1
MaterialsConcrete
Administration
ArchdioceseManila
SubdivisionVicariate of Jose de Trozo[1]
Clergy
ArchbishopJose Advincula
Auxiliary Bishop(s)Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, DD
RectorRev. Fr. Rusend Paragas, SSS
Assistant priest(s)Rev. Fr. Lenen Deciar, SSS

The Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church, commonly known as the Santa Cruz Church and also designated as the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, is a baroque Roman Catholic parish church in the district of Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines. It was built when the arrabal (suburb) of Santa Cruz was established by the Jesuits in the early 17th century. The church had undergone many repairs and reconstruction, with the last reconstruction done in the 1950s. It is the first Mission and Mother house of Filipino Sacramentinos, making it as the center of Congregation Activities and events

The church façade is topped with a statue of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the church, whose feast is held every 3rd Sunday of October. On 7 December 2017 Pope Francis granted the Canonical coronation of the venerated image. The current parish priest is Fr. Rudsend P. Paragas, SSS.

On June 3, 2018, as part of the Church-wide celebrations of Corpus Christi, it was officially raised to an Archdiocesan Shrine by the decree of the Archbishop of Manila, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, in the Archdiocese-wide holiday mass held in the church.

Architecture[]

The Jesuits built the first Catholic church in the area where the present Santa Cruz Parish stands on June 20, 1619. The original church design was made of stone and wood.[2] The Jesuits enshrined the image of Our Lady of Pilar in 1643 to serve the predominantly Chinese residents in the area.[3] The first church was made of stone and wood was built in the 17th century. On June 3, 1863 an earthquake destroyed the church. Fr. Agustin de Mendoza began reconstruction work on the church in 1868.

The church facade is characteristically Baroque with Ionic piers vertically dividing the first two levels in three parts. Three semicircular arch doorways form as main entrance to the church. A Celtic-like window flanked by small semicircular windows is found at the center of the second level. Forming as the pediment, the topmost level has its raking cornice in undulating liens emanating from the broken pediment found above the statued niche. The domed belfry rises on the right in six levels.[4]

The original structure of the church was twice damaged by earthquakes and then completely destroyed during the Battle of Manila. The present building of the church, reconstructed in 1957, was designed to reflect the Spanish baroque style that Resembles, Architectural style of Spanish missions in California.[3] Art Deco and Romanesque influences the Interior of the Church.

Notable priest(s)[]

Saint

  • St. Ezequiél Moreno, O.A.R. He served as a Parish Priest when the Augustinian Recollects administered the parish.

Blessed

  • Blessed Julian Moreno, O.A.R. Brother of St. Ezequeil Moreno, O.A.R.

Gallery[]

  • View of Santa Cruz Church from parking in front.

  • The facade relief surrounding the center window of Santa Cruz Church.

  • The right side of the Santa Cruz Church where another entrance to the church is located.

  • The pediment of the Santa Cruz Church located on the topmost portion of the entrance.

  • Three semicircular arch doorways found on the entrance of Santa Cruz Church.

  • Heritage marker of the Santa Cruz Church located on the right side facade.

  • Domed beflry of the Santa Cruz Church located on the right side of the entrance.

  • Well-lit nave of the Santa Cruz Church.

  • Altar of the Santa Cruz Church.

  • Interior of the Santa Cruz Church dome located on top of the crossing.

  • Huge buttresses located on the sides of the Santa Cruz Church.

  • Window mouldings inside the Santa Cruz Church.

  • Marker of Leon Asuncion at Santa Cruz Church.

  • Dome of the Santa Cruz Church viewed from Escolta Street.

  • bull of Canonical Coronation

  • Decree of Erection as Archdiocesan Shrine

  • The Canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila

See also[]

References[]

Notes

  1. ^ "Vicariate of Jose de Trozo". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Olbés, p. 14.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Gopal, Lou (August 8, 2012). "Santa Cruz". Manila Nostalgia. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  4. ^ Alarcon, Norma (1991). Philippine Architecture During the Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods. Manila: Santo Tomas University Press. ISBN 971-506-040-4.

Bibliography

  • Olbés, Rene (2000). The Philippines:A Century Hence. Makati, Philippines: Rene Olbés and Associates. pp. 14–15. ISBN 971-92288-0-6.
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