Kalookan Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Caloocan Cathedral, known canonically as San Roque Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Caloocan, and is located near the intersection of 10th Avenue and A. Mabini Street in Caloocan City
, Philippines
. The church is beside La Consolacion College, and in the far front of the church is the newly renovated City Hall
of Caloocan. The current Parish Priest and Rector is the Most Reverend Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., DD., who also serves as the Bishop of the Diocese, and his Parochial Vicar is the Reverend Father Elpidio "Jun" Erlano, Jr.. The Reverend Monsignor Boanerges "Ben" A. Lechuga was the preceding previous parish priest, who served from 1980 to 2008.
.
started from a small visita, a chapel initiated by Manuel Vaquero, assistant parish priest
of Tondo
, who with the cooperation of the people, was able to build a place of worship in one of the districts of Caloocan called Libis Aromahan (Sitio de Espinas) in 1765. The able priest gave this community two statues
: San Roque
and the Nuestra Señora dela Nieva (Our Lady of Snow). According to sources, these two statues were brought by the Augustinian Recollects
from Talavera
, Spain
.
of Manila
Antonio de Zulaivar, with Manuel de San Miguel as the first parish priest. Its formal erection as a parish also marked the transfer of the church to its present site. This site was called paltok, an elevated district in the town of Caloocan. A bigger church started its construction in 1819 under Vicente de San Francisco Xavier, and was finished in 1847 under Cipriano Garcia.
In 1889, San Roque ceased to be considered as a parish due to the lack of requirements posted by the arzobispado. The church could not give the proper “tributos y numero de las almas” prescribed by the archbishopric of Manila sede vacante. Archbishop Jose Arangueren revived San Roque into a parish during his election as the new archbishop of Manila in 1892.
against the Spanish
throne and the preceding war of the Filipinos
against the Americans
, San Roque Church served as a living witness to the valor of the Filipinos. Thus, on August 30, 1896, the churchyard of San Roque was used as a meeting place of all the Katipuneros coming from the west coast of Manila to join the rest of the katipuneros as they marched down Balintawak for their cry of freedom from the Spaniards. Then they proceeded to San Juan del Monte to attack the Santolan water reservoir, which they captured.
In 1899, the church was partly destroyed by the Americans during the Filipino-American Revolution under the leadership of General Antonio Luna
who sought refuge at the church. After the capture of the place, the Americans used the whole area as a field hospital.
In 1900, General Arthur MacArthur
invaded Caloocan and the church of San Roque was made caballeriza by Col. Frederick Funston Regiment.
After the havoc done by the war, the church was again constructed by the Confradia de Sagrado Corazon de Jesus in 1914 under the administration of the then parish priest, Victor Raymundo.
The church became old and weak through the years. In 1977, Augurio Juta planned a new church, but due to a sudden change of assignment, he was not able to finish the project and left it simply a skeleton in December 1979.
It was only through the courage and determination of the present parish priest, Boanerges A. Lechuga, despite all kinds of trials, that his dream of having a new, big, and magnificent church came into a reality. On November 30, 1981, Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila blessed and consecrated the new church.
year for the whole Catholic Church, San Roque Church was declared as one of the Jubilee Churches in the Archdiocese of Manila by Jaime Sin, Cardinal Archbishop of Manila.
Pope John Paul II
, in his Apostolic Letter “Quoniam Quaelibet,” dated June 28, 2003, created the new Diocese of Kalookan
, consisting of Caloocan City-South, Malabon City
and Navotas City, and elevated this parish church into the level and dignity of a cathedral. The Pope appointed Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Bishop of Iba, Zambales, as the first Bishop of the diocese; he took possession of the diocese on August 22, 2003. Msgr. Boanerges "Ben" Lechuga, then parish priest during that time, was the first cathedral rector as well as the first Vicar-General of the diocese.
Caloocan City
The City of Caloocan is one of the cities and municipalities that comprises the Metro Manila region in the Philippines. It is a major residential area inside Metro Manila...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The church is beside La Consolacion College, and in the far front of the church is the newly renovated City Hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
of Caloocan. The current Parish Priest and Rector is the Most Reverend Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., DD., who also serves as the Bishop of the Diocese, and his Parochial Vicar is the Reverend Father Elpidio "Jun" Erlano, Jr.. The Reverend Monsignor Boanerges "Ben" A. Lechuga was the preceding previous parish priest, who served from 1980 to 2008.
History
Like any other growth, the San Roque Cathedral had a humble beginning. Today, San Roque (the Parish and the Cathedral) is considered as one of the most promising communities in the Archdiocese of ManilaRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila or Archdiocese of Manila is a particular Church or Diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is also considered as the primatial see of the country, currently headed by the Archbishop of Manila and it enjoys primacy over the other dioceses in...
.
Early beginnings
The parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
started from a small visita, a chapel initiated by Manuel Vaquero, assistant parish priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
of Tondo
Tondo, Manila
Tondo is a district of Manila, Philippines. The locale has existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish, referred to as "Tundun" in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. One of the most densely populated areas of land in the world, Tondo is located in the northwest portion of the city and is primarily...
, who with the cooperation of the people, was able to build a place of worship in one of the districts of Caloocan called Libis Aromahan (Sitio de Espinas) in 1765. The able priest gave this community two statues
Statues
Statues is a popular children's game, often played in Australia but with versions throughout the world.-General rules:# A person starts out as the "Curator" and stands at the end of a field. Everyone else playing stands at the far end...
: San Roque
Roch
Saint Roch or Rocco ; lived c.1348 - 15/16 August 1376/79 was a Christian saint, a confessor whose death is commemorated on 16 August; he is specially invoked against the plague...
and the Nuestra Señora dela Nieva (Our Lady of Snow). According to sources, these two statues were brought by the Augustinian Recollects
Augustinian Recollects
-History:The Order of Augustinian Recollects or simply the Augustinian Recollects are a Roman Catholic mendicant Catholic religious order of friars and nuns. They are a reformist offshoot from the Augustinian hermit friars and follow the same Rule of St...
from Talavera
Talavera
Talavera may refer to the following:Places* Talavera de la Reina, a city in Toledo province, Spain, where two battles took place:** Battle of Talavera, during the Peninsular War** Battle of Talavera de la Reina , during the Spanish Civil War...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Formal creation of the parish
The parish was erected on April 8, 1815, by the ArchbishopArchbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
Antonio de Zulaivar, with Manuel de San Miguel as the first parish priest. Its formal erection as a parish also marked the transfer of the church to its present site. This site was called paltok, an elevated district in the town of Caloocan. A bigger church started its construction in 1819 under Vicente de San Francisco Xavier, and was finished in 1847 under Cipriano Garcia.
In 1889, San Roque ceased to be considered as a parish due to the lack of requirements posted by the arzobispado. The church could not give the proper “tributos y numero de las almas” prescribed by the archbishopric of Manila sede vacante. Archbishop Jose Arangueren revived San Roque into a parish during his election as the new archbishop of Manila in 1892.
Revolutions and wars
During the advent of revolutionRevolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
against the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
throne and the preceding war of the Filipinos
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
against the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, San Roque Church served as a living witness to the valor of the Filipinos. Thus, on August 30, 1896, the churchyard of San Roque was used as a meeting place of all the Katipuneros coming from the west coast of Manila to join the rest of the katipuneros as they marched down Balintawak for their cry of freedom from the Spaniards. Then they proceeded to San Juan del Monte to attack the Santolan water reservoir, which they captured.
In 1899, the church was partly destroyed by the Americans during the Filipino-American Revolution under the leadership of General Antonio Luna
Antonio Luna
Antonio Luna y Novicio was a Filipino pharmacist and general who fought in the Philippine-American War. He was also the founder of the Philippines's first military academy.- Family background :...
who sought refuge at the church. After the capture of the place, the Americans used the whole area as a field hospital.
In 1900, General Arthur MacArthur
Arthur MacArthur, Jr.
Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. , was a United States Army General. He became the military Governor-General of the American-occupied Philippines in 1900 but his term ended a year later due to clashes with the civilian governor, future President William Howard Taft...
invaded Caloocan and the church of San Roque was made caballeriza by Col. Frederick Funston Regiment.
After the havoc done by the war, the church was again constructed by the Confradia de Sagrado Corazon de Jesus in 1914 under the administration of the then parish priest, Victor Raymundo.
20th century - decay and rebuilding
From this time on, till the present, nothing much was said about the events in this church. Some efforts of different priests are worth mentioning. Eusebio Carreon (1934) put black and white baldosa along the aisles; Pedro Abad (1947) renovated the fachada, and Pedro Vicedo (1962) made additional wings on both sides of the church.The church became old and weak through the years. In 1977, Augurio Juta planned a new church, but due to a sudden change of assignment, he was not able to finish the project and left it simply a skeleton in December 1979.
It was only through the courage and determination of the present parish priest, Boanerges A. Lechuga, despite all kinds of trials, that his dream of having a new, big, and magnificent church came into a reality. On November 30, 1981, Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila blessed and consecrated the new church.
21st century - a new diocese
During the year 2000, a JubileeJubilee (Christian)
The concept of the Jubilee is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon. In the Biblical Book of Leviticus, a Jubilee year is mentioned to occur every fifty years, in which slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven and the mercies of God would be particularly...
year for the whole Catholic Church, San Roque Church was declared as one of the Jubilee Churches in the Archdiocese of Manila by Jaime Sin, Cardinal Archbishop of Manila.
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, in his Apostolic Letter “Quoniam Quaelibet,” dated June 28, 2003, created the new Diocese of Kalookan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalookan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Caloocan is a Diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The Diocese was erected in 2003 from its ecclesiatical province, the Archdiocese of Manila. The diocese comprises the cities of Caloocan - South, Malabon, and Navotas...
, consisting of Caloocan City-South, Malabon City
Malabon City
The City of Malabon is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of Manila, the city has a population of 363,681 as of 2007. It is primarily a residential and industrial town and is one of the most densely populated cities in the metropolis...
and Navotas City, and elevated this parish church into the level and dignity of a cathedral. The Pope appointed Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Bishop of Iba, Zambales, as the first Bishop of the diocese; he took possession of the diocese on August 22, 2003. Msgr. Boanerges "Ben" Lechuga, then parish priest during that time, was the first cathedral rector as well as the first Vicar-General of the diocese.