Paco Church

Paco Church
San Fernando de Dilao Parish Church
Façade of the church
Paco Church Republic of the Philippines
Location	Paco, Manila; Philippines
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1580
Dedication	Saint Ferdinand of Castile
Consecrated	1599, 1999, 2011
Cult(s) present	Nuestro Santo Padre Jesús del Sepulcro
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Neoclassical
Groundbreaking	1931
Specifications
Number of domes	1
Number of spires	2
Materials	Sand, gravel, cement, mortar, steel
Administration
Province	Manila
Archdiocese	Manila
Parish	San Fernando de Dilao Parish
Clergy
Archbishop	Luis Antonio Tagle
Priest(s)	Rev. Msgr. Rolando R. dela Cruz
Assistant priest(s)	Rev. Fr. Carlo P. del Rosario Rev. Fr. Wilfredo C. Talavera Rev. Fr. Celso Alcantara Rev. Fr. Luke Moortgat, CICM Rev. Fr. John Rey Sibi

The San Fernando de Dilao Parish Church (Tagalog: Simbahang San Fernando de Dilao ng Paco) is a Roman Catholic church located in Paco, Manila, Philippines, honoring the Spanish king Saint Ferdinand III of Castile. From February 7, 2012 to April 9, 2014, the parish was used as the Pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Manila, during the structural renovations of the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The church inside is notable for its romanesque-Byzantine interior with recently Italian Baroque styled Altar, most notably the Latin inscriptions similar in style to Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

The church is currently administered by its parish priest, Rev. Msgr. Rolando R. de la Cruz. In addition, the church provides active medical, dental and ENT charitable services for its poor parishioners within the community.

History

In 1580, the first church built was made of nipa and bamboo and was originally dedicated to Our Lady of Purification. Fr. Juan de Garrovillas of the Franciscan order has rebuilt the church using stone materials in 1599-1601. The neighbourhood's name Dilao refers to a local shrub once used to dye textiles yellow (current Filipino orthography: diláw, "yellow").

In October 3, 1603, the church was attacked and burned by Chinese during riots. It was repaired in 1606 and rebuilt with stone materials by Don Francisco Gómez de Arellano. Invading troops from the Kingdom of Great Britain burnt down the church in 1762 during their occupation of the city as part of the Seven Years' War. In 1791, a temporary church made of bamboo and nipa was erected.

Fr. Joaquín Segui constructed the stone convento in 1793-1794 which was repaired in 1854. In 1880, this convent was ruined by an earthquake. Fr. Bernardo dela Concepción began the construction of a new church in 1809 and completed in 1814. It was called Antigua Iglesia de Paco ("Old Paco Church") while Fr. Miguel Richar built the belfry from 1839-1841. Earthquakes again destroyed the church in 1852 and 1880.

Fr. Gilberto Martín began the reconstruction of the church in 1881. When this was about to be completed, a typhoon in 1892 partly destroyed the church. In 1896, Fr. Martín completed the reconstruction work.

On February 5, 1899, the church was bombed and completely burned during the Philippine-American War. Belgian priests of the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae took possession of the burnt church in 1909 and in the following year, Fr. Raymundo Esquinet worked for the construction of a temporary concrete church at a site near the old church's ruins. In 1924, Fr. José Billie proposed a newer and much larger church, and the cornerstone of the present church was laid in August 1931.

On February 7, 2012, the church was designated as pro-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Manila until structural renovations on the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception were completed on April 9, 2014.

A notable longstanding custom of Paco Church today is the devotion to Nuestro Santo Padre Jesús del Sepulcro. Also known as Santo Entierro, the image is a statue of the dead Christ encased in a special wood and glass casket, and is a common icon in Filipino churches.

Architecture

The church facade, flanked by tall, twin belfries, possess a Neoclassical style of architecture. The terraced, arcaded portico provides a transitional entrance to the church. The Corinthian columns on the first and second levels of the church plus the triangular pediment give the façade the classic character.

Clergy

Diocesan Parish Priests

Name	Year started-ended	Present Assignment
Most Rev. Fr. Teodoro "Bishop Ted" Bacani, DD, STD	1984	Bishop Emeritus of Diocese of Novaliches
Rev. Msgr. Domingo "Dom" Cirilos, PC	1996-2010	Retired Priest of Archdiocese of Manila
Rev. Msgr. Rolando "Rolly" Dela Cruz, PC, VG	2010–Present	Past Vicar General of Archdiocese of Manila

Priests

Name	Present Assignment
Rev. Fr. Carlo P. Del Rosario	Parochial Vicar/Asst. Parish Priest
Rev. Fr. Wilfredo C. Talavera	Parochial Vicar
Rev. Fr. Celso Alcantara	Parochial Vicar
Rev. Fr. Luke Moortgat, CICM	Attached Priest
Rev. Fr. John Rey Sibi	Resident Priest

Gallery

• 
  Side view
• 
  Main door of the church. The inscription above it reads Hæc est Domus Dei et Porta Cœli ("Here is the House of God and the Door to Heaven").
• 
  Commonwealth-era black plaque by the Historical Research and Markers Committee (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines).
• 
  Retablo of the main altar.
• 
  Cathedra of the Archbishop of Manila, when the church was used as a pro-cathedral.
• 
  Santo Entierro image enshrined inside the church.
• 
  Image of the church's titular, Saint Ferdinand III of Castile.

See also

• ► National Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

External links

• San Fernando de Dilao Parish Church
• Templorum - San Fernando de Dilao Parish Church