Pasig Cathedral
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2015) |
| Immaculate Conception Cathedral | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | Plaza Rizal, Malinao, Pasig |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Immaculate Conception Cathedral Website |
| History | |
| Founded | July 2, 1573 |
| Dedication | Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Pasig |
| Administration | |
| Province | Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manila |
| Diocese | Diocese of Pasig |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Most Rev. Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD |
| Pastor(s) | Rev. Fr. J Bay |
Pasig Cathedral or Immaculate Conception Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located at Plaza Rizal in Malinao, Pasig in the Philippines. It is the cathedral or seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig, belonging to the Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception. The cathedral figures prominently in the city seal of Pasig, being one of the oldest structures in the city.
It was established as a mission-parish by the Augustinian missionaries on July 2, 1573, coinciding with the foundation of the town of Pasig. Initially, the parish was consecrated to the Visitation of Our Lady, but in April 25, 1587, was changed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the Augustinian priests during that time.[1]
The former Immaculate Conception Parish was administered by the CICM Fathers from 1910 to 1979, after which the Filipino clergy took over the pastoral leadership of the parish. Until 2003, the parish was a part of the Archdiocese of Manila. On August 21, 2003, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig was inaugurated, with the elevation of the parish into the status of a cathedral. The present rector of the cathedral is the Rev. Fr. Joselito Jopson, Vicar General of the Diocese of Pasig.
Address
Plaza Rizal, Malinao, Pasig, Philippines 1600
Ecclesiastical Territory
Previously, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral belonged to the Archdiocese of Manila. It became the seat of the Diocese of Pasig in 2003.
Jurisdiction
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral comprises the following barangays in Pasig City
- • Malinao
- • San Jose
- • Bambang
- • Bagong Katipunan
- • Santa Rosa
- • Sumilang
- • San Nicolas
- • Santa Cruz
- • Kapasigan
Some of the Public and Religious establishments are located within the jurisdiction of the parish
- • Pasig Catholic College
- • Pasig City Hall
- • Pasig Public Market
- • Colegio Del Buen Consejo
- • Pasig City Library
- • Pasig City Museum
- •(La Immaculada Concepcion School from 1972-2014)
- • Pasig Catholic Cemetery
- • Plaza Rizal
- • Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Pasig
- • Good Shepherd Montessori School
The Parish Pastoral Council consists of 7 Ministries namely:
Worship Commission, Education and Formation Committee, Social Service and Development Ministry, Temporalities and Ways and Means Family and Life Ministry Parish Youth Council, and Media and Public Affairs Ministry
Pastors
Below is the list of Filipino parish priests.
| Name | Years of Pastorship | Present Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Most Rev. Manuel Sobreviñas, DD | 1979 to 1993 | Bishop-emeritus of Imus |
| Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel "Manny" Sunga, PC, STL | 1993 to 1997 | Our Lady of Loreto Parish-Archdiocesan Shrine (Sampaloc, Manila) |
| Rev. Msgr. Manuel "Manny" Gabriel, PC, STD | 1997 to 2003 | Resurrection of Our Lord Parish (BF Homes, Parañaque) |
| Rev. Msgr. Rodolfo "Rudy" Gallardo, PC | 2003 to 2005 | Retired, abroad |
| Rev. Fr. Roy M. Rosales, STL | 2005 to 2010 | Holy Family Parish (Kapitolyo, Pasig) |
| Very Rev. Fr. Orlando "Orly" B. Cantillon, V.G. | May 2010 – 2015 | Parish Priest, Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anne (Sta. Ana Taguig) |
| Rev. Fr. Joselito Jopson, V.G. | 2015 - present |
History
The Immaculate Conception Parish was initially established as a mission-parish by the Augustinians on January 20, 1572 in the village of Pinagbuhatan. However, frequent flooding in the original site prompted the Augustinian priests to relocate it to higher ground, where the Cathedral now currently stands.[2]
On July 2, 1537, coinciding with the establishment of the town (now city) of Pasig, the church was consecrated to the Our Lady of the Visitation, which served as the first patroness of Pasig. The town patroness was eventually changed into the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in April 25, 1587.
During the brief British occupation in Manila in 1762 to 1764, the church served as the British military headquarters, its belfry used as a watchtower against the Spanish defenders.
After the Augustinians, the CICM missionaries arrived and began the administration of the parish in 1910. Three years later, the congregation founded the first parochial school for boys (present-day Pasig Catholic College). In 1979, the diocesan clergy from the Archdiocese of Manila took over the supervision of the parish, and Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas, then auxiliary bishop of Manila, became the first Filipino parish priest. Assisting him as parochial administrator was Fr. Andres Desmet, CICM.
In 1993, Sobreviñas became the bishop of the Diocese of Imus. Msgr. Emmanuel Sunga became the new pastor, and was transferred to Sto. Niño Parish in Tondo, Manila four years later. Msgr. Manuel Gabriel came to Pasig in 1997 from the Most Holy Trinity Parish in Balic-balic, Sampaloc, Manila, and it was during his term that the parish had electronic chromatically-tuned carillon bells installed in its belfry. The Immaculate Conception Parish was declared one of the Jubilee churches in the Archdiocese of Manila in the year 2000.
In October 2001, the Ecclesiastical District of Pasig was created, covering the Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception, along with the parishes of Pateros and Taguig City. Bishop Nestor Cariño served as the first district bishop.
Three years later, a papal bull of Pope John Paul II, entitled Deus Caritas, was issued, decreeing the establishment of a new diocese comprising Pasig City, Pateros, and Taguig City. The parish, as the oldest Marian church in Asia and as one known for its historical legacy, was designated to be the cathedral of the Diocese of Pasig. Bishop Francisco San Diego became the founding bishop of the diocese on August 21, 2003. Msgr. Gabriel became its first rector.
Concurrently the first Vicar-General of the diocese, Msgr. Rodolfo Gallardo was installed as the second rector of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in December 2003. He retired on February 2005, and was succeeded by Fr. Roy Rosales as the new rector.
Fr. Roy spearheaded the restoration of most of the cathedral's artifacts, like the image of Our Lady of the Apocalypse, the Baptistery, the Cathedral Facade, the processional image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the retablos and the original image of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of Pasig.
It was also through the efforts of Fr. Rosales as Rector that the Immaculate Conception Cathedral witnessed the Solemn Canonical Coronation of its patron as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Pasig last December 7, 2008. The celebration was led by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Rev. Edward Joseph Adams, the Bishop of Pasig, and the entire faithful in the diocese.
In May 2010, Fr. Roy was assigned at the Parish of San Roque, recently inaugurated as the Diocesan Shrine of Santa Marta, in Pateros, Metro Manila.
He was succeeded by Very Rev. Fr. Orlando 'Orly' B. Cantillon, Vicar General of the Diocese of Pasig as Rector and Parish Priest of the Cathedral. He was reassigned to the Diocesan Shrine of St. Anne in Sta. Ana in Taguig City.
The present rector of the cathedral is Rev. Fr. Joselito Jopson, Vicar General of the Diocese of Pasig and Vicar Forane of the Vicariate of Immaculate Conception. Through the efforts of Fr. Lito, the Social Media Ministry, Parish Youth Council and the Basic Ecclesial Communities of the Cathedral Parish are further strengthened.
See also
References
Resources
- The 2010–2011 Catholic Directory of the Philippines (published by Claretian Publications for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, June 2008)