| Namacpacan Church | |
|---|---|
| |
Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Catalina de Alejandría (Spanish) | |
.jpg) Churchfacade in 2020 | |
.svg)  Namacpacan Church Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines | |
| 16°51′12″N120°22′35″E / 16.853333°N 120.376389°E /16.853333; 120.376389 | |
| Location | Brgy. Victoria,Luna |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name | Luna Church |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1690 |
| Dedication | SaintCatherine of Alexandria |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | National Cultural Treasure |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Earthquake Baroque |
| Administration | |
| Province | Lingayen-Dagupan |
| Archdiocese | Lingayen-Dagupan |
| Diocese | San Fernando de La Union |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Socrates B. Villegas |
| Bishop | Daniel O. Presto |
Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church, also known as theShrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan andNamacpacan Church, is aRoman Catholicchurch located inLuna (formerly Namacpacan),La Union, Philippines under the jurisdiction of theDiocese of San Fernando de La Union. Once calledLuna Church, itstitular is SaintCatherine of Alexandria. Built in 1690, it is also known as the shrine for the image of Our Lady of theImmaculate Conception of Namacpacan.
The church was declared aNational Cultural Treasure by theNational Museum of the Philippines.
Since 1587, Namacpacan was avisita of Purao (presently known asBalaoan).[1] In November 25, 1690, the town was founded and a parish under the advocacy of SaintCatherine of Alexandria was canonically erected.[1] The first church of Namacpacan was built under the supervision of Father Mateo Bustillos, the parish priest from 1695 to 1697.[2] The original site of the church was in Darigayos, a barrio of Namacpacan and was transferred in 1741 to its present site.[1][3] The image of the Our Lady of Namacpacan was enshrined in the church in 1871.
The church was reinforced withmasonry andgalvanized iron roof. It was heavily destroyed by an earthquake in 1854. Through the efforts of Father Marcelino Ceballes, the church was restored and the convent was widened in 1876.[2]
Like other Philippine churches built in earthquake-prone areas, Namacpacan Church is classified as anEarthquake Baroque church with thick walls andbuttresses connected to a brick exterior stairway of different designs and shapes.[4] A ceremonial archway orcapilla possa can be found at the church's entrance.[2] Its 1872 white and yellow facade falls under the Baroque style with the presence of roundedpediments.[5] Three sets of two pairs ofengaged columns and two sets of singlecolumns along with twinbelfries adorning thefaçade.[5] A wooden altar, Spanish-era stonepulpit and a woodrelief of theBaptism of Christ, probablypolychromed, can be found inside the church.[5][6]
Itsconvento is now used as a school.[7]
The wooden image of theBlessed Virgin Mary venerated as the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception of Namacpacan, addressed inIlocano asApo Baket,[8] was ordered in 1871 from Spain by anAugustinian priest assigned to the Immaculate Conception Seminary inVigan.[9] During transit, thegalleon ship fromMexico carrying the image took shelter in Darigayos due to a storm. When the sea calmed, they resumed their journey but strong winds forced them to return to Darigayos.[9] The ship’s captain decided to have the image transported by land and it was temporarily placed in the town church’sconvento.[1] However, the image became too heavy to be transferred onwards; Father Camilo Naves, an Augustinian priest, interpreted these as signs from the Virgin Mary that she wanted her image to be enshrined in Namacpacan.[1][9] Father Marcelino Ceballos, theparish priest, requested the Augustinians give the image to the town.[9] When the people of Namacpacan agreed to reimburse all expenses incurred during the image's journey from Spain, its owner finally gave it to them.[1][9] The people welcomed the Virgin with feasting, and enshrined her on an altar in the north part of their church.
Pope John XXIII granted a pontifical decree of coronation to Bishop Juan Callanta y Sison on September 7, 1959, signed by Canon Secretary Giulio Barbella and notarized by Secretary ofApostolic Dataria Marco Martini. The image wascanonically crowned on November 24, 1959, by theApostolic Nuncio to the Philippines,Salvatore Siino.[9][10]
The image of Our Lady of Namacpacan, standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.92 m) tall, is the tallest-known Marian image in the Philippines[11] and is invoked as patroness ofIlocano travellers.[12]
Several miracles attributed to the Virgin of Namacpacan are widely known, including the healing of a young girl named Rosa Roldán, who was unable to walk since birth.[10]
BeforePope Pius XII died on October 9, 1958, he had reportedly dreamt of the Virgin of Namacpacan.[10] He asked where "Namacpacan" was, but none of his staff were aware; it was only after the pontiff's death did Church officials learn of the image and its location.
Media related toSaint Catherine of Alexandria Church (Luna, La Union) at Wikimedia CommonsDioecesis Ferdinandopolitana ab Unione | |||||||||
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