Malolos Cathedral

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Basic information
Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception (Malolos Cathedral)

Location	Malolos City, Bulacan, Philippines
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic
Year consecrated	1630
Ecclesiastical status	Basilica Minore or Minor Basilica
Functional status	active
Leadership	Diocesian Bishop
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Neo-Classic

Malolos Cathedral, also newly known as the Basilica Minore dela Nuestra Señora de Inmaculada Concepcion (in Spanish) or Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception (in English), is the eccelesiastical seat of the Diocese of Malolos in the Philippines. Note: Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception or the Manila Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Manila.

The Basilica is considered as the 10th Basilica in the country, and it is located at the Heart of the City of Malolos in the Province of Bulacan.

1 History
2 Diocese of Malolos
- 2.1 Vicariates of the Diocese
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Malolos was Christianized on 1580 by the Augustinians and has been a focal point in the history of the country. The Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception had its beginnings with its first building in 1591 made of light materials. In succeeding years, it has been rebuilt and enlarged. The current church was consecrated in 1826 but was heavily damaged in the earthquakes of 1863 and 1880. These were renovated but was burned by the revolutionaries in 1898. Starting 1963, the church was heavily renovated that portions of the facade and interior were altered.

The facade is simple with touches of neo-classic. Doric columns divide it into three segments with the central part holding the statued niches, emblem of the Augustinians and the papal insignia.^[1]

The Cathedral was the seat of power of the President of the First Philippine Republic, Emilio Aguinaldo. When the Philippine-American War erupted in 1899, President Aguinaldo moved the capital from Malolos to San Fernando in Pampanga. The Cathedral was burned to delay the pursuing Americans. The Cathedral was rebuilt and, later, became the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos.

Historical Marker of the First Philippine Republic

Near the Cathedral is the equally important Barasoain Church, where the First Philippine Congress held sessions and drafted the 1898 Malolos Constitution.

[edit] Diocese of Malolos

The Diocese of Malolos, with jurisdiction over the Province of Bulacan and the City of Valenzuela in Metropolitan Manila and suffragan to the Archdiocese of Manila, was created on March 11, 1962 by Pope John XXIII. Rev. Manuel del Rosario was installed Papal Nuncio Salvatore Siino as the first bishop of the Diocese.The current and 5th Bishop of Malolos is Most Rev. Jose F. Oliveros, D.D.