Our Lady of Light Parish Church

Coordinates: 14°20′38″N 121°39′18″E / 14.3440°N 121.655°E / 14.3440; 121.655

Cainta Church
Our Lady of Light Parish Church
Iglesia de Madre Santísima de la Luz
Simbahan ng Caintâ

Facade of the Cainta Church
Cainta Church
The location of the church in the Philippines
14°20′38″N 121°39′18″E / 14.3440°N 121.655°E / 14.3440; 121.655
Location A. Bonifacio Ave., San Andrés, Cainta, Rizal
Country Philippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Founder(s) Jesuits
Consecrated February 25, 1968 (reconstructed church)
Architecture
Status Active
Functional status Church
Heritage designation Marked Historical Structure
Designated 2007
Architect(s) Fr. Gaspar Marco, S.J., (first church)
Arch. Galo Ocampo (reconstructed church
Architectural type Baroque Church
Style Renaissance revival architecture
Groundbreaking 1707 (first church)
1966 (reconstructed church)
Completed 1716 (first church)
1968 (reconstructed church)
Demolished 1899 (first church)
Specifications
Capacity 2,500 people (reconstructed church)
Length 144 feet (44 m) (first church)
223 feet (68 m) (reconstructed church)
Width 48 feet (15 m) (first church)
138 feet (42 m) (reconstructed church)
Height 36 feet (11 m) (first church)
34.4 feet (10.50 m) (reconstructed church)
Number of domes One (first church)
None (reconstructed church)
Number of spires One
Materials Stone and reinforced concrete
Administration
Parish Our Lady of Light
Archdiocese Archdiocese of Manila
Diocese Diocese of Antipolo
Clergy
Archbishop His Eminence Antonio Cardinal Tagle
Bishop(s) Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes
Priest in charge Fr. Neil Vincent Tacbas
Laity
Servers' guild el

Cainta Church, ecclesiastically known as Our Lady of Light Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia de Madre Santísima de la Luz) stands as one of the oldest churches established in the province of Rizal, Philippines. It is located along Andres Bonifacio Avenue in Barangay San Andres. The church also operates a neighboring school, Cainta Catholic College.

From its time of erection as a parish in 1760 until 1983, it belonged to the Archdiocese of Manila. It was placed under the newly created Diocese of Antipolo in 1983, which is now headed by Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes, together with his Auxiliary Bishop Francisco M. De Leon. The present parish priest is Rev.Fr. Neil Vincent Tacbas

History

The stone church of Cainta was first built by Fr. Gaspar Marco, a Jesuit priest in 1707, which was initially named after its patron Saint Andrew the Apostle. The construction of the stone church was designed by Fr. Juan de Salazar, S.J. and was completed during the time of Joaquin Sanchez, S.J. in 1716 while he was still the parish priest.[1]

In 1727, a painting of Our Lady of Light was brought in from the Kingdom of Sicily (today part of Italy) and was chosen as the new patroness of the church. In 1760, the church was officially declared a separate parish.[2]

On February 23, 1853, an earthquake damaged the church building. Its roof and one wall collapsed while the walls of the parish rectory or convent sustained cracks.[1]

By 1884 or even earlier, the parish was already named as Our Lady of Light (Virgen ng Caliuanagan or Madre Santissima del Lumen in Tagalog and Spanish languages), as attested on the August 5, 1884 letter by the pastor of Cainta Don Mariano de San Juan to the Archbishop of Manila, Fray Pedro Payo, O.P..[2]

Filipino-American War

During the Filipino-American War in March 1899, the church and parish rectory of Cainta were burned down with the original picture of the Our Lady of Light, a casualty of the fire. The stones of the church walls were later used to build roads. The only mark left of its Jesuit beginning was attached at the top portion of the church's façade - the monogram of the Holy Name of Jesus: IHS (Latin: Iesus Hominum Salvator, "Jesus, Saviour of Mankind") and the devotion to the Our Lady of Light. The church was left in ruins for about 67 years.[1]

Reconstruction

It was not until the mid 1960s when Rufino Cardinal Santos, then the Archbishop of Manila, instructed Mr. Galo Ocampo, director of the National Museum of the Philippines, to study the possibility to reconstruct the church in its original site. On February 15, 1965, the Cardinal gave permission for the church's reconstruction, which started on June 10, 1966 under Arch. Fernando Ocampo.[3] The facade was kept untouched.[1]

The reconstruction was halted when one of the beams collapsed. Engr. Mejares conducted a study to determine if it could withstand earthquakes. The reconstruction resumed on June 15, 1967 and completed after 380 days.[1]

The 2007 marker declaring Cainta Church a historical site for its role during the Filipino-American War.

Filipino National Artist Fernando Amorsolo was commissioned to create a replica of the icon of Our Lady. Amorsolo's replica is considered the Philippine version of the original painting of Our Lady of Light in Palermo, Italy. The restoration and reconstruction of the parish was completed and was blessed by Rufino Cardinal Santos on February 25, 1968.

In 1975, the administration of the parish was turned over by the CICM Missionaries to the Archdiocese of Manila, with Msgr. Alfredo Sta. Ana, HP as its first diocesan parish priest.

The church used to be the sole parish in the entire municipality of Cainta until 1998, when the community of Brookside Subdivision was granted a parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 2002, three new independent parishes were erected in villages along Imelda Avenue. Parts of Barangay San Andres were later given to newly established parishes, namely San Andres Apostol in Greenwoods Executive Village (2009) and Saint Francis of Assisi in Cambridge, Floodway (2011).

Cainta Church was declared a historical site by the National Historical Institute (NHI) [now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)] in 2007 for its significant role during the Philippines-American War. On December 1 that year, the newly renovated altar and the new historical marker of the church were blessed. The episcopal coronation was held on December 1, 2012 coinciding with the parish fiesta, and performed by Bishop Reyes with the assistance of former Ambassador to the Vatican, Henrietta De Villa.

Architectural features

The original church, including the sacristy and rectory, was made of stone and limestone (calycanto) while the roof was tiled. It measured approximately 144 feet (44 m) long, 48 feet (15 m) wide and 36 feet (11 m) high. It had a dome (media naranja), transepts (crucero), and five buttresses (contrafuertos). The nave's spacious presbytery had windows and skylight (claraboya). The belfry had four bells, two of which were small bells rung by rotation (esquitas). The baptistery with an arched ceiling was situated at the bottom of the belfry. Flooring was made of wood. It also had a choir loft, communion rail, pulpit and three doors. Five retablos were found inside the church. The original picture of the Our Lady of Light was enshrined at the central niche.[1]

The sacristy measured approximately 27 feet (8.2 m) long, 24 feet (7.3 m) wide and 18 feet (5.5 m) high. On the other hand, the parish rectory measured approximately 120 feet (37 m) long, 48 feet (15 m) wide and 24 feet (7.3 m) high. The rectory had a kitchen, two brick chimneys, four rooms and offices.[1]

The larger reconstructed church measures 223 feet (68 m) long, with transept width 138 feet (42 m) wide, and with walls 34.4 feet (10.50 m) high. It has a main door and four lateral doors. There are two separate chapels for the Blessed Sacrament, and for Our Lady of Light and Saint Andrew, both enshrined at the sides of the sanctuary.[1] The bell tower, which is attached to the church building, has arched windows.[4]

Renovations

The altar of the Our Lady of Light was improved and the conservation of Amorsolo's painting of the image was completed and enclosed in glass for protection. The church ceiling was replaced. Meanwhile, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Parish Rectory and the pathways of the Cainta Catholic Cemetery were improved.

Most Holy Mother of Light

The painting of the Our Lady of Light after undergoing conservation treatment.

The devotion to Our Lady of Light was introduced in Cainta in 1727. The original picture brought by the Jesuits had a gilded frame and crest and enshrined in one of the side altars (colacerales). It was transferred to the main altar (retablo mayor) before 1853. Two faithful copies of the original picture exists. The first was an 1801 print given to those who gave donations to Our Lady, which says at the bottom: Verdadero retrato de Nuestra Señora Reina del Universo Maria Santisima Madre de Lumen que se venera en la Iglesia de Cainta en su propia capilla a solicitud y expensa de ciertos devotos de esta gran Señora en el año de 1801 (Real image of Our Lady Queen of the Universe Mary, Most Holy Mother of Light that is venerated in the Church of Cainta in her own chapel, upon the commission and expense of certain devotees of this great Lady in the year 1801). Up to the present, there are a few homes which enshrines the copy.[5]

The second faithful copy is a charcoal painting by Mariano Javier of Cainta, which he painted in 1857. Presently, it is under the care of the family of the late Flora Javier-Buenviaje.[5]

The present painting of the Our Lady of Light was painted using oil on canvass by the renowned National Artist Fernando Amorsolo. Over time, the painting had developed some discolorations and acquired dirt and insect excrement. Specialists were consulted who recommended conservation, and not just ordinary cleaning. Conservation procedures were done in four months by Carmina Silverio, a conservator and restorer of painting and sculptures.

Her feast day is on December 1, after the feast of St. Andrew. Her secondary feast is observed on Thursday after Pentecost Sunday.

Diocesan pastors

Name Years serving Present assignment
Rev. Msgr. Alfredo M. Sta. Ana, HP (†) 1975 – 1987 Deceased
Rev. Msgr. Mariano T. Balbago Jr., PC (Msgr. Mann) 1987 – 1997 Retired, Abroad
Rev. Msgr. Generoso A. Mediarito, PC (Msgr. Henry) 1997 – 2006 Immaculate Conception Parish, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City
Rev. Msgr. Arnel F. Lagarejos, PC, STD 2006 – 2013 St. John the Baptist Parish, Taytay, Rizal
Rev. Fr. Neil Vincent M. Tacbas 2013 – present

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Delos Reyes, Michael (2007). Parroquia de Cainta.
  2. 1 2 "Cainta to hold episcopal coronation of Our Lady of Light; Pasig to inaugurate diocesan museum". Inquirer.net.
  3. ↑ "Cainta Church 01.jpg (historical marker). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved on 2014-10-26.
  4. ↑ Arch. Alarcon, Norma (1998). Philippine Architecture During the Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods. Beato Angelico Building, España, Manila: UST Publishing House. pp. 121–122. ISBN 971-506-040-4.
  5. 1 2 Delos Reyes, Michael (2007). Devotion to Our Lady of Light.

Other sources

External links

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