Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church (Pulong Buhangin)

Parokya ng Birhen ng Bundok ng Karmelo
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Pulong Buhangin
Nuestra Señora Del Carmen Parish Pulong Buhangin

The facade of the church
Location Pulong Buhangin, Bulacan
Country Republic of the Philippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website https://www.facebook.com/Our-Lady-of-Mount-Carmel-Parish-Pulong-Buhangin-106549169687670
History
Founded March 23, 1941
Founder(s) Various
Dedication Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint Sebastian
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status Active
Architectural type Church building
Style Modern
Administration
Parish Pulong Buhangin
Archdiocese Manila
Diocese Malolos
Clergy
Archbishop Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle
Bishop(s) Most Rev. Jose Francisco Oliveros, D.D.
Priest(s) Fr. Edgardo C. De Jesus, Ph.D.

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, commonly referred as Nuestra Señora Del Carmen Parish, (Filipino: Parokya ng Birhen ng Bundok ng Karmelo) (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de la Nuestra Señora del Carmen) is a Roman Catholic Church situated in Barangay Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is under the coat of arms and jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malolos and within the vicariate of Santa Maria. Barangay Pulong Buhangin celebrates its barrio fiesta every second/third (depends on the liturgical year) Sunday of February in honor of the arrival of the image of our lady (translacion) to the barrio. The parish also celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel every July 16.

The upcoming barrio fiesta (108th year) will be on February 13-14, 2016. On March 23, 2016, the church will celebrate its 75 year anniversary as a parish. Certain preparations are currently undertaken by the parish pastoral council and various religious organizations for the upcoming milestones (repairs and improvements to the church and environs).

History

The parish was established on November 25, 1940, by the decree of then Archbishop of Manila, Rev. Michael J. O'Doherty. This decree separated the barrios of Pulong Buhangin, Quepombo, Catmon, Tigbe and others from the jurisdiction of Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Santa Maria). The assistant priest of Santa Maria church, Rev. Fr. Jose B. Aguinaldo (later became a monsignor) was installed in 1941 as its first parish priest.

The present day church was constructed in late 1950s where laborers were paid only five working days and donated their sixth working day to the church. Then after, the Archbishop of Manila, Rufino Cardinal Santos blessed the newly-constructed church. This is the product of the grace of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and many years of toil and labor of the people of Pulong Buhangin, including the generous donors (one of the donors was the archbishop himself). From a small bisita (chapel), it underwent renovation through the years into what it is today.[1] In 2007, through the supervision of Rev. Fr. Elmer R. Ignacio, S.T.L. (the 14th and incumbent parish priest at that time), the main altar underwent a major renovation to prepare the church for its centennial fiesta and its canonical enthronement which happened on February 17, 2008 and November 16, 2008, respectively. The centennial fiesta had the theme: "Pamanang Pananampalataya, Bayang Naglilingkod". Centennial markers were placed near the main door and the middle of the church to commemorate the historical event. The relic of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, a prominent figure in the carmelite society and one of the doctors of the church, was brought in the parish last 2008.

Image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Pulong Buhangin

The church is home to a miraculous 350-year old ivory statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Legend says an old lady (believed as the Virgin Mary) approached an old man dwelling in the barrio named "Kunino" and instructed him to build a chapel. The old lady gave a letter and said that it must be presented to Simeon and Simeona, the richest spouses in the barrio to provide him the funds needed for the construction. Kunino approached the spouses and gave the letter. Simeon and Simeona refused to the request and then the letter was put into fire. To the surprise of the witnesses, the letter was not consumed by fire. This was considered one of the first miracles of our lady in the barrio. Due to shock of what happened, the spouses immediately ordered the construction of the chapel.[2] After this event, the old lady appeared again to Kunino, and instructed him to get a statue of Our Lady in San Sebastian Church (Manila). Kunino followed the instructions set forth by the old lady and went to San Sebastian Church. He requested a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to the friars. On February 9, 1665, the statue was brought from San Sebastian Church to the barrio of Pulong Buhangin. This event is also known as "translacion". This is why the barrio celebrates its fiesta every February.

The 350 year-old ivory image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, Bulacan. (Photo credits: Mr. Joseph M. Villanueva)

The original image is currently enshrined in the church museum, known as "Museo de Carmelo" within the parish building.[3]

Parish Priests of the church

The following priests served the church wholeheartedly. Each of them made their individual mark and impact on the faithful and on the community.[4]

Parish Priest Term
1. Rev. Msgr. Jose B. Aguinaldo 1941-1951
2. Fr. Daniel Buñing 1951-1955
3. Fr. Cenon Bernabe 1955-1962
4. Fr. Pablo Reyes 1962-1963
5. Fr. Eliseo Perigrino 1963-1968
6. Fr. Pedro J. Rada 1968-1969
7. Fr. Mariano Sanchez 1969-1972
8. Fr. Jose Cruz 1972
9. Fr. Fernando Gutierrez 1972-1974
10. Fr. Bart Bernabe 1974-1978
11. Fr. Rico Santos 1978-1985
12. Fr. Francisco Sta. Ana 1985-1992
13. Fr. Leon Coronel 1993-2002
14. Fr. Elmer R. Ignacio 2002-2013
15. Fr. Edgardo C. De Jesus 2013–present

Present Administration

The parish is currently under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Edgardo "Egai" C. De Jesus, Ph.D., the 15th parish priest (Filipino: Kura Paroko) of the church. Fr. Egai came from Nuestra Señora de Lourdes Parish in Doña Remedios Trinidad, and was formally installed on February 1, 2014. He succeeded Rev. Fr. Elmer R. Ignacio, S.T.L., who then was designated as the new parish priest of St. James the Apostle Parish in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Parish Schedules

Fr. Egai asks for the intercession of the Our Lady during the Healing Mass. (Photo credits: Official Facebook Page)

Daily Mass (Monday - Friday)

-6:30 am

Sunday Masses:

-5:00 am, 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm

Pilgrims' Day

Every first (1st) Saturday of the month

-5:00 am - Penitential Procession

-10:00 am - Healing Mass

Baptism

-Subject to schedule given by the parish office

Marriage

-By appointment. Please coordinate with the office

Other services (Sacrament of reconciliation, anointing of the sick, etc.)

-By appointment. Please coordinate with the office

Museo de Carmelo Schedule

Mondays to Saturdays

Museo de Carmelo

Open: 7:00 am

Close: 10:00 am

Sundays

Open: 5:00 am

Close: 8:00 pm

Image Gallery[5]

The bronze Risen Christ made by renowned artist Sandro Castrillo as the centerpiece of the sanctuary

References

  1. ↑ "Municipality of Santa Maria Bulacan". santamariabulacan.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  2. ↑ Gregorio, et.al. Pasyon ng barrio Pulong Buhangin ng bayang Sta. Maria Bulakan.
  3. ↑ Official Facebook page of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
  4. ↑ De Jesus, Armando (2015). A Short history of the parish of Nuestra Senora Del Carmen Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
  5. ↑ "Security Check Required". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-12-23.

External links

Photo gallery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, Bulacan

Photo credits to the Official Facebook Page of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish-Pulong Buhangin and to various contributors (commons.wikipedia.org)

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