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Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church
Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church
Camaligan Church
Parokya ni San Antonio de Padua (Filipino); Iglesia Parroquial de San Antonio de Padua (Spanish);
	Church façade in 2024
	Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church Location in Luzon Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church Location in the Philippines
	13°37′15″N 123°10′08″E / 13.620789°N 123.169022°E
Location	Camaligan, Camarines Sur
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Facebook
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1795
Founder(s)	Franciscan Mission
Dedication	St. Anthony of Padua
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Baroque
Years built	1856-1857
Completed	1857
Closed	N/A
Demolished	N/A
Specifications
Materials	Stones, cement, egg whites, bricks made from ashes of freshwater clams, straws and clay
Administration
Province	Caceres
Archdiocese	Cáceres
Clergy
Archbishop	Most Rev. Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, OCD, D.D.
Rector	Rev. Fr. Glenn C. Ruiz, SThL, M.A
Vicar(s)	Rev. Fr. Serafin Amaro

Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church, originally known as Camaligan Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Camaligan, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is the one of the two parish churches of the Archdiocese of Caceres located in the town of Camaligan.^[3] The parish was established in 1795.^[1] The first church structure of Camaligan that was made of stones and woods was burnt in the year 1856.^[2] The current church architecture was only completed in 1857,^[4] a year after the original structure was burnt. The church is considered one of the oldest churches in Camarines Sur that is rich in religious and cultural history,^[5] and a popular spot for Visita Iglesia.^[4]

The church is under the Vicariate of St. John the Evangelist.^[6] As of June 18, 2018, the current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Glenn C. Ruiz.^[7]

History

Camaligan was under the ecclesiastical and civil jurisdiction of Nueva Caceres (now Naga City) for almost two centuries, from year 1578 to 1775.^[1]

In the year 1775, the town became an independent political unit under the administration of Bishop Domingo Ollantes of Nueva Caceres.^[8] However, it was only in 1795 when Fray Rafael Benevente, was appointed parish priest by the Franciscan mission.^[9]

A church made of stones and wooden structures was built, but was burnt in the year 1856.^[2]

A year after the burning of the original church, in 1857, during the term of Fray Juan Ontiveros as parish priest,^[2] the present church structure was completed.^[1] It is said that when this church was built, the real intention of the friars was to wipe out pre-colonial lifestyle and practices of the newly-colonized town from looking back to their pre-colonial lifestyle and practices. In fact, the land where the church stands is a former burial ground during pre-colonial times.^[5]

Gallery

Church altar and retablo mayor
The church's bricks in detail
The church with its newly-constructed belfry
Church left side
Church right side

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Escandor, Juan Jr. (April 17, 2014). "157-yr-old church endures in Camarines Sur". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Marcaida, Dominador Jr. "Profile of Barangay San Mateo, Camaligan, Camarines Sur". Escuela Catekumenal Communities. April 27, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
^ "Parish Directory of the Archdiocese of Caceres". Archdiocese of Caceres. March 10, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "VISITA IGLESIA IN CAMARINES SUR, PHILIPPINES – 7 CHURCH IN 7 DAYS ITINERARY". Two Monkeys Travel. February 2, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Historic Camaligan". I Know Places. March 30, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
^ "List of Vicariates". Archdiocese of Caceres. October 10, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
^ "New Assignments of Priests in Caceres". Archdiocese of Caceres. March 29, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
^ "Origin of the Name of Camaligan". camaligueno ako. February 6, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
^ Marcaida, Dominador Jr. "Camaligan Town and Municipality History". Academia. September 30, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2019.