Bagac parish church is now Shrine of St. Catherine of Alexandria

“… the most beautiful church is the people because no architectural design can defeat the product of God…”

BAGAC, Bataan – With the feast day of its patron saint, Saint Catherine of Alexandria nearing, Bishop Ruperto Santos D.D. solemnly proclaimed the consecration of Bagac parish church to Diocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria bearing the theme ‘Simbahang Nagpapala, Patronang Mapaghimala’ in a holy mass officiated by Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan and the president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; Bishop Roberto C. Mallari D.D, of San Jose, Nueva Ecija; and Bishop Victor C. Ocampo, of Gumaca, Quezon yesterday, November 16.

Parish priests of Bataan together with some priests from Nueva Ecija and Quezon were also present to witness this historical event in the religious lives of the Bagaceños. Bagac Municipal Mayor Louise Gabriel together with the Sangguniang Bayan, and Gov. Albert S. Garcia also graced the portentous event.

During the mass, Bishop Villegas sprinkled the walls of the church with holy water which signified the baptism and new beginning of the church together with the people of Bagac. In his homily, he emphasized that the most beautiful church is the people because no architectural design can defeat the product of God, pertaining to the people.

Meanwhile, as part of the ceremony, Bishop Santos poured Oil of Catechumens at the altar of the church symbolizing the anointing of oil during baptism, a new life, a new beginning.

In his remarks, Parish Priest of Bagac, Rev. Fr, Ernesto B. de Leon emotionally expressed his deepest gratitude to all the people who helped make the much-anticipated event possible. In teary-eyes, he recalled his struggles when he was assigned in the town. “Nung dumating ako dito, the church was structurally bankrupt, financially bankrupt.. natakot ako baka pati pagkatao ko mabankrupt. Pero tinulungan ako ng Diyos, ginabayan Niya ako. Kaya heto tayo ngayon, magkakasama.”

The church was built by the Augustinian-Recoletos friars in 1866 under the supervision of Fr. Esteban Martinez and became a parish church in 1876, and underwent decades of renovation since 1946 due to the massive destruction brought by World War II under the supervision of Fr. Jovencio Tantoco and Fr. Mechor Garcia and then continued by Fr. Joel Pineda in 1952.

It also underwent series of renovation under different parish priests namely Msgr. Amando Morales (1975-1981), Msgr. Victor Ocampo (1981-1986), Msgr. Hipolito Araña (1986-1991), Fr. Leo Peña (1991-1994), Msgr. Edelfredo Cruz (1994-2002), Fr. Abraham Pantig (2002-2007), Fr. Milver Cruz (2007-2008).