Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Church (Marikina)

Catholicism in what is now Marikina began when the settlement was again ceded to the Augustinians by the Jesuits. On 10 March 1687, Governor Gabriel Cruz Elasque ordered the transfer of Marikina to the oversight of the Augustinians and merged with the ministry of San Mateo. He instructed Don Juan Pimentel, the Mayor of Tondo, to vacate and demolish the visita of Jesús de la Peña as the Marikina River would flood the site during the rainy season. The visita could not accommodate the growing congregation, forcing the Austin friars to transfer operations across the Marikina to higher ground, where the much larger, present structure was built. The church was subsequently made an independent parish in 1690.

The church suffered major damages during the tumultuous years of the Philippine–American War in the early 1900s and the carillion was totally destroyed during the second world war. By 1957, OLA church was restored and refurbished by Father Silvestre dela Cruz of Archdiocese of Manila with the help from various religious and civic organisations.[2]

On 5 August 2007, which is the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, the Bishop of Antipolo, Gabriel V. Reyes, D.D., consecrated the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Abandoned as a diocesan shrine in honor of Our Lady under the title Maria, Inang Mapag-Ampon ng Marikina, Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados. On 8 September 2007, a little more than a month after the dedication of the church as a shrine, Bishop Francisco de Leon, who had been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo, was assigned by the Bishop of Antipolo as Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Abandoned. Msgr. Mariano Balbago Jr. relinquished the title of parish priest, but was appointed Rector and Parish Administrator, assisting Bishop De Leon in his duties. Upon the departure of Msgr. Balbago from the shrine and parish, Bishop De Leon was also appointed rector by the Bishop of Antipolo, but this time assisted by vice rector and parish administrator Fr. Reynante U. Tolentino.

Statues of the apostles at the top of the pillars around the side of the church

The church was first constructed from bamboo and leaves by the Augustinian friars in a place called Chorillo (present-day Barangka) on 1572. On 1687, the real construction began in its present location to stabilize an ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the area. Constructed in Baroque style, it is characterized by a heavily fortified facade, large-scale ceiling paintings, a dramatic central projection of the facade, a round-style pediment for the bell-tower and the opulent blending of painting and architecture.

On 23 October 1791, the church was consecrated by the Archdiocese of Manila for the Virgin's said title so that it could not be used for any secular purpose. In 1898, during the Philippine–American War, the first image was burnt along with pertinent records of the devotion in Marikina. In 1902, a new image was created, and is the one presently venerated in the parish.

The community initially approached the Apostolic Nuncio to petition for the Canonical Coronation of the image; however, the petition was declined due to few supporting documents. Meanwhile, then Bishop of Antipolo Crisostomo Yalung honored the Patrona with an Episcopal Coronation to remember the 100th Anniversary of the venerated image. The celebration was held on 12 May 2002, wherein the coronation was facilitated by Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Pope Benedict XVI granted the venerated image a decree of canonical coronation on 22 April 2005, one of his first formal institutional acts as a pope. The coronation would later take place on 23 October 2005.[3] Former Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Rosales presided over the Mass and canonical rites together with the Antipolo Bishop, Gabriel V. Reyes.

Assisting in the Pastoral Team of the parish are as follows:

• Francis Roi Madarang - Parochial Vicar
• Conegundo Garganta - Resident Priest
• Sandy Anonuevo
• Casiano Anthony Cotiamco

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  Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados in front of the OLA Church
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  A closer view of the altar with the massive overhead arches
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  Arches are a common feature of the church.
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  An inside view of the OLA Church
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  Another view from the aisle
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  The Our Lady of Abandoned's ceiling is painted with various images of Jesus' ministry according to the Bible.
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  A ceiling painting of the main dome depicting the descent of the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire which settled over the head of each of Jesus' disciples
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  Virgen de los Desamparados de Marikina
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  Exterior statue

• Jesus dela Peña Chapel
• Virgen de los Desamparados

• Media related to Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Church (Marikina) at Wikimedia Commons