Santa Cruz Church (Manila)

The Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church, commonly known as the Santa Cruz Parish Church and also designated as the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, is a Mission Revival Roman Catholic parish church in the district of Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines. It was built when the arrabal (suburb) of Santa Cruz was established by the Jesuits in the early 17th century. The church had undergone many repairs and reconstruction, with the last reconstruction done in the 1950s.

Santa Cruz Church
Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament
Our Lady of the Pillar Parish
  • Pang-Arkidiyosesis na Dambana ng Kabanal-Banalang Sakramento at Parokya ng Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila (Filipino)
  • Santuario Arqudiocesano del Santo Sacramento y Iglesia Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila (Spanish)
The church in October 2023
14°35′56″N 120°58′49″E
LocationSanta Cruz, Manila
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
Religious instituteCongregation of the Blessed Sacrament
WebsiteSanta Cruz Parish
History
StatusArchdiocesan Shrine
Founded1768 (1768)
Founder(s)Jesuits
DedicationOur Lady of the Pillar
Other dedicationBlessed Sacrament
Relics heldPeter Julian Eymard
Charles Lwanga
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleMission Revival
Completed1957 (1957)
Specifications
Number of domes1
Number of towers1
MaterialsConcrete
Administration
ArchdioceseManila
DeaneryJose de Trozo[1]
ParishOur Lady of the Pillar
Clergy
RectorRudsend Paragas
Assistant priest(s)Lenen Deciar

It is the first mission and motherhouse of Filipino Sacramentinos, making it as the center of congregation activities and events.

History

The Jesuits built the first Catholic church in the area where the present Santa Cruz Parish stands on June 20, 1619. The original church design was made of stone and wood.[2] The Jesuits enshrined the image of Our Lady of Pilar in 1643 to serve the predominantly Chinese residents in the area.[3] The first church was made of stone and wood was built in the 17th century. On June 3, 1863, an earthquake destroyed the church. Agustin de Mendoza began reconstruction work on the church in 1868.[4]

The original structure of the church was twice damaged by earthquakes and then completely destroyed during the Battle of Manila. The present building of the church, reconstructed in 1957, was designed to reflect the Spanish baroque style that Resembles, Architectural style of Spanish missions in California.[3] Art Deco and Romanesque influences the interior of the Church.

On August 15, 1957, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament began administering the church.[4]

On December 7, 2017, Pope Francis granted the canonical coronation of the venerated image of Our Lady of the Pillar.[5]

On June 3, 2018, as part of the church-wide celebrations of Corpus Christi, it was officially raised to an archdiocesan shrine by the decree of the then-Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, in the archdiocesan Mass held in the church.[5]

Architecture

The church façade is characteristically Mission Revival with Ionic piers vertically dividing the first two levels in three parts. Three semicircular arch doorways form as main entrance to the church. A Celtic-like window flanked by small semicircular windows is found at the center of the second level. Forming as the pediment, the topmost level has its raking cornice in undulating liens emanating from the broken pediment found above the statued niche. The domed belfry rises on the right in six levels.[6]

The church façade is topped with a statue of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the church, whose feast is held every 3rd Sunday of October.

  • The façade relief surrounding the center window
    The façade relief surrounding the center window
  • The pediment of the church located on the topmost portion of the façade.
    The pediment of the church located on the topmost portion of the façade.
  • Domed beflry of the church
    Domed beflry of the church
  • Nave
    Nave
  • Altar
    Altar
  • The Canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila
    The Canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila

Notable priests

See also

References

Citations
  1. "Vicariate of Jose de Trozo". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  2. Olbés, p. 14.
  3. Gopal, Lou (August 8, 2012). "Santa Cruz". Manila Nostalgia. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  4. "About Us". Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  5. Hermoso, Christina (June 6, 2018). "Sta. Cruz parish now archdiocesan shrine of the Blessed Sacrament". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  6. Alarcon, Norma (1991). Philippine Architecture During the Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods. Manila: Santo Tomas University Press. ISBN 971-506-040-4.

Bibliography
  • Olbés, Rene (2000). The Philippines:A Century Hence. Makati, Philippines: Rene Olbés and Associates. pp. 14–15. ISBN 971-92288-0-6.
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