Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church

The Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church is the fourth oldest parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig, following in the senior status of the churches of the Pasig Cathedral in Pasig, Santa Ana Shrine in Taguig and San Roque Parish in Pateros, Philippines. Santolan's 200-year-old patron saint is Thomas of Villanova.[1] The saint was a great Augustinian bishop and man of charity but unknown in the Manila area.[2]

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church
Iglesia Santo Tomás de Villanueva
Facade of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church
LocationEvangelista Street, Santolan,
Pasig
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitehttp://parish.stvpasig.org/
History
FoundedNovember 8, 1953
Founder(s)Conrado Arciaga
Architecture
Architectural typeModern
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Pasig
Clergy
Priest(s)Reynaldo Reyes

The jurisdiction of the parish is as follows: Santolan (North), Marikina River (West), Maybunga San Miguel (South), Cainta, Rizal (East). The church enshrines the 19th century Virgin Mary, said to be different among others, for she has a moon underneath her feet.[3]

The parish is one of the three other parishes in the Diocese of Pasig that has been granted the special papal blessing to mark its Diamond Jubilee Year in connection with its 60th anniversary.[3]

History of the parish

In 1798, the first chapel made of wood and cogon was built in Santolan by siblings Don Luis and Antonio Victorino. A second chapel made of stone, chalk and tiles was built in the year 1808 by the siblings. It was the biggest chapel built in Pasig. The parish was then established on November 8, 1953, after more than 100 years by Conrado Arciaga. The first parish priest was Alejandro Vermorel who served from 1953 to 1956. In 1956, he proposed the construction of a bigger church and convent. The church was then built with the help of this parish priest's fund-raising activity. By the year 1959, Archbishop Rufino Santos blessed the new church.

Architecture of the present church

The church at present, is a modernized structure with art deco design. Walls are made of concrete. The roofing at the entrance door are made of tiles.

Pilgrim Church

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church was declared a pilgrim church by Pope Francis in a papal decree dated April 17, 2013 to mark its 60th anniversary and to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee year. The other three pilgrim churches covered by the Pasig diocese are the Shrine of Saint Anne in Santa Ana, Taguig; Sto. Rosario de Pasig Parish in Rosario, Pasig; and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Lower Bicutan, Taguig.[3]

  • An Old Bell
    An Old Bell
  • History of the Parish
    History of the Parish
  • Entrance Door to the Nave
    Entrance Door to the Nave
  • Altar
    Altar
  • Marble Stairway to the
    Marble Stairway to the
  • Ladder going to the Bell Tower
    Ladder going to the Bell Tower
  • Roof of the Main Door
    Roof of the Main Door

References
  1. "ANG BUHAY AT LARAWAN NI SANTO TOMAS DE VILLANUEVA". Bro. Winston S. Victorino. May 17, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. "Sto. Tomas de Villanueva prepares for Diamond Jubilee". Diocese of Pasig. March 12, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. "Devotees set Rome date for John XXIII, John Paul II canonizations; Santo Rosario de Pasig declared 'pilgrim church'". Inquirer.net. October 6, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
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