Balanga Cathedral

Balanga Cathedral, formally known as Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph in Balanga, Bataan, is the seat of the Diocese of Balanga which comprises entire of the civil province of Bataan. Since June 5, 2017, Fr. Ernesto B. De Leon and Fr. Regin Tenorio serve as the cathedral priests. On March 19, 2015 the cathedral was formally declared as a Diocesan Shrine.

Balanga Cathedral
Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral-Parish of St. Joseph
Santuario Diocesano y Catedral de San José de Balanga
LocationBrgy. Poblacion, Balanga
CountryPhilippines
DenominationCatholic
History
Former name(s)Cathedral-Parish of St. Joseph
Founded1793
DedicationSan Jose
Consecrated2005
Administration
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Balanga
Clergy
ArchbishopFlorentino Lavarias
Bishop(s)Ruperto Santos
RectorFr. Ernesto B. De Leon and Fr. Regin Tenorio

History

During the Japanese invasion the cathedral was used as an artillery emplacement to bombard Mt. Samat, where the Filipino-American troops made their last stand. It was later renovated by the first bishop of the Diocese, Celso Guevarra DD and made its patron saint, Saint Joseph.

Bishops
Name From Until Formerly Bishop of
Bishop Celso Nogoy Guevarra † Died Aug. 13, 2002, tomb in the Belltower of the cathedral June 4, 1975 April 8, 1998 (Retired) Titular Bishop of Vannida (Titular See)
Bishop Honesto Flores Ongtioco June 18, 1998 August 28, 2003 (Installed as Bishop of Cubao) Priest of San Fernando, Pampanga
Bishop Socrates Buenaventura Villegas July 3, 2004 November 4, 2009 (Installed as Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan) Bishop of Nona (Titular See)
Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos July 8, 2010

Inside
Main altar in Balanga Cathedral

After the war Bishop Celso renovated the church. Its walls were white and a number of chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the largest before the altar. Behind the altar was a structure painted green with stripes of gold and a statue of Jesus in the left, Mary on the right, and St. Joseph holding the hand of Baby Jesus. Beside the altar, there were two statues, St. Lorenzo Ruiz in the left and Mary at the right. There was a group of bells lined together vertically by metal grilles, the usual bell design in almost all of the parishes in Bataan. There was a statue of Jesus of Nazareth near the main door, which was kept for rehabilitation, believed to be miraculous. People lined up and gave sampaguitas to its neck and cross, they would usually wipe its feet. When Bishop Socrates was appointed he saw that the decorations were in bad shape; he renovated the inside with a new design. When it was finished, the white walls were replaced by a wall of bricks, the structure behind the altar became marble white, the floors were higher and the chandeliers were replaced by ceiling lights.

Feast of the Patron Saint

The Feast Day of St. Joseph is celebrated twice annually in the city of Balanga, on March 19 and the "pistang bayan" every April 28.

See also

References
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