Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church is a Roman Catholic and Marian Church located in La Paz district of Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. It is also called Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buena Viaje Church and La Paz Church.
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History
La Paz used to be called by various names such as Ilawod, Iznart (after Governor Manuel Iznart), and over time the area was called after the patroness. It was part of Jaro and in succeeding years became a separate town in 1856 through an initiative by Marcelo Jereos, Moises Gustilo, Felipe Huervana, Eusebio Jereos, and Gregorio Divinagracia. However, in 1903, it became part of then municipality of Iloilo (now Iloilo City).
In the past, the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church was a visita of Our Lady of Candles Parish in Jaro. Friars of the Augustinian Order tended the church, which was one of two parishes given to them (the other was San Jose Placer Church) in exchange of Jaro.
Then in 1870, it was made into a parish and Fr. Candido Gonzales was the first parish priest. Fr. Gonzales initiated the construction of a convent and a place of worship, which was made of wood and bricks. He then built the colonial stone church between 1870 and 1874, and it was completed by Fr. Mariano Ysar in 1895.
Its facade survived the ruins of Second World War and the 1948 earthquake, the same earthquake that destroyed Oton Church. Reconstruction of the church was led by Fr. Melecio Fegarido in 1960s, and the completed structure was consecrated in May 24, 1995.
It had fourteen Augustinians who served as parish priest before it was handed over to the secular clergy starting in 1910. Over the years, it produced daughter parishes of Our Lady the Assumption Church in Obrero (1952), St. Clements Church in Luna (1962), Our Lady of Fatima Church inn Lapuz (1972), and San Lorenzo Church in Caingin (1992).
Architecture
The Neoclassical La Paz Church resembles that of San Jose Placer Parish Church due to its bell towers that flank a facade of deep red-brown bricks with white accent. Horizontally, the facade contains cornices that divide it into three panels of arch apertures and pilasters, with the uppermost occupied by the pediment and belfries with balustrade. The pediment contain images of a sailboat with a cross, flora, and fauna. In its apex is the Greek Chi-Ro symbol that represents the name of Christ. Meanwhile, the belfries are octagonal and crowned with a dome, lantern, and cross.
The facade itself is vertically marked into three sections by two Ionic columns which bear the year 1970. They rise from the ground bounding the main arch entryway of the church, a heart-shaped low relief containing a holy figure, and the niche of the patron. Their lintel bear the inscription “NSTRA. SRA. DE LA PAZ Y BUENA VIAJE”, and they support an ornamental pediment with low relief carvings.
Its interiors have three naves and do not have any transepts unlike other churches. The main nave is bounded two rows of pillars, on top of which is the clerestory of windows. Its ceiling is decorated by rafters and a repeated motif of a cross. Such cross motif is also found in the ceiling on both side naves.
Celebration
The feast of Nuestra Señora de la Paz Y Buen Viaje, also the patroness of Antipolo Cathedral, is held every May 24 and the feast is called Lapaz District Fiesta.
Services
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church has the following religious services:
Baptism. Baptism is at 10:00 in the morning every Saturday. Other schedules can be arranged by appointment.
Confession. Schedule for confession is every 4:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon for three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Dawn Rosary. Also called Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Blessed Virgin Mary, it is observed every first Saturdays in a procession that starts at 5:15 in the morning and a 6:00 morning mass.
Holy Hour. Slated every first Friday of the month, it starts from 5:00 in the morning. Afterwards, a mass is heard at 6:00. It is an hour spent praying in Eucharistic adoration in the Blessed Sacrament.
Mass for the Dead. It is held every first Monday of the month at 7:00 in the morning at La Paz cemetery.
Mass for Vocations. Scheduled ever first Thursday of the month at 5:30 in the evening in the Lady of the Rule Chapel, it is conducted as prayer to encourage people to the priestly calling.
Parish office is open from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon from Tuesday to Sunday.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church in La Paz, Iloilo City from June 9, 2025 to June 15, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Iloilo City.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Ilonggo)
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Ilonggo)
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Ilonggo)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Ilonggo)
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Ilonggo)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Ilonggo)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (Anticipated Mass - English)
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Ilonggo)
- 8:00-7:00 AM (English)
- 11:15-12:15 NN (English)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Ilonggo)
- 6:15-7:15 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church in La Paz, Iloilo City |
| Other Names | Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buena Viaje Church, La Paz Church |
| Address | 645 Jereos St., Brgy. Lopez Jaena Norte, Lapaz, Iloilo City 5000 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (033) 329-6680 |
| Website | lapazchurch.org |
| YouTube | www.youtube.com |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Peter |
| Patron | Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buena Viaje |
| Feast day | May 24 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Neoclassical |
Nearby Churches
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Jaro, Iloilo City
- Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vicente Ferrer in Leganes, Iloilo
- Espousal of Our Lady Church in Mandurriao, Iloilo City
- Jaro Carmel
- Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Jaro, Iloilo City
- Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church in Jaro, Iloilo City
- Our Lady of Montserrat Church in Gran Plains Subd., Iloilo City
- San Agustin Chapel in Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo City
- San Lorenzo Ruiz Church in Iloilo City, Iloilo
- Spousal of Mary and Joseph Church in Buntatala, Jaro, Iloilo City
- St. Clement Church in La Paz, Iloilo City
- St. Joseph the Worker Church in Jaro, Iloilo City
- Sta. Monica Church in Pavia, Iloilo
References
- An Overview and a Historical Sketch of La Paz and the Parish. La Paz Parish. Retrieved from original post on October 24, 2022
- Patroness: Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. La Paz Parish. Retrieved from original post on October 24, 2022
- Act No. 719, April 04, 1903. Supreme Court of the Philippines E-Library. Retrieved October 24, 2022
- LIST OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN ILOILO CITY. City Government of Iloilo. Retrieved October 24, 2022