Patronage of St. Joseph Church is a Roman Catholic Church located in Pototan in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. It is also called Pototan Church after the town and Patronato ni San Jose Church. It is under the advocation of St. Joseph.
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History
According to oral tradition, it was a descendant of Datu Puti who first settled into the area before the coming of the Spaniards, and it was established in the floodplains of Suagi River. Its name is derived from a tree.
In historical records, the Augustinians set foot in Pototan as early as 1593 within the term of Fr. Diego de Alvarez. A priest was assigned on the year that it was formed, however it became a visita of Dumangas in 1603. A friar was still assigned to administer to the church until 1605.
Architecture
A portico welcomes the laity to the Patronage of St. Joseph Church. It faces a statue of Jesus in the courtyard. The facade itself has a recurring motif of eight-spoke wheel seemingly on top of rectangular moldings. Other decorative pieces are the rectilinear apertures and Solomonic columns with Corinthian capitals found at each side of the main entrance and outermost posts.
In the upper level of the facade is the niche of the patron. On its semicircle band are the words Señor San Jose, and strung about in the pedestal of the image are the words: Ig-ampo mo kami. These words mean, “St. Joseph, pray for us.”
Its pediment is plain and topped with a cross at its apex. The facade is made asymmetrical by the belfry installed on the rooftop in the gospel side. It is quadrangular in shape and pierced by arches. It is crowned by a balustrade, a small octagonal top with blind arches, and a cross.
Celebration
The patronal feast of St. Joseph is celebrated every May 8. The town of Pototan is famed for its annual Festival of Lights every Christmas, earning it the moniker the Christmas Capital of West Visayas.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Patronage of St. Joseph Church in Pototan, Iloilo 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 Pototan.
Monday
- No mass schedule found.
Tuesday
- No mass schedule found.
Wednesday
- No mass schedule found.
Thursday
- No mass schedule found.
Friday
- No mass schedule found.
Saturday
- No mass schedule found.
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 7:30-8:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 9:30-10:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 4:00-5:00 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Patronage of St. Joseph Church in Pototan, Iloilo |
| Address | San Jose Street, Pototan, Iloilo 5008 |
| Country | Philippines |
| sanjosedepototan@gmail.com | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1593 |
| Age | 432 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Matthias |
| Patron | St. Joseph |
| Feast day | May 8 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Child Church in Palanguia, Pototan, Iloilo
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Polut-an, Pototan, Iloilo
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Bongco, Pototan, Iloilo
- Our Lady of the Pillar Church in Mina, Iloilo
- Saint John the Baptist Church in Dingle, Iloilo
- St. Isidore Church in Zarraga, Iloilo
- Sto. Rosario Church in Igang, Pototan, Iloilo
References
- Pototan. Provincial Government of Iloilo. Retrieved November 6, 2022
- Paul Dumol, PhD, Grace Concepcion, PhD, and E.J. Ofilada (August 15, 2020). Research Update: Foundation Dates for “The Pueblos of Panay”. Center for Research and Communication. Retrieved October 31, 2022