Holy Cross Church is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Carigara, Leyte, Philippines. It is also called Holy Cross Parish Church or Carigara Church. It is the oldest church and the first ever parish founded in the province of Leyte.
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History
The island of Limasawa off the coast of the island of Leyte was the site of the first Easter Mass in the Philippines in 1521 (see Shrine of the Holy Cross and the First Mass Church), but it took many decades before Christian missions were put up in the province. It was not until the friars of Society of Jesus arrived in Carigara that the evangelization began in earnest.
Fr. Pedro Chirino came to the town by the order of Fr. Antonio Sedeño. Carigara was one of two areas chosen by the Jesuits, the other being Dulag. Fr. Chirino was previously assigned in the town of Tigbauan in Iloilo and established the first Jesuit school in the Philippines there. He founded the parish of Carigara on July 16, 1595.
When the Jesuits left after being expelled by the Spanish monarchy in 1768, the Augustinians took over. Their stay was less than a decade but they resumed their work years later. In 1843, the Franciscans arrived and they tended to the flock.
During the time of the Augustinians, the pueblo was moved to a new site. A stone church stood in the village of Canal but was in a state of disrepair for many of the residents chose to live in the new town.
Bishop Romualdo Jimeno instructed Fr. Hilarion Corvera to channel the funds for the building of a new church instead of repairing the old one. Its construction began in 1859. It was completed after twenty years within the term of Fr. Bernardino de Rebolledo, the last Franciscan parish priest of the town and who also finished the works of the new convent in that same year. Consecration of the altar took place years earlier in 1866.
When the Philippine Revolution began, the Franciscans left Carigara and the parish was turned over the diocesan priests; Fr. Ignacio Mora was the first secular parish priest installed on October 12, 1898.
Architecture
Holy Cross Parish Church in Carigara has a modern appearance. Images of the old facade reveals that the facade was rebuilt over the years. The church is situated in a gated block. Its pediment is raised higher than the level of the roof, its borders forming a continuous line from the primary entryway of the church. It is decorated with grooves, a white cross, and pierced wall. A portico can be found at the entrance, a cantilevered ceiling.
The rest of the upper edges of the church wall slopes downward from either sides of the pediment. They are pierced by arch openings. A bell tower stands in the gospel side. It is a rectilinear four-cornered structure that ends in gable shape at the top. Its base is punctured by arch portals, while the rest of its walls are pierced walls.
Along the nave walls, buttresses and arch entryways can be found. Stepping inside, the church has one main nave. Gilded Corinthian columns form a decorative motif with rafters on the ceiling. Arch apertures are installed with stained glass panes.
Celebration
The feast day of the Holy Cross is every July 16. The date is significant as it is recalls the historic triumph of King Alfonso leading the charge of the Christian forces against Islamic army under the leadership of Miramamolin. Even after the dedication of the date of July 16th as feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the town continues to celebrate their fiesta on this date.
Services
Baptism. Baptism is scheduled every 8:00 in the morning on Sundays. Special schedules can be arranged.
Parish office. The parish office is open from 8:30 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon every day.
Wedding. Weddings are held at 6:00 in the morning every second Saturday of the month. Special schedules can be arranged.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Holy Cross Church in Carigara, Leyte 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 Carigara.
Monday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:00-7:00 AM (English - FB Live)
Tuesday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:00-7:00 AM (English - FB Live)
Wednesday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:00-7:00 AM (English - FB Live)
- 5:15-6:15 PM (English)
Thursday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:00-7:00 AM (English - FB Live)
Friday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:00-7:00 AM (English - FB Live)
Saturday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:00-7:00 AM (English - FB Live)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English - FB Live)
Sunday
- 4:30-5:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:30-7:30 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 8:30-9:30 AM (English)
- 4:30-5:30 PM (Cebuano)
- 6:00-7:00 PM (English - FB Live)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Holy Cross Church in Carigara, Leyte |
| Other Names | Carigara Church |
| Address | Brgy. Ponong, 6529 Carigara, Leyte |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 0968 857 0313 |
| holycrossparishcarley@gmail.com | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | July 16, 1595 |
| Age | 430 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| District | Eastern District |
| Vicariate | Carigara Vicariate |
| Patron | Holy Cross |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1879 |
| Age since completed | 146 years |
| Consecrated | 1866 |
| Builder | Fr. Hilarion Corvera, Fr. Bernardino de Rebolledo |
References
- Holy Cross Parish Church – Carigara. Archdiocese of Palo. Retrieved November 8, 2022
- Dela Costa, Horacio. The Jesuits in the Philippines. Philippine Studies, JANUARY 1959, Vol. 7, No. 1 (JANUARY 1959), pp. 68-97. Retrieved November 8, 2022