St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, also popularly known as the Angry Christ Church, is located in VICMICO, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.
The church is known as one of the pioneering Philippine structures that ushered in modernist architecture in religious spaces and whose images of religious icons exhibit Filipino characteristics such as brown skin.
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History
St. Joseph the Worker Chapel in VICMICO was built by the Ossorio family, the owner of the sugar company Victorias Milling Company, and so for years it is called the Ossorio Chapel. Located within the company complex, it was erected to serve the religious needs of its employees and their families.
The Ossorios initially commissioned Leandro Locsin to draw up its design, but the project went to Czech-American architect Antonin Raymond. Construction of the earthquake-proof church was carried out in post-war period between 1948 and 1950.
It contains one of the popular masterpieces in Philippine art, the religious mural by Filipino-American artist Alfonso Ossorio called “Angry Christ.” Ossorio began the painting in 1949 and its works went on for eleven months. Unveiled in 1950, the mural measures 60 square meters and its depiction is the artist interpretation of The Last Judgment.
The painting was the inspiration of a play by Floy Quintos entitled “Angry Christ” staged in University of the Philippines-Dilliman in 2017.
Furthermore, Belgian artist and baroness Adelaide de Bethune was responsible in the mosaic panels found in the facade and other decorative elements found in the interiors. She was assisted and her designs rendered by local artist Arcadio Anore. Some of her mosaics were made of shards of beer bottles and other materials gathered by the parishioners.
Wooden carvings of holy figures were by local artist-woodworker Benjamin Valenciano.
The church has been under the religious administration of the Salesians of Don Bosco since the 1960s. A sundial was installed in 1975 by students of Don Bosco Institute. Additionally, it was declared a parish in 1979.
It was declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2015. It was also in the same year that restorations done by the Victorias Milling Company.
Architecture
The church is three-leveled with the bell tower standing in the rear by the apse wall. Its uppermost is a lantern of rectilinear windows that showers light into the sanctuary. Mosaics are found by the exterior walls of the second level.
Inside, the Angry Christ mural is eye-catching: a haloed Jesus is seated and his arms are outstretched, his heart wreathed by tongues of flames and bound by thorns.
He is flanked by Mary, Joseph, and two apostles. Above is a pair of hands from God the Father. Its entire canvas extends to the beams in the ceiling with depictions of the Holy Spirit (in the image of a winged creature) and Eye of Providence.
Services
Masses are held at the Mary Help of Christians Church – Canetown Subdivision.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Joseph the Worker Chapel in VICMICO, Victorias City, Negros Occidental from May 5, 2025 to May 11, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Victorias City.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Wednesday
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Friday
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 6:00-7:00 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
- 6:00-7:00 PM (Hiligaynon)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Joseph the Worker Chapel in VICMICO, Victorias City, Negros Occidental |
| Other Names | Angry Christ Church, Ossorio Chapel |
| Address | Angeles Street, Victorias City, Negros Occidental 6119 |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Ossorio Family |
| Established | 1948 |
| Age | 77 years |
| Status | Chapel |
| Declared as parish | 1979 |
| Age as parish | 46 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bacolod |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Our Lady of Victory |
| Patron | St. Joseph |
| Religious order | Salesians of Don Bosco |
| Province | Philippine South Province |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Important Cultural Property |
| Architect | Antonin Raymond |
| Builder | Ossorio Family |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Estado, Victorias City, Negros Occidental
- Our Lady of Victory Parish Church in Victorias City, Negros Occidental
- San Roque Church in Tanza, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental
- San Roque Parish Church in Daan Banwa, Victorias City, Negros Occidental
- St Joseph the Worker Parish Church in E. B. Magalona, Negros Occidental
References
- Alixandra Caole Vila. National Museum bares 2015 list of cultural treasures, properties. The Philippine Star. December 25, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2023
- Parishes. Salesians of Don Bosco Philippine South Province. Retrieved April 23, 2023
- Totel V. De Jesus. ‘Angry Christ’: Alfonso Ossorio’s ‘fascinating’ painting inspires Floy Quintos. Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2023
- VMC nurturing arts in Negros. Sunstar. September 10, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2023
- Jasmine Agnes T. Cruz. Works of Alfonso Ossorio, close friends with Pollock and Dubuffet, at Leon Gallery. Coconut Manila. January 30, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2023
- Gladys Reyes. Angry Christ Church: An Icon of Modern Liturgical Art & Architecture in the Philippines. Experience Negros. January 20, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2023
- Ralf Rivas. Inside the church with an angry-looking Christ. Rappler. November 1, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2023