Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church is a Roman Catholic and Marin church located in the interior town of Balilihan, Bohol, Philippines. Its second patron is St. Lorenzo Ruiz.
Table of Contents
History
The name of the town is derived from balili, meaning grass, and balilihan, which translates to grassland.
Spanish colonizers established a garrison in Datag to control the townsfolk after the Dagohoy revolt was ended by the colonial forces sent from Cebu. The town used to be part of Baclayon. It separated from Baclayon and became a town on September 29, 1828. The church became a parish the following year.
The pueblo was established two kilometers away from the garrison in a village called Bay sa Iring. It became a settlement for people involved in the revolt and folks from Baclayon. Due to the lack of water sources, the town center was moved to the present location.
The Augustinian Recollects took administration of the parish until the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1898.
An earlier church existed across the present church, but it was damaged in 1863. A house of worship made of tabique and nipa was built afterwards and improved in 1889. However, colonial-era edifices including the church were razed to the ground by the invading American colonialists on November 12, 1901.
The bell tower made of adobe stone and tiles standing on the hill survived the destruction. Built by Augustinian Recollect priest Fr. Antonio Cortes in 1835, it was unveiled in 1846. It overlooks the plaza and Abatan River, and it may have also served as a guard post to prevent unrest. Known as Balilihan Belfry, it was declared a heritage structure by the Philippine Historicla Committtee. A marker was installed in 1953.
The present-day church was completed in the 20th century. Paintings by Cebuano artist Ray Francia adorned the ceiling in the interiors.
Architecture
The church is in a cruciform layoutThe bell tower dominates its front view which rises to three floors and is capped with pyramidal roof. The image of the patroness is installed above the entrance, which then leads to yet another space for a ‘second’ portico.
Celebration
The feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is July 16.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Balilihan, Bohol 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 Balilihan.
Monday
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Tuesday
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Wednesday
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Thursday
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Friday
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Saturday
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Sunday
- 6:30-7:30 AM
- 9:00-10:00 AM
- 4:30-5:30 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Balilihan, Bohol |
| Address | Balilihan, Bohol 6342 |
| Country | Philippines |
| mountcarmelparish@gmail.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1829 |
| Age as parish | 196 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Diocese | Diocese of Tagbilaran |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel |
| Patron | Our Lady of Mt. Carmel |
| Feast day | July 16 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 20th century |
Nearby Churches
- Immaculate Conception Church in Catigbian, Bohol
- Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje Church in La Paz, Cortes, Bohol
- Santo Niño Church in Baang, Catigbian, Bohol
- Santo Niño Church in Cortes, Bohol
- Santo Niño Church in Hanopol, Balilihan, Bohol
References
- Vicariates and Parishes. Diocese of Tagbilaran. Retrieved November 22, 2023
- Balillihan Belfry. National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
- History of Balilihan. Municipality of Balilihan. Retrieved November 23, 2023
- Jose, Regalado Trota (2001). Visita Iglesia Bohol: A Guide to Historic Churches. National Commission on Culture and the Arts. Manila, Philippines. ISBN 9718140166, 978-9718140161. Retrieved November 23, 2023