San Agustin Church is a Roman Catholic church in Alcantara, the smallest town in the province of Cebu, Philippines. It is also called San Agustin de Hipponia Church and Alcantara Church.
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History
Alcantara used to be called Kudtong, alternatively spelt Kugtong, that refers to a grouper fish. It was renamed during the colonial period after the a town in Spain. It was established in 1830 and carved out from the neighboring municipalities of Ronda to the north and Moalboal to the south.
The church that was built during those times was a visita of Barili (1614), Badian (August 26, 1825) and Moalboal (on January 20, 1852).
Finally, San Agustin Church in Alcantara was made into a parish by virtue of Superior Decree released on October 11, 1866. Its stone church was built beginning in 1850 and it was designed to withstand attacks launched by Moro raiders arriving from the sea. However, the construction works remained unfinished at the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution.
Architecture
Various icons are found in the facade of Alcantara church, which is delineated into two floors.
On the lower register are three arched doors with which the lay faithful can enter the interiors. Flanking them are blind arches that contain bulletin boards. Inside, above the narthex, is a domed roof.
The upper register is recessed; it is a pediment capped in the center with a pinnacle pierced with an open arch, a design that seems to pay homage to the earlier church. The pediment features five arched stained glass windows of varying sizes. The interiors have a ribbed ceiling with stained glass windows.
The bell-tower in the gospel side is modern. It is erected a few feet away from the church, a beige arch the vertical opening of which are interspersed with three bells. On the forecourt is a statue of St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, around which are platforms where adherents can light votive candle offerings.
Celebration
The feast of St. Augustine, the town’s patron saint, is held every August 28th, the day the he passed away. It is marked with Bahandi Festival, a town-wide celebration of bounty, thanksgiving, and harvest.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of San Agustin Church in Alcantara, Cebu 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 Alcantara.
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
- 8:00-9:00 AM
- 10:00-11:00 AM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Agustin Church in Alcantara, Cebu |
| Other Names | St. Augustine de Hippo Parish Church, San Agustin de Hipponia Church |
| Address | Poblacion, Alcantara, Cebu 6033 |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1850 |
| Age | 175 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| District | District IV – Southwest Cebu |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Our Lady of Sorrows |
| Patron | St. Augustine of Hippo |
| Feast day | August 28 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1975 |
| Age since completed | 50 years |
| Style | Contemporary |
Nearby Churches
- Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Ronda, Cebu
- San Juan Nepomuceno Church in Moalboal, Cebu
- Santiago Apostol Church in Badian, Cebu
- Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church in Matutinao, Badian, Cebu
References
- Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Inc. and University of San Carlos Press. 2010. ISBN 978-9715390187.
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved June 12, 2022
- Oaminal, Clarence Paul (August 15, 2015). The mayor lawyers of Alcantara, Cebu. The Freeman. Retrieved June 15, 2022
- Oaminal, Clarence Paul (April 24, 2019). Why Alcantara has the shortest municipal road in Cebu. The Freeman. Retrieved June 15, 2022
- Rosal, Glendale (February 18, 2021). Alcantara to host Visayas leg of Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2022
- Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Towns and Parishes in Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved via Academia on July 20, 2022