St. Raphael the Archangel Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Balete, Aklan, Philippines.
Table of Contents
History
In the past, Balete was called Jalo after the river of the same name. It was a visita of Batan, and Augustinian friar Fr. Luis Jurado, OSA, preached to the settlement as early as 1714. It was finally organized into a town in 1826.
Meanwhile, the church in Balete was administered by the priests from Batan Parish. A colonial-era church made of bricks was likewise built. According to historical records, Fr. Jose de Matias Piansay was assigned as the first parish priest and he served from 1852 to 1855. He was succeeded by Fr. Diego Albao in 1856.
Architecture
The church is of contemporary construction, and its facade is largely unadorned except for pilasters and trims that frame the entrance and pediment. Above the portico, which overlooks the courtyard within the gated church compound, the wall is pierced with rectilinear apertures and the image of the patron is enthroned. It is flanked by church walls with niches of saints and dentil. The pediment is surmounted with a budded cross, while the bell tower is erected in the epistle side.
Celebration
The feast day of St. Raphael is October 24.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Balete, Aklan 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 Balete.
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
- No mass schedule found.
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Balete, Aklan |
| Address | Balete, Aklan 5614 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1852 |
| Age as parish | 173 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Capiz |
| Diocese | Diocese of Kalibo |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception |
| Patron | St. Raphael |
| Feast day | October 24 |
| Architecture | |
| Tower | 2 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Child Jesus Church in Altavas, Aklan
- Immaculate Conception Church in Batan, Aklan
- San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Church in Camaligan, Batan, Aklan
References
- Diocese of Kalibo. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- Al F. Dela Cruz. Brief Notes Parish of St. Rafael. Scribd. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- Al F. Dela Cruz. UNDERSTANDING BALETE: An Approximation of the History of Balete as A Pueblo, An Arabal & A Municipality. Balete. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- The History of the Parish Church of Balete and St. Raphael the Archangel. Kalibo Cable TV Network Inc. October 18, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2023