Naval Cathedral, also known as Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, is the ecclesiastical seat of the Diocese of Naval located in Naval, Biliran, Philippines. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Palo.
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History
Its earliest mention in historical records and, by extension, the island of Biliran was in the 16th century. In 1588, Thomas Cavendish described the island’s plain grounds that is believed to be the present-day Naval.
A shipyard that built large vessels especially the Spanish galleons that existed around this time was, according to experts, situated in what is now known today as Sitio Ilawud in Barangay Caraycaray. It is also in Barangay Caraycaray that became the seat of the pueblo of Biliran that was established on September 10, 1712.
The original location was exposed to vicious attacks by Moro raids throughout colonial history. With the coming of Fr. Gaspar Ignacio de Guevara, appointed parish priest of San Juan Nepomuceno Church in Biliran in 1765, the pueblo was transferred to Albacea and Sitio Ilawud became known as Binungtuan (that is, a place that was once a town).
Fr. Juan Inocentes Manco Garcia led its development into a town in the 19th century. Assigned as assistant and as parish priest of Biliran Church between 1848 and 1861, he oversaw the growth of its population from migrants of Dimiao of Bohol, Danao of Cebu, Panay, and Negros.
Bagasumbol was renamed Naval in 1859. Its name originates from Spanish victory in the war against the Dutch colonizers in Manila Bay in 1646, and their triumph was attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, the patroness of the settlement.
The church in Naval was a visita of Biliran Parish. It seceded and attained independent parochial status through Superior Approval on May 26, 1860. It was erected officially by the Diocese of Cebu on September 26, 1860. Fr. Santos de Santa Juana took the role as the first parish priest in August 1861 until 1882.
Its first church might have been located in Sitio Ilawud in the first decade of 1600s. It did not survive the Moro raids in the 18th century. A church that existed before 1900s was damaged by a typhoon in 1912 and a new facade was built and improvements made in the succeeding decades. The old structure was destroyed by the American Franciscans to give way for the construction of the present-day church in May 1965.
The church was under the Diocese of Cebu until the Diocese of Calbayog was created in 1910. Then it belonged to the Diocese of Palo beginning in 1937. It was created into cathedral when the Diocese of Naval was created on November 29, 1988 and became a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Palo.
Architecture
The facade is dominated by a soaring bell tower that tapers from the ground upwards like an extended gable and is topped with a cross. On its wall is an arch opening with glass installation depicting the patroness. In front is a portico.
Celebration
The feast day of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is every October 6 and the town celebrates the Bagasumbol Festival.
Services
The office is open 8:30 AM-12:00 NN and 2:30-5:00 PM every Monday to Friday. On Saturday, it is open between 8:30 AM and 12:00 NN.
Holy Hour and Confession are between 6:00 and 7:00 PM every first Friday.
Pre-Jordan seminar is scheduled at 9:00-11:00 AM every second and fourth Satruday.
Pre-Cana seminar is at 9:00 AM every first Sunday (Angelicum), and 8:00 AM every second Sunday (Franciscan Sisters Pro Infante et Familia), and at 8:00 AM every first Saturday (for Sponsors).
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Naval Cathedral in Biliran 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 Naval.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:15-6:15 PM (English)
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:15-6:15 PM (English)
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:15-6:15 PM (English)
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:15-6:15 PM (English)
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:15-6:15 PM (English)
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:15-6:15 PM (English - Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 4:30-5:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 6:30-7:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 4:30-5:30 PM (English)
- 6:15-7:15 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Naval Cathedral in Biliran |
| Other Names | Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary |
| Address | Burgos St., Naval, Biliran 6560 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 053 500-9355, 0929 225-6177 |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Cathedral, Parish |
| Declared as cathedral | November 29, 1988 |
| Declared as parish | May 26, 1860 |
| Age as parish | 165 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| Diocese | Diocese of Naval |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary |
| Patron | Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary |
| Feast day | October 6 |
Nearby Churches
- Saint Roch Church in Lucsoon, Naval, Biliran
- San Vicente Ferrer Church in Tucdao, Kawayan, Biliran
- Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Almeria, Biliran
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Maripipi, Biliran
- St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Kawayan, Biliran
References
- 150 years: Naval (1860-2010) Annual Town Fiesta. October 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2024
- Prof. Rolando O. Borrinaga, Ph.D. A POSITION PAPER FOR THE ERECTION OF A HISTORICAL MARKER FROM THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL INSTITUTE (NHI) IN NAVAL, BILIRAN PROVINCE. Biliran Island. Retrieved April 23, 2024
- Prof. Rolando O. Borrinaga, Ph.D. The Biliran Religious Revolt (1765-1774) –Rolando O. Borrinaga, Ph.D. 26th National Conference of the Philippine National Historical Society (PNHS). Mariano Marcos State University. October 2005. Retrieved April 23, 2024
- Naval Diocese. Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved April 23, 2024