Our Lady of the Assumption Church is a Roman Catholic and Marian church located in Palapag, Northern Samar, Philippines. The Jesuit-built, colonial-era church made of quarried coral stones is a historic structure and stands in ruins beside the new church.
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History
The Jesuits arrived in Samar towards the end of the 16th century and reached Ibabao, the old name of the northern portion of the large Samar island. When they first came to Palapag as early as 1596, its people were noted to be less welcoming of their presence and resistant to their effort for evangelization.
In 1605, they established their mission center and placed it under the patronage of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion. It also became one of the remaining Jewish centers after the mission in Catubig was transferred there in 1616 and it was called Residencia de Cabo del Espritu Santo. In the next following decades, its settlement saw the construction of several structures including a church, fortress, and rectory.
In 1649, Agustin Sumoroy rose to oppose the Spaniards in a historic uprising called Sumoroy revolt. A son of a babaylan, Sumoroy was appointed as head the local garrison. He was also known to sail out in the sea to give admonition to incoming Spanish fleet about the presence of the Dutch who at that time were waging a war against Spain.
However, he abandoned his wife and took another woman as spouse, an act that earned disfavor from the Jesuits. Coincidentally, he gathered a number of followers after authorities were forcing them to work in Cavite shipyards to bolster the colonial naval prowess. On the night of June 1, 1649, Sumoroy killed the Jesuit priest Fr. Miguel Ponce. The revolt soon spread to other settlements in Pambujan, Catarman, and Bobon to as far as Sorsogon, Masbate, Cebu, Camiguin, and Cagayan de Oro.
After a number of successes, the Sumoroy revolt ended after the Spaniards sent a squadron stationed in Zamboanga. The Spanish forces attacked their encampment on a hill and Sumoroy was killed by his followers who sought to be spared.
The church in Palapag was made of humble building materials, which was probably set afire by the revolutionaries. A convent and bulwark made of stone and coral were built as defense against Moro raiders by 1663. Three years after, the missionaries who sailed in the galleon named Concepcion embarked here.
The Jesuits were expelled in 1768 and they were replaced by the Franciscans who remained until 1941. The Franciscans carried out repair works on the church in 1843 and provided furnishings of the altar three years later.
The Spanish-era church stands in ruins in the present day after it was struck with natural disasters and its repairs were deemed costly. It was declared a heritage site by the National Historical Institute, installing a marker on March 16, 2010. Parishioners have been utilizing the new place of worship that was constructed in the 1970s.
Architecture
Interestingly, a modern belfry right next to the ruins, while the new church itself has attached twin bell towers flanking the facade. The portico occupies the entire width of the facade and it is framed by stout pillars. In the second sweep of the front wall is the niche of the patroness flanked by pilasters. On the pediment is a blind round window with Christ monogram.
Celebration
The feast day of Our Lady of the Assumption is August 15.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Palapag, Northern Samar 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 Palapag.
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
- 5:00-6:00 AM
- 7:00-8:00 AM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Palapag, Northern Samar |
| Address | Palapag, Northern Samar 6421 |
| Country | Philippines |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1596 |
| Age | 429 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| Diocese | Diocese of Catarman |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Michael the Archangel |
| Patron | Our Lady of the Assumption |
| Feast day | August 15 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage church |
| Tower | 3 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Family Mission Center in Hibubullao, Catubig, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Angels Church in Mapanas, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Nativity Church in Las Navas, Northern Samar
- Saint Roque the Healer Church in San Roque, Northern Samar
- St. Bonaventure Church in Lapinig, Northern Samar
- St. Isidore the Farmer Mission Center in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar
- St. John the Baptist Church in Pambujan, Northern Samar
- St. Joseph Church in Catubig, Northern Samar
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gamay, Northern Samar
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Laoang, Northern Samar
References
- Horacio de la Costa, S.J. The Jesuits in the Philippines 1581 – 1768. Harvard University Press. 1961. Retrieved June 2, 2024
- Lumang Simbahan ng Palapag. National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures in the Philippines. October 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2024
- Northern Samar. Heritage Sites of the Visayan Islands in the Philippines. Panublion. Retrieved June 2, 2024