St. John the Baptist Church is a 19th-century Roman Catholic located in Goa, Camarines Sur, Philippines.
Table of Contents
History
The origin of the name of the town is not known. According to an account it may have come from the hometown of Fr. Juan Abalay assigned. Alternatively, it may come from gajo plant that grew wildly and in abundance.
Its beginnings were from the time it was instituted by Franciscan missionaries led by Fr. Matias de Valdesoto as Visita de Salog. It comprised of Lalud, Himagaan, Matacla, and Payatan. A priest from Manguiring (Calabanga) paid regular visit to administer sacraments to the natives.
The original settlement was located in the floodplains of Cagaycay River. Due to incessant river flood and due to the need of the people for wider plains to cultivate crops, the pueblo was moved to the present location. In 1777, the church was elevated into a parish and the settlement into a town during the incumbency of Fr. Juan Abalay.
In 1863, the construction of the Roman Gothic stone church began. The edifice was made of wood and stone after it was completed in 1887.
Architecture
One can step into the threshold through a flight of stairs. Gaining access to the interiors is through an arch doorway shaded by an overhang with corbels, and it is flanked with glass windows with images of St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and St. Pedro Calungsod. The first level of the facade is decorated with paired pilasters and triglyphs. The upper level is pierced with arch apertures flanked with truncated pilasters (with Ionic capitals) and whose glass windows depict the patron and other holy figures. A row of squares with embedded rosettes serves as a transition toward the pediment, which features a single blind oculus. The pediment is flanked with twin belfries.
Celebration
The feast day of St. John the Baptist is June 24.
Services
The parish office is open 8:00-11:30 AM and 2:00-4:30 PM from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday, it is opened 8:00-11:00 AM and 2:00-4:00 PM.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. John the Baptist Church in Goa, Camarines Sur from May 5, 2025 to May 11, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Goa.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Bicol)
- 6:30-7:30 AM (Bicol - Parish and Matacla)
- 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
- 4:30-5:30 PM (Bicol)
- 6:00-7:00 PM (Bicol)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. John the Baptist Church in Goa, Camarines Sur |
| Address | Burgos Street, Barangay Belen, Goa, Camarines Sur 4422 |
| Country | Philippines |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1701 |
| Age | 324 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1777 |
| Age as parish | 248 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. John the Baptist |
| Patron | St. John the Baptist |
| Feast day | June 24 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1887 |
| Age since completed | 138 years |
| Style | Roman Gothic |
| Belfry | 2 |
Nearby Churches
- Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph in San Jose, Camarines Sur
- St. Anthony of Padua Church in Parubcan, Presentacion, Camarines Sur
- St. Francis Xavier Church in Halawig Gogon, Goa, Camarines Sur
- St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Digdigon, Goa, Camarines Sur
- St. Martin de Porres Church in Tagongtong, Goa, Camarines Sur
- St. Padre Pio De Pietrelcina Church in Sabang, San Jose, Camarines Sur
- St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Maangas, Presentacion, Camarines Sur
- Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Church in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
References
- Parishes. Archdiocese of Caceres. Retrieved June 20, 2024
- Executive Summary. Commission on Audit. 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2024
- History. Goa Camarines Sur. June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2024