Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is a National Cultural Treasure and Roman Catholic church located in Oslob, a southern town in the province of Cebu, Philippines. It is also called Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Conception, Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, and Oslob Church.
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History
Carcar Church was the mother parish of the church of Oslob in 1599. Later, Oslob was annexed to Boljoon Church when the latter became a parish in 1690.
The stone church was built by Fr. Julian Bermejo, OSA, following the design proposed by Bishop Santos Gomez Maraño in 1830 and completed in 1847. Only after two centuries that the former became a parish, a change of status that occurred on January 8, 1848. In turn, it became the mother parish of the church of Nueva Caceres until it gained parochial status in 1877.
Fr. Juan Jose Aragaones, OSA, was its first parish priest. The bell tower was built during the term of Fr. Apolinar Alvarez, OAR, in 1858.
Through the years, cataclysmic events have befallen on the church. It was damaged during the Second World War. On November 7, 1955, it was engulfed by fire and renovated in 1980.
And on March 26, 2008, it caught fire again that was started by what investigators initially thought was a short-circuited computer. Restoration works were completed on December 10, 2010.
Heritage
Oslob Church was declared a heritage church by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and a Level II marker was installed on September 23, 2022.
The National Museum of the Philippines declared Oslob Church as a National Cultural Treasure, and its marker was unveiled to the public in May 2023.
Architecture
Entrance to the church is through an arched doorway that is flanked on each side by a pair of pilasters. Similar pilasters are adorned on either ends of the stonewall. The upper register consists of three rectangular stained glass windows. Cornices are defined, the frieze is decorated with a series of high reliefs. Its pediment bears the seal of the Spanish king, and at its apex is a budded cross. Half a dozen acroteria are erected along the gable, three on either side of the cross.
The octagonal bell tower is massive, of thick stonewall, and connected to the church in the gospel flank. Pilasters adorn each edge. The uppermost level is pierced by arch openings. It is capped by a red dome.
Celebration
The feast of the Immaculate Conception is held every December 8th in a celebration that is called Tuslob Festival.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Oslob, 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 Oslob.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 4:30-5:30 PM (Oslob Cemetery)
- 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
- 4:30-5:30 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 7:00-8:00 AM
- 8:30-9:30 AM
- 10:00-11:00 AM
- 3:30-4:30 PM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Oslob, Cebu |
| Other Names | Oslob Church |
| Address | Oslob, Cebu 6025 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (032) 434 1774 |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Established | January 8, 1848 |
| Age | 177 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| District | District III – Southeast Cebu |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. John Mary Vianney |
| Patron | Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception |
| Feast day | December 8 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage church, National Cultural Treasure |
| Completed | 1847 |
| Age since completed | 178 years |
| Architect | Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon |
Nearby Churches
- Patrocinio de Sta. Maria Church in Boljoon, Cebu
- St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Santander, Cebu
- St. Joseph the Carpenter Church in Oslob, Cebu
References
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Inc. and University of San Carlos Press. 2010. ISBN 978-9715390187.
- Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Towns and Parishes in Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved via Academia on July 3, 2022
- Oaminal, Clarence Paul (June 27, 2018). Oslob, Cebu. The Freeman. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Oaminal, Clarence Paul (December 18, 2019). The religious clash of Cebu in 1907. The Freeman. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Ruaya, Rhobie Alburo (September 8, 2021). Mama Mary Churches and Shrines in Cebu: Beautiful Shrines and Churches around Cebu dedicated to Mama Mary. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Bersales, Jobers R. (February 22, 2017). The good friars of old Oslob. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Bersales, Jobers R. (February 1, 2017). Oslob controversies, ca. 1882. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Pareja, Jessica Ann (October 12, 2008). Auction held for Oslob church’s rehabilitation. The Freeman. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Fred Languido, Garry B. Lao (March 27, 2008). Firemen push trucks to scene: Fire destroys Oslob church. The Freeman. Retrieved July 3, 2022
- Simbahan ng Oslob. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. September 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2023
- Caescent No-ot Magsumbol. Cultural treasure markers for three churches pending. The Philippine Star. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023