San Francisco de Assisi Church is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in Bicol region. Located in the busy urban center along Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines, it was established in the 16th century by Christian missionaries.
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History
The first Christian missionary who reached Ibalon (Bicol) was Augustinian friar Fr. Alonzo Gimenez, OSA, a chaplain of the expedition led by Captain Enrique de Guzman, in 1569. Succeeding expeditions explored further inland such as those led by Captain Andres Ibarra in 1570 and Captain Juan de Salcedo and Fr. Diego de Espinar, OSA in 1573.
It was the arrival of the Franciscans that marked the continuation and success in Christianizing the Bicolanos. They took over the mission in Bicol from the Augustinians and remained in the region until the end of the conquest. In 1578, Fr. Pablo de Jesus and Fr. Bartolome Ruiz established the churches in Quipayo (present-day Calabanga), Nabua, Bula, and Naga. The church of St. Francis of Assisi in Naga City, thus, is one of the first and the oldest churches in Naga City and one of the oldest churches in the entire Bicol region.
Like most churches in the early years of the Hispanic conquista, it was built with humble materials such as wood and bamboo. It was expanded to a missionary house for the Franciscan order in 1883.
The parish was caught in the midst of the Philippine revolution and its suppression by the Spanish authorities. The revolutionaries rose up in arms and ousted the Spaniards, forcing the surrender of the last governor of the historical province of Ambos Camarines (present-day Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur) on September 18, 1898.
The church was destroyed in 1915 and remained in dilapidated condition in the following decades. Reconstruction only began in 1957, and the parish was canonically erected on February 20, 1998.
It is a heritage church as the National Historical Commission installed a Level II marker in 1972.
Architecture
A brick tower dating back to the Spanish times still stands up to this day, but not much else from the colonial period remained. Still, its overall architecture is designed closely with the neo-classical tradition. The church can be accessed through two side entrances, and the opposite pillars are topped with the statues of St. Peter and St. Paul.
The expanse of its front wall is decorated with dentil, cartouche, fluted columns crowned with capitals of Corinthian order, oculus, and arch fenestration. Its pediment bears the image of Jesus Christ in an act of benediction surrounded by cherubs rendered in high relief. The front wall is connected to the church by its roof. The church itself is flanked by bell towers that rise to four floors and capped with domes.
Celebration
The feast day of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4.
Services
The parish office is open between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of San Francisco de Assisi Church in Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga City, Camarines Sur from May 12, 2025 to May 18, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Naga City.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 12:15-1:15 NN
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 12:15-1:15 NN
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 12:15-1:15 NN
- 5:30-6:30 PM
- 6:30-7:30 PM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 12:15-1:15 NN
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 12:15-1:15 NN
- 5:30-6:30 PM
- 6:30-7:30 PM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 12:15-1:15 NN
- 5:30-6:30 PM
- 6:30-7:30 PM
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM - Bicol
- 6:00-7:00 AM - Bicol
- 7:00-8:00 AM - Bicol
- 8:00-9:00 AM - English
- 9:00-10:00 AM - Tagalog
- 10:00-11:00 AM - English
- 11:00-12:00 NN - English
- 12:15-1:15 PN - English
- 3:00-4:00 PM - Bicol
- 4:00-5:00 PM - Bicol
- 5:00-6:00 PM - Bicol
- 6:00-7:00 PM - Bicol
- 7:00-8:00 PM - English
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Francisco de Assisi Church in Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga City, Camarines Sur |
| Address | Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga City, Camarines Sur 4400 |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1578 |
| Age | 447 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | February 20, 1998 |
| Age as parish | 27 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. John the Evangelist |
| Patron | St. Francis of Assisi |
| Feast day | October 4 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage Church |
| Tower | 2 |
Nearby Churches
- Naga City Metropolitan Cathedral in Naga City, Camarines Sur
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Carolina, Naga City, Camarines Sur
- Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church in Naga City, Camarines Sur
- San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Church in Naga City, Camarines Sur
- St. Anthony of Padua Church in Camaligan, Camarines Sur
- St. Therese of Calcutta Church in Marupit, Camaligan, Camarines Sur
References
- Parishes. Archdiocese of Caceres. Retrieved March 30, 2024
- Simbahan ng San Francisco. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. October 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2024
- History of Catholicism in the Bicol Region. Angkang Pilipino. November 11, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2024
- Ruby Ann L. Ayo. Historical Narratives of the Spanish Heritage Churches in Albay: Platform for Promoting Bikol Culture and Heritage. Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. Bicol University R&D Journal Volume 20. ISSN 0116-4139 Volume 20. Retrieved March 30, 2024