St. Bernard Abbot Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Ocampo, Camarines Sur, Philippines.
Table of Contents
History
The old name of the town was Matobato, its name derived from the presence of rocks thought to have been the result of the eruption of Mt. Isarog.
The Franciscans founded a mission in the settlement in 1735. Its jurisdiction extended over Ayugan, Moriones, Pinit, and Tinablanan. It increased in size and population in the next century as a result of migration. Its arable lands attracted folks who found livelihood in cultivating crops. A petition to convert the village to a municipality was made by Michael Alcantara and Jose Barangbarang before the church authorities of the Diocese of Caceres, which was eventually granted.
During the time of the American colonization, Matobato was annexed to the municipality of Pili by virtue of Act No. 959 on October 23, 1903. In post-war years, it was re-established as a municipality pursuant to Executive Order No. 243 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on July 15, 1949. It was renamed to Ocampo after Julian Ocampo, a governor of Camarines Sur.
The church meanwhile became a parish in 1922 according to a church marker.
Architecture
The name of the parish is visible on the roof of the portico. The rectilinear entrance is flanked by niches (Holy Child in the epistle side). The facade is decorated by pilasters and pierced with arches. The pediment is left undecorated. In the epistle side, attached to the church, is the three-level bell tower. Its wall bears a bas relief of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, crown, and the words, “Cor Jesu In Te Confido” (Heart of Jesus, I trust in you).
Celebration
The feast day of St. Bernard of Clairvaux is August 20.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Bernard Abbot Church in Ocampo, Camarines Sur 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 Ocampo.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
- 8:00-9:00 AM (Bikol)
- 12:00-1:00 PM (Bikol - Market Mass)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Bikol - Children's Mass)
- 6:00-7:00 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Bernard Abbot Church in Ocampo, Camarines Sur |
| Address | Ocampo, Camarines Sur 4419 |
| Country | Philippines |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1735 |
| Age | 290 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1922 |
| Age as parish | 103 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Claire of Assisi |
| Patron | St. Bernard of Clairvaux |
| Feast day | August 20 |
Nearby Churches
- Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Abo, Tigaon, Camarines Sur
- Saint Clare of Assisi Church in Tigaon, Camarines Sur
- Saint John Marie Vianney Church in San Ramon, Iriga City, Camarines Sur
- Santa Catalina de Siena Church in Gingaroy, Tigaon, Camarines Sur
- St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Sagñay, Camarines Sur
- St. Francis of Assisi Church in Buhi, Camarines Sur
- St. Peter Baptist Church in Old Moriones, Ocampo, Camarines Sur
- St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Rafael, Tigaon, Camarines Sur
- St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Sibaguan, Sagñay, Camarines Sur
References
- Parishes. Archdiocese of Caceres. Retrieved June 15, 2024
- “History | Ocampo Camarines Sur”. Provincial Government of Camarines Sur. October 30, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2024
- Act No. 959, October 23, 1903. Supreme Court of the Philippines E-Library. Retrieved June 16, 2024
- Executive Order No. 243, s. 1949. Official Gazette of the Philippines. Retrieved June 16, 2024